How To Format An Abstract In APA | No Fail Page Rules

An APA abstract is the one-page snapshot that sits between your title page and your paper’s first heading. It tells a reader what you did, what you found, and what it means. When the page looks right, instructors and editors can scan it fast.

This guide sticks to layout: page placement, the label, paragraph rules, plus the keywords line in APA 7.

If you’re learning how to format an abstract in apa, the page layout comes first.

Abstract Element	APA 7 Formatting Rule	Quick Notes
Page placement	Starts on its own page right after the title page	Page number continues from the title page
Page header	Student papers: page number only; professional papers may use a running head	Follow your course or journal rules
Margins	1-inch margins on all sides	Use your word processor’s “Normal” margins
Font	Use an APA-approved, readable font and size	Common picks: 12-pt Times New Roman, 11-pt Calibri, 11-pt Arial
Line spacing	Double-space the label, abstract text, and keywords line	No extra blank lines
Label	Write “Abstract” centered and bold on the first line	Use the same font as the rest of the paper
Paragraph shape	One paragraph; first line not indented	Avoid line breaks and bullet points
Length	Usually 150–250 words, unless your instructor or journal sets a different cap	Many journals cap at 250 words
Keywords line	Optional; label “Keywords:” in italics, then 3–5 lowercase keywords separated by commas	Indent the keywords line like a new paragraph

What An APA Abstract Page Is And When You Need One

Abstracts show up all over academic databases and journal sites, so professional papers usually include them. Student papers are different. Many classes skip the abstract unless your instructor asks for it. If your assignment sheet is quiet on the topic, ask before you spend time polishing a page you won’t submit.

When you do need an abstract, treat it as its own page, not a paragraph you tuck under your introduction. That page has a single job: give the reader a clean preview. Formatting is part of that job, since messy spacing or a wandering layout makes the text harder to scan.

What The Abstract Page Should Match In The Rest Of The Paper

Your abstract page follows the same basic setup as the full paper: margins, font, spacing, and page numbering stay consistent. The abstract is not a “special” page with different margins or a smaller font. Consistency keeps the paper looking like one unit from top to bottom.

How To Format An Abstract In APA

If you’re staring at a blank page and wondering where to start, use this sequence. It follows the official APA guidance for the abstract label, paragraph rules, and keywords line. You can also keep the APA Style Abstract and Keywords Guide open in a tab while you format.

Set Up The Page Before You Type The Abstract

1. Insert a page break after the title page so the abstract starts on a fresh page.
2. Check margins: set all sides to 1 inch.
3. Confirm double spacing for the whole document, not just the paragraph you’re typing.
4. Use an APA-approved font and size, then keep it consistent across the paper.
5. Make sure your page number appears in the header, aligned right.

Add The Abstract Label

On the first line of the new page, type Abstract. Center it. Make it bold. Do not add italics, underlining, or quotes. Then press Enter once to move to the next line.

Write The Abstract Paragraph With The Right Shape

Type the abstract as a single paragraph. Do not indent the first line. Keep the paragraph double-spaced. Skip extra blank lines. Most abstracts land between 150 and 250 words, but your instructor’s cap wins if they set one.

For research reports, a common order is purpose, method, results, and what the results mean. For literature reviews, the flow is often topic, scope, main themes, and what the review shows. Pick the order that matches your paper’s structure, then stick to it.

Keep The Abstract Free Of Citations And Extras

APA abstracts usually stand alone, so skip in-text citations, quotes, footnotes, and URLs. If you name a study or theory, keep it plain and put the source details in the reference list, not on the abstract page. Also skip tables, figures, and bullet lists inside the abstract paragraph unless a journal asked for a structured abstract.

Write the method and results in past tense, since the work is done. Use present tense for what the results show. Keep numbers lean: sample size, main measure, and one or two headline results are enough for many class papers.

Pick Keywords That Match The Terms You Use

Keywords work best when they echo the words a reader would type into a database. Pull terms from your title, your main variables, and your population. Keep them short, keep them lowercase, and keep them consistent with the wording you use in the paper.

Format The Keywords Line When It’s Required

If your instructor or journal asks for keywords, press Enter once after the abstract paragraph, then start a new line. Indent that new line like a regular paragraph. Type Keywords: then add three to five keywords in lowercase, separated by commas. Don’t add a period at the end of the line.

