About
An abstract is a general synopsis of a research article, research proposal, or review article. In most academic publications, the abstract is a standard part of the article. It summarizes the entire article and is used in indexing the article for search engines and databases. Abstracts are also used in:
- multi-author books, to describe the contents of each chapter
- library reference indexes, such as Chemical Abstracts, to make work easier to find
- theses and dissertations, to summarize the work
- reports, as executive summaries
- patents, to outline the process or device
- scientific meetings, to help people to decide whether to attend presentations
Writing Tips: Abstract
Keep It Brief
One way to think of an abstract is as a somewhat expanded version of the Title. The Title can make only the simplest statement about the content of an article. The abstract covers each major aspect of the article without reiterating the whole paper. More help starting an abstract
The abstract provides a very brief overview of the entire study. Some publications allow no more than 75 words; others allow abstracts of up to 350 words for very complex studies. Usually abstracts are between 150 and 250 words, or about 15 sentences.
Check the publication’s guidelines.
- If their word limit is low, focus only on essentials. Keep to the limit, or it may be trimmed for you. For help, see Revising your abstract.
- Write the abstract as a single paragraph, unless it is longer than 300 words.
Be descriptive but concise.
- Being concise means cutting out any words and details you don’t truly need. The level of detail you provide depends on your audience and your goal in writing. If your readers don’t need a piece of information, leave it out, no matter how interesting it is.
- Sources of wordiness include empty phrases such as It has long been known that, It is worth mentioning at this point, It might be said that, and so on. Remove such wording.
- Use single words instead of phrases: not a number of, but several; not the vast majority of but most or nearly all; not at the present time but now; not based on the fact that but because; not has been shown to be but is.
- Omit excess words such as green in color, preliminary in nature, there are three main steps that are required.
- Write for the same audience as the article, using the same level of technical language.
Cover Your Entire Paper
The abstract must cover your whole study or argument, summarizing each section of your paper briefly:
- Title:
- Make the title the same as the title of the paper.
- Make it short, but descriptive.
- Make sure it indicates the question or subject you investigated.
- Authors:
- List the authors.
- Include their affiliations, contact information for the corresponding author, and the date.
- Introduction:
- Write one sentence that describes the study’s general topic, background and context, rationale, and importance.
- State the purpose of the research and list any specific research objectives or hypotheses.
- Framework:
- Specifically state your framework for analysis and critique.
- Use field-specific terminology to succinctly and precisely describe your theoretical framework.
- Provide brief overviews of the works or evidence you analyze or critique.
- Analysis:
- Write two or three sentences describing your analysis and findings.
- Use the present tense.
- Summarize principal findings and major points.
- Discussion or Conclusion:
- End with one or two sentences of the Discussion or Conclusion.
- Write a single sentence that summarizes your conclusions and their relationship to the general question or subject studied.
- State any limitations on your findings.
- Finish by recapping the work’s contribution to science (or the world) and its implications for associated problems or for findings of previous studies.
- Title:
Abstract of a Review Article
An abstract of a review article is also slightly different. Typical elements in the abstract of a review article are a statement of topic, a description of the organization and scope of the review, the type of sources reviewed (for example, published articles, conference papers, monographs), and a conclusion. More about review articles
Writing the Abstract
When writing the abstract:
- Include the keywords you want used for indexing.
- Use the nomenclature of your field.
- Avoid speculation or editorial comments not in the main article.
- Be as brief and specific as possible.
Elements of a Humanities Abstract
Title
- Make the title the same as the title of the paper.
- Make it short, but descriptive.
- Make sure it indicates the question or subject you investigated.
Authors
- List the authors.
- Include their affiliations, contact information for the corresponding author, and the date.
Introduction
- Write one sentence that describes the study’s general topic, background and context, rationale, and importance.
- State the purpose of the research and list any specific research objectives or hypotheses.
Framework
- Specifically state your framework for analysis and critique.
- Use field-specific terminology to succinctly and precisely describe your theoretical framework.
- Provide brief overviews of the works or evidence you analyze or critique.
Analysis
- Write two or three sentences describing your analysis and findings.
- Use the present tense.
- Summarize principal findings and major points.
Discussion or Conclusion
- End with one or two sentences of the Discussion or Conclusion.
- Write a single sentence that summarizes your conclusions and their relationship to the general question or subject studied.
- State any limitations on your findings.
- Finish by recapping the work’s contribution to science (or the world) and its implications for associated problems or for findings of previous studies.
See a Model: Humanities Abstract
Humanities Abstract
Victorian Psychologies and Pretentions: Gender and Class in Henry James’s Daisy Miller (Item 1)
Word count: 266 (Item 2)
The American author (Item 3) Henry James’s novella Daisy Miller represents an early depiction of the class tensions between upper class (Item 4) Americans and an emerging middle class (Item 5) around the turn of the twentieth century. His period portrayal of the weakening expatriate “aristocracy” and its attitudes toward the newly wealthy middle class provides rich matter for a historically sensitive, Marxist analysis of class and gender relations. (Item 6) This paper offers a (Item 7) class-based analysis (Item 8) of the actions of Frederick Winterbourne, a character in the novella representative of the “aristocratic” class. (Item 9) Looking closely at Winterbourne’s actions and thoughts regarding Daisy, the essay focuses on Winterbourne as a representative of his class and as a suitor of Daisy. It looks closely at the repressive attitudes of the American upper class towards women during that time period, showing them to be harmful and disturbing. (Item 10) It notes Winterbourne’s susceptibility to influence, showing that he is tied to the perspective of his class and unable to change. (Item 11) Ultimately, Winterbourne’s character presents a socio-psychological profile that is cultured by, and indicative of, the American upper class. Analyzed as symbolic of his class, Winterbourne is thus seen as embodying the rigid ideologies of the “American aristocracy” and foreshadowing the cause of its demise. (Item 12) Derived from Marxist and New Historical critiques (Item 13), this study continues the conversation about Victorian class systems, women’s place in them, and their representation in period literature. It provides a psychological reading of male figures during that period that contributes to an understanding of social representation during James’s time and offers a deep analysis of the relationships in Daisy Miller for further study through literary and socio-historical perspectives. (Item 14)
Key words: Henry James, Daisy Miller, class-based analysis, Victorian society, Marxist, New Historical criticism (Item 15)
Please direct all correspondence regarding this study to Annabelle Johnson, University U, Department of English, at aj@university.edu. (Item 16)
What’s Correct/Incorrect in This Abstract?
