How to write an abstract
A six-move formula for a dissertation abstract, with word budgets and the mistakes that make abstracts unusable.
6 min read · Reviewed 2026 · Written and reviewed by Chris McGarrigle
Your abstract is the most-read and last-written part of your dissertation. It is a miniature of the whole argument, not an introduction or a teaser.
Almost every strong abstract makes the same six moves in the same order.
The six moves
In 200 to 300 words, roughly one to three sentences per move.
- Context: why this matters now.
- Problem or gap: what is unresolved.
- Aim and question: what you set out to answer.
- Method: design, sample, analysis, in one sentence.
- Findings: the actual results, specifically.
- Contribution: what follows for theory, practice or policy.
Be specific about findings
'Several themes emerged' tells a reader nothing. Name the themes or state the direction and size of the effect. Vague findings are the single biggest reason abstracts fail to do their job.
Write it last, edit it hardest
Draft it after your conclusion, then cut every sentence that does not perform one of the six moves. No citations, no abbreviations that are not defined, no content that is not in the dissertation.
Common mistakes
- An abstract that only describes what the study will do.
- Findings withheld to 'keep the reader interested'.
- Exceeding the word limit set by your department.
- Claims in the abstract that the conclusion does not make.
Try this: One sentence per move
- Write exactly one sentence for each of the six moves.
- Read the six sentences together — that is your skeleton abstract.
- Expand only where the meaning is unclear.
- Cut back to the word limit, protecting the findings sentence.
Do it in SuperDiss
Draft against the six moves and see which are missing.
Open the Abstract LabStudents also ask
- What should a dissertation abstract include?
- Six moves in around 250–300 words: context, problem or gap, aim and question, method, key findings, and contribution. Each move should be one or two sentences.
- How long should a dissertation abstract be?
- Usually 250–300 words for an undergraduate or master's dissertation, and up to 350 for a doctoral thesis — always check your own programme handbook.
- When should I write the abstract?
- Last. It is a summary of what the dissertation actually became, not what you planned it to be.
Related research: write it up
Draft, tighten and reference each chapter so the golden thread holds together.
Dissertation structure: chapter by chapter
The standard dissertation structure explained chapter by chapter, with indicative word counts, what each chapter must prove, and how the chapters connect.
How to write a limitations section
How to write an honest, well-judged limitations section that strengthens your dissertation rather than undermining it.
Continue your dissertation journey
- How to write a discussion chapter
- How to prepare for your viva
- How to write a dissertation introduction
- How to write a literature review
- How to write a methodology chapter
Browse every guide in dissertation writing.
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This guide is general educational content. Your institution's regulations, handbook and supervisor's instructions always take precedence. Where a named framework is mentioned, consult the original source text rather than relying on this summary.