Abstract word counts typically range from 150-300 words depending on style guide and publication. APA 7th Edition requires 150-250 words, Chicago allows up to 300 words, while scientific journals like Nature limit abstracts to 150 words and Science to 125 words. Importantly, abstracts do NOT count toward your paper’s overall word limit.

This guide covers abstract length requirements across academic fields and document types.

Abstract Word Count by Style Guide and Journal

APA Style (7th Edition)

Requirements:

• 150-250 words maximum
• No minimum specified, but 150+ recommended
• Single paragraph, no indentation
• Keywords listed below abstract (optional)

Structure guidance:

• Research problem (1-2 sentences)
• Participants/subjects (1 sentence)
• Methods (1-2 sentences)
• Findings (1-2 sentences)
• Conclusions/implications (1-2 sentences)

Chicago/Turabian Style

Requirements:

• Up to 300 words
• May be called “abstract” or “synopsis”

IEEE Style (Engineering/CS)

Requirements:

• 150-200 words
• Must be self-contained (readable without the paper)
• No citations, abbreviations, or acronyms
• No mathematical equations

Abstract Word Count by Document Type

Important: Abstracts do NOT count toward your paper’s word limit.

Abstracts by Academic Field

Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

Typical length: 200-300 words

Common structure (IMRAD):

• Introduction/Background (1-2 sentences)
• Methods (2-3 sentences)
• Results (2-3 sentences)
• Discussion/Conclusion (1-2 sentences)

Field-specific notes:

• Chemistry journals often require shorter abstracts (150-200)
• Biology may allow graphical abstracts in addition
• Physics journals vary widely

Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology)

Typical length: 150-250 words (APA standard)

Key elements:

• Research problem
• Sample description
• Methodology
• Key findings
• Implications

Note: APA dominates this field, so 250 words is usually the maximum.

Humanities (Literature, History, Philosophy)

Typical length: 100-200 words

Key elements:

• Thesis/argument
• Scope of analysis
• Conclusion/significance

Note: Abstracts less standardized in humanities; some publications don’t require them.

Engineering and Computer Science

Typical length: 150-200 words

Key elements:

• Problem statement
• Proposed solution/method
• Key results/contributions
• Significance

Note: IEEE guidelines are common; strictly no citations or abbreviations.

Medical and Health Sciences

Typical length: 250-350 words (structured)

Required sections:

• Background/Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusions

Note: Medical journals often require structured abstracts with headings.

Informative vs. Descriptive Abstracts

Informative Abstracts

Purpose: Summarize the entire paper including results and conclusions

Length: 150-300 words

Includes:

• Background
• Purpose/hypothesis
• Methods
• Results (with data)
• Conclusions

Best for: Research papers, theses, scientific articles

Descriptive Abstracts

Purpose: Describe what the paper covers without revealing conclusions

Length: 100-150 words

Includes:

• Topic and scope
• Purpose
• Methods overview
• Does NOT include results or conclusions

Best for: Conference proposals, book chapters, humanities papers

What to Include (and Exclude) in Word Count

Usually INCLUDED:

• All body text of the abstract
• Numbers and data points
• In-text abbreviations after first use

Usually EXCLUDED:

• Title of the paper
• Author names and affiliations
• Keywords section (listed separately)
• Structured abstract headings (Background, Methods, etc.)

Verify with your specific publication: Some journals count headings; most don’t.

Common Abstract Length Mistakes

Too Short (Under 100 words)

Problems:

• Doesn’t adequately summarize research
• May be rejected by automated systems
• Misses key elements

Solution: Ensure you’ve covered all required elements (background, methods, results, conclusions).

Too Long (Exceeding limit)

Problems:

• May be automatically rejected
• Shows inability to follow instructions
• Forces readers to work harder

Solution: Prioritize findings over methods; cut background to essentials.

Wrong Type of Abstract

Problem: Writing an informative abstract when descriptive is required (or vice versa)

Solution: Check guidelines and understand the difference before writing.

Tips for Writing to Word Limits

Start with the Essentials

Write one sentence for each required element first:

1. What problem did you address?
2. What did you do?
3. What did you find?
4. What does it mean?

Then Expand or Contract

• If under limit: Add context, detail methods, include more specific results
• If over limit: Cut background, reduce method detail, focus on key findings

Use Precise Language

Instead of: “A large number of participants” Write: “428 participants”

Instead of: “The results showed significant effects” Write: “Scores improved 23% (p < .001)”

Specific language is shorter and more informative.

Remove Unnecessary Phrases

Abstract Submission Systems

Many journals use automated systems that enforce word limits:

Hard cutoffs: Some systems literally cut your text at the word limit

Word count displays: Most show current word count as you type

Rejection for length: Some automatically reject abstracts over the limit

Verification method: Always paste your abstract into the submission system early to verify the count matches your word processor.

Different systems may count differently, so verify your word count with multiple tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do keywords count toward abstract word count?

Usually no. Keywords are typically listed separately below the abstract and aren’t counted. Verify with your specific publication.

Does the abstract count toward the paper word limit?

No. Abstracts do NOT count toward your paper’s overall word limit. The abstract, title page, and references are typically excluded from the word count.

Can I use citations in my abstract?

Generally avoid citations in abstracts. Most style guides and journals discourage or prohibit them. Some exceptions exist in humanities.

Should I use abbreviations in my abstract?

Use sparingly. Define any abbreviation on first use. Some fields (like IEEE) prohibit abbreviations entirely.

What if there’s no word count specified?

Default to 200-250 words for research papers, 150 words for shorter articles. When in doubt, shorter is usually safer.

Is it okay to be significantly under the word limit?

Only if you’ve fully covered all required elements. A 100-word abstract for a 250-word limit might indicate missing content.

Key Takeaways

• By style: APA 7th = 150-250 words, Chicago = 300 words, Nature = 150 words, Science = 125 words, PLOS ONE = 300 words
• By document type: Dissertation = 300-350 words, Thesis = 200-350 words, Conference = 150-300 words
• Abstracts do NOT count toward your paper’s word limit
• Informative abstracts summarize findings; descriptive abstracts describe scope only
• Keywords and headings usually don’t count toward abstract word limits
• Check specific publication guidelines—requirements vary significantly

Conclusion

Abstract word counts vary by field, publication, and document type, but most fall within the 150-300 word range. Understanding whether you need an informative or descriptive abstract is just as important as hitting the right length. Always check specific guidelines before submitting, and use a word counter to verify you’re within limits before submission. Try our free letter counter → to ensure your abstract meets requirements exactly.