Item 1. The abstract has the same Title as the paper it summarizes. The Title should be descriptive and accurately indicate the subject matter of the paper. Victorian Psychologies and Pretentions: Gender and Class in Henry James’s Daisy Miller
Item 2. At 266 words, this abstract is too long. However, there are many places where it can be shortened without losing meaning. When editing for length, try to avoid strategies like deleting articles and prepositions, which are critical to grammatical and meaningful writing. Instead, focus on cutting redundant and less relevant information, as noted throughout this abstract.
Item 3. It is apparent in this sentence that James is an author. His nationality is a nice detail but likely not critical to understanding who he is, particularly since the abstract specifies that the novella is set in America. This phrase can be deleted.
Item 4. The first few lines of the abstract introduce and set a context for the study. They summarize major aspects of the subject that are important to this specific study.
Item 5. This wordy phrase can be shortened to in the late 1800’s or in the Victorian era, both of which are also more descriptive.
Item 6. This sentence summarizes the subject of this study in one sentence and highlights the theoretical approach of the paper. It is specific and direct, naming critical points in the study such as topic and framework.
Item 7. Here, the framework behind the study is specified. Terms and theories from the field identify the analytical approach taken.
Item 8. Key terms such as “class-based analysis” make the abstract accessible electronically.
Item 9. Here, the framework behind the study is specified. Terms and theories from the field identify the analytical approach taken.
Item 10. Generally, repressive attitudes are harmful and disturbing. This phrase can be cut from the abstract.
Item 11. Supporting details and sub conclusions such as this one can be removed from the abstract since they are not necessary to understand the overall direction of the paper.
Item 12. In an informative abstract, the thesis of the paper is explicitly stated.
Item 13. Key theories identify the basis of the study so it can be identified by interested scholars.
Item 14. A summary of the paper’s discussion and conclusions indicate the scope of the study and its contributions to the field of knowledge on the subject.
Item 15. A list of key terms will be entered in a database so the abstract is easily searchable.
Item 16. Contact information for the author of the study is provided.
Revision Checklist: Humanities Abstract
Focus/Purpose
Have you omitted unnecessary material?
- Give only a few lines of background information.
- Present only the main points that your essay covers.
- Leave out all supporting details.
- Don’t overstate results of work still in progress.
- Revise sentences you have copied from your paper so they fit into the abstract’s style and do not include extra information.
Have you presented your ideas clearly and succinctly?
- Write your abstract separately from your paper, generating ideas that flow together well.
- Summarize your ideas briefly but with powerful language.
- Summarize your points in the order in which the paper presents them.
Development/Elaboration
Does your abstract have a useful Title?
- Make the abstract’s title the same as the title of the paper.
- Make the title short, but descriptive.
- Make sure the title indicates what you investigated.
Does the abstract introduce the study in an informative manner?
- Begin with one or two sentences that contain specific information.
- Inform your reader of the issues behind your study.
- Include the study’s topic, background and context, rationale, and importance.
Do you indicate the frameworks and theories that guide your analysis?
- Reference your major analytical frameworks or theories.
- Summarize the focus of these frameworks or theories.
- Explain how you apply them to your subject and topic.
Have you included the main points of your study?
- State your thesis.
- State the main objectives of your study.
- Summarize principal findings and major points.
- Be as specific as possible.
- Ensure that the main arguments are present in your abstract.
Do you sketch out your conclusions so the reader is aware of your direction?
- Use one or two sentences to sum up your discussion or conclusion(s).
- Indicate the scope of your work. Tell the reader how much depth you provide in your paper. If it is only a review or overview of major works, say so. If you use your major theories as references for a unique analysis, describe the extent of your individual conclusions.
- Summarize the overall direction of your analysis and its contribution to the field.
Organization
Have you provided information to identify your abstract?
- Include key terms from your work so it can be found in electronic database searches.
- Provide contact information for the author(s), if your work will be published.
- Give a bibliographic citation if the article is published in a book, journal, or magazine.
- Include organizational information if it’s an internal document.
- For articles that are published online, provide a URL or DOI.
Language/Style
Is your abstract brief but comprehensive?
- Ensure that it doesn’t exceed the word limit.
- Summarize the entire article.
- Focus on essentials.
- Restrict coverage of each section to just a few sentences.
- The number of words in your abstract should be between seventy-five and two hundred fifty, depending on the length of your paper.
Do you make concise, coherent, active statements?
- Use the active voice. It is more direct and uses fewer words.
- Remove unnecessary words transferred in copying and pasting.
- Sources of wordiness include empty phrases such as It has long been known that, It is worth mentioning at this point, It might be said that, and so on.
- Use single words instead of phrases: not a number of, but several; not the vast majority of but most or nearly all; not at the present time but now; not based on the fact that but because; not has been shown to be but is.
- Omit excess words such as green in color, preliminary in nature, there are three main steps that are required.
- Make sure people can understand the study by reading the abstract.