Tips for Writing an Abstract

To create an abstract, it is essential to adhere to the following instructions:

The abstract should come before the body when writing a paper, but it is best to write it last. You must thoroughly understand the content to know which main points to include. To create an abstract, start by reviewing the body of the paper and identifying the most critical points. Then, summarize these points, including objectives, methods, results, and conclusions. It is essential not to copy and paste from the body into the abstract.

When writing an abstract for your paper, include the purpose or motivation behind the research, as this will capture the reader’s attention. Remember that an abstract should not contain any references or footnotes.

In general, abstracts should not include abbreviations or references and should be understandable without additional information. However, some commonly used abbreviations may be acceptable in specific fields. A reference should be provided if a quote is included in the abstract.

“The abstract should be written as a stand-alone document, and should also be understandable to non-specialist audiences. Many writers aim for their abstracts to be written at a level that would be understandable for first- or second-year undergraduate students in their fields. For this reason, it is recommended that authors exclude including references, jargon, and acronyms in their abstracts. If you feel you must include a reference (for example, if your analytical framework depends on a canonical work), try to limit the number of them, and be sure to cite the author and date. If included, acronyms should be written in full the first time they are introduced in the abstract. ” (see How to write a great abstract for your academic manuscript by ELSEVIER) 

September 2020

After summarizing, organizing your abstract in a specific order is crucial. Start with a concise statement of your arguments and conclude with the findings from your paper. This ensures clarity and coherence in your abstract.

When a research paper is published, the abstract serves as the initial glimpse into the details of the paper for readers. Therefore, it should provide accurate and informative insight and avoid misleading information. The abstract must include essential details from the entire manuscript, such as background information to provide context, the knowledge gap, the research question or aim, a brief mention of the methodology used (if applicable), key results or arguments presented, and concluding remarks that address the aims of the research.