Sample Keywords Line

Keywords: adolescent sleep, screen time, daily routines, academic performance

Formatting An Abstract In APA For Student And Journal Papers

The abstract page layout stays steady across paper types, but two areas change often: headers and what the reader expects in the text. A student paper might use only a page number in the header. A journal submission may also require a running head and may enforce a strict word cap. Always match the rules you were given.

Student Paper Checks That Save Headaches

• Use the same font and spacing you used for the rest of the paper.
• Keep the abstract on page 2 if your title page is page 1.
• Skip keywords unless your instructor asked for them.
• Keep your tone neutral and plain. No jokes, no hype, no citations.

Journal Submission Checks Editors Expect

• Follow the journal’s abstract type. Some fields want a structured abstract with headings.
• Stick to the journal’s word cap, even if it’s lower than APA’s common range.
• Use keywords that match indexing terms used in your field’s databases.
• Keep abbreviations rare. If you must use one, define it once.

When A Structured Abstract Shows Up

A structured abstract uses mini labels such as “Objective,” “Method,” “Results,” and “Conclusions.” APA Style allows this when a publisher asks for it. If you’re writing for a class, you’ll usually stick with a single paragraph.

Word Processor Moves That Keep The Page Clean

The rules are simple, yet word processors love sneaky formatting. These fixes keep the abstract page tidy in Word and Google Docs without wrestling the whole document.

Use Styles So The Label Stays Centered

After you type “Abstract,” apply a centered alignment once, then move back to left alignment for the paragraph. If you center the whole page by mistake, undo it, then center only the label line.

Kill Extra Space After Paragraphs

Double spacing is not the same as adding “space after.” Check your paragraph settings and set spacing before and after to 0 pt. That stops the abstract from looking like it has hidden blank lines.

Make The Page Break Work For You

Use an actual page break, not repeated Enter presses. A page break keeps the abstract on its own page even when you edit the title page later.

Mini Template You Can Copy Into Your Document

Use this as a visual guide. Swap in your own content, then delete this block before you submit. If you need a full paper layout to compare against, the APA Style sample papers show both student and professional formats.

Abstract
[Your single-paragraph abstract begins here. No first-line indent. Double-spaced. Keep the paragraph within your word cap.]

Keywords: [optional, indented line] keyword one, keyword two, keyword three
  

Common Formatting Errors And Quick Fixes

Most abstract points lost in class come from tiny layout slips. Use this list as a fast scan before you export to PDF.

Slip	What It Looks Like	Fix
Indented first line	The paragraph starts with a tab or 0.5-inch indent	Remove the first-line indent for the abstract paragraph
Two paragraphs	A blank line splits the abstract into two blocks	Delete the extra line break so it stays one paragraph
Label not bold or not centered	“Abstract” blends into the text or sits left	Center and bold only the label line
Extra spacing	Odd gaps above or below the paragraph	Set paragraph spacing before/after to 0 pt
Keywords not indented	Keywords start flush left under the paragraph	Indent the keywords line like a new paragraph
Keywords capitalized	Each keyword begins with a capital letter	Use lowercase keywords unless a proper noun needs caps
Period after keywords	The keywords line ends with a dot	Remove the period
Wrong page order	Abstract appears after the introduction	Move it to page 2, right after the title page

A Fast Final Check Before You Export

Run this checklist right before you hit “Save as PDF.” It takes a minute and catches the stuff you stop seeing after staring at the page.

• The abstract is on its own page right after the title page.
• The label “Abstract” is centered and bold.
• The abstract text is one paragraph, double-spaced, with no first-line indent.
• Margins are 1 inch, and the font matches the rest of the paper.
• The page number is in the header on the right.
• If keywords are included, the keywords line is indented, the label is italic, and the words are lowercase and comma-separated.
• You used your assignment’s word cap, then trimmed any extra words.

Once those boxes are checked, you’ve done the formatting work. Now your reader can judge the content, not the spacing. And if you’re still unsure about whether an abstract belongs in your submission, ask your instructor before you turn it in.

When you’re writing a post like this for your own site and you want a one-line reference inside the body, this phrase still holds: how to format an abstract in apa is mostly about keeping the page clean and predictable, then letting your paragraph do its job.

One last reminder for your own drafting process: type the abstract last. You’ll write a tighter paragraph when you already know what your paper says, and you’ll spend less time rewriting lines you end up changing later.