How to Write an Abstract: Word Limits, Structure and an Example

The abstract is the most-read part of your work. In databases, researchers look at the title, then the abstract, and decide whether to read the full text. So it must be short but complete.

When to write the abstract

Last. The abstract summarises the whole study; it cannot be written before results and conclusions are known. Abstracts written first rarely match the final work.

Structure

A good abstract answers four questions:

1. Aim: what did the study investigate?
2. Method: with whom, using which design and instruments?
3. Results: what are the most important findings?
4. Conclusion: what do they mean?

Some journals require a structured abstract with headings such as "Purpose:" and "Methods:".

Length

Thesis abstracts are often limited to about 150–250 words or one page; journal limits vary. Always follow your institution’s or journal’s limit.

Keywords

• Usually 3–5 keywords are required.
• Choose terms readers would search for that are different from words already in the title.
• Use established terms in your field.

What not to include

• Citations
• Information or findings not in the main text
• Unexplained abbreviations
• Tables, figures or long statistical output
• Empty phrases like "very important results were obtained"

Tense

Past tense is common for methods and results (was conducted, were found); present tense for general conclusions.

A short template

"The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between … and …. Using a correlational survey design, data were collected from … participants with … and …. The analyses showed that …. These findings suggest that …."

Abstracts with Academiana

In Academiana, the abstract is placed last in the roadmap. When the other chapters are complete, the "Abstract" action drafts a Turkish abstract and an English abstract from your text in aim–method–results–conclusion order. It never adds findings that are not in your text; if results are not yet written, it leaves "[DATA TO BE ENTERED]".