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Creating/Adding an Abstract to an existing paper.


If you did not select the option to create an abstract when you created your paper, you can add one at a later time.


Here are the steps to creating an abstract in Word versions previous to 2007

With the paper open that you wish to put the abstract in:

  1. Select Edit from the menus at the top of the page, then Go To
  2. Select Section in the box at the left, and then type 2 in the entry field at the right. Click Go To and then Close.
  3. While holding down the Ctrl key, hit the Enter key.
  4. Click on APA PERRLA >>Change Format and select APA Header.
  5. Type the word Abstract, then hit Enter.
  6. Click on APA PERRLA >> Change Format and Select APA Abstract.
  7. You're ready to start typing your abstract in the proper place.

Here are the steps to creating an abstract for Word 2007 and 2010

With the paper open that you wish to put the abstract in:

  1. On the Home tab of the Office Ribbon, in the far right end, click the small down arrow found to the right of the word Find next to the Binocular icon. Select Goto to open the Find and Replace screen.
  2. You'll see three "tabs" on this screen... 1) Find, 2) Replace, and 3) Go To
  3. Click on the Go To tab to make it the active tab
  4. In the "Go to what" list on the left side of the screen, click Section to select it.
  5. In the "Enter Section Number" text box, enter "2" (without quotes)
  6. Click the Go To button and then click the Close button.
  7. The editing cursor is now positioned in the proper place in your document for the abstract.
  8. While holding down the Ctrl key, hit the Enter key to insert a Page Break. (Note in Word 2010 the cursor may not jump to the new page until you start typing as directed in the next step 13)
  9. Click "Change Format" on the PERRLA menu.
  10. After reading the directions, click OK to proceed.
  11. The Select Format Change screen will appear. Click to select "APA Heading 1"and then click OK.
  12. Type the word "Abstract" (without quotes) and then hit the Enter key. (a new line will not be added)
  13. Click "Change Format" on the APA toolbar.
  14. After reading the directions, click OK to proceed.
  15. The Select Format Change screen will appear again. Click to select "APA Abstract" and then click OK.
  16. Now you're ready to start typing your abstract in the proper place. As soon as you start typing, the cursor will jump down to the next line and the text will be properly formatted for the abstract.



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