Writing an Abstract
Summarise aim, method, findings in about 150 words.
Examples
- This study examines...
Key rules
- An abstract summarises the aim, method, main findings and conclusion in about 150 words
- Write in the past tense for the study and present for the findings
- Do not include references or long explanations
Common mistakes
- This study examines things in many ways and many people were in it. → This study examines the effect of sleep on memory in 120 adults. Participants completed a recall test after one night of sleep or deprivation.
Use cases
- Academic journals
- Conference papers
- Dissertation submissions
💡 Tip: Write the abstract last, after the full paper is finished, so it matches your results.