How Long Should an Introduction & Conclusion Be in APA Format?
- Whether you're using APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual as your style guide, a thoughtful, well developed introduction and conclusion is considered critical in writing a quality essay. Generally speaking, an introduction and conclusion should be of a similar length to your body paragraphs. If you are writing a five paragraph, 500 word essay, then your introduction and conclusion should each be approximately 100 words. (five to seven sentences is a good guide for length.)
- On occasion, your introduction and/or conclusion may actually consist of multiple paragraphs. This would be appropriate for complicated arguments, which may need more than a single paragraph to introduce or to sum up.
- Although there is not a set standard for the length for an introduction or conclusion, these should not be significantly longer or shorter than the body paragraphs and all paragraphs should be at least five to seven sentences long.
