In academic and professional writings and submissions, an abstract plays a very important role. It provides the essence of a research or scientific paper, report, thesis, or presentation. Its main purpose is to give a complete summary or overview of the project to the reader. It gives a glimpse of the objectives, methods, key findings, and conclusions of the study carried out by the scholars.
The reader can instantly assess the relevance of the work without the need to read the entire document. A well-written abstract will maximize the chances of being read, understood, and even enjoyed. Whenever there is a submission of a research paper, a well-written abstract will enhance the whole publication’s success. Even the reviewer appreciates a good abstract because sometimes it might be the only part of the paper they might receive when invited to review.
In the journey of abstract submissions, several researchers, especially first-timers, make avoidable errors that can delay or might even reject their work. This blog post highlights a few common errors in the submission and ways to prevent them. It also presents a detailed checklist that should be followed on how to write an effective abstract.
Not Adhering to Abstract Submission Guidelines
One of the most common errors many authors, mainly newcomers, make is ignoring the abstract submission guidelines. Several academic conferences give clear and specific instructions that meet their standards. When authors ignore or do not follow them properly, their work gets noticed immediately by the reviewers and might result in rejection.
Some of the common mistakes made by the authors are overlooking the formatting, exceeding or decreasing the word limit, and not paying attention to structure-related instructions. This can be easily prevented by paying close attention to the specific submission guidelines. Read all the instructions carefully before submitting.
Keep the guidelines open while drafting the abstract and check often before submitting. Consider the provided guidelines as non-negotiable rather than optional suggestions. Understand the need and intent and create the abstract accordingly.
Lack of Understanding of the Type of Abstract
A most common and often recurring error is that the authors may misunderstand what kind of an abstract they are supposed to write. They must have some knowledge of different kinds of abstracts, such as abstracts based on structure or format and content.
Abstracts based on Structure or Format
Here, the abstracts change in the way the information is organized and presented. Some of the ways in can be represented are as follows:
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- Graphical Abstract
In this abstract presentation, the visual elements are used like diagrams, charts, or infographics to summarize the main ideas of the research and give a sneak peek to engage as well as communicate complex concepts.
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- Structured Abstract
It is a kind of abstract that is well-organized with clearly defined sections. All the details, such as a brief introduction to the study, a summary of the key insights, a high-level overview of the methodology, results obtained, and a conclusion of the key findings. This format is highly used because it helps readers to access specific parts of the research paper at a glance. Hence, it is a perfect fit for the places where clarity and precision are necessary.
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- Unstructured Abstract
In this type, the abstract is written as a single, continuous paragraph without any section labels. However, this format is quite flexible; it doesn’t have an organized structure, which is present in a structured abstract. But it still provides all the essential details of the entire study.
Abstracts based on Content
These abstracts differ in terms of the kinds of information presented and the level of detail it holds.
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- Highlight Abstract
As the name states, the highlight abstract mainly focuses on key findings and interesting questions that are useful in capturing the reader’s attention. It should always be short, concise, and highlight the most impactful or provocative elements of the research.
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- Descriptive Abstract
A descriptive abstract provides a brief outlook of the purpose, methods, and scope of the study, without revealing the results and conclusions. It is best for shorter research papers and general summaries.
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- Informative Abstract
In the informative abstract, a comprehensive summary is presented that includes the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions. It follows a comprehensive approach to the research.
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- Critical Abstract
Critical Abstract is about summarizing the research and, at the same time, assessing its pros, cons, and scope for further research. It usually includes an analysis of the quality and effect of the overall study.
A good abstract should not have any new details. The authors should pay attention and abstain from presenting any misinformation in the abstract that is not available in the main research paper. Always aim to write a concise paper. An abstract should be an elevator pitch. It should be short, clear, brief, and must represent the main parts. The abstract should paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind with its crisp narrative.
Missing Summary Writing
One of the most common errors is to only include certain parts of the project in the abstract. If there is no key information present, then the reader might not feel like reading. Don’t assume that the reader or reviewer will search through the whole research paper for the information if they can’t find it in the abstract. Create an abstract that is complete and give a concise summary of the entire project. A clear summary of the findings described in a few words will strengthen an abstract.
Overloading with Unnecessary Details
Overloading the abstract with too many details that are not important can lead to misunderstanding the core message. Too much detail can make the abstract confusing and make it difficult for readers to focus on the key findings. Context is required, but adding too much of it wastes the valuable time of the reviewers. An abstract should only summarize the research paper. There is no need to educate about the whole document.
This can be achieved by properly including background limitations in strictly one or two concise sentences. Consider focusing on what makes the study unique and relevant rather than explaining every concept. For example, “This paper discusses in detail each element of social media usage, such as its frequency, major platforms used, demographic variations, psychological effects, and emerging coping mechanisms, among other topics.” – This can be simply written as – “This study highlights the key findings on the psychological effects of social media usage, including its relationship to increased anxiety.”
Adding Jargon in Abstract
Writing errors are something that can be found in any abstract and academic research paper. These kinds of errors might not lead to rejection, but they definitely result in many revisions, which is time-consuming as well as tedious. Many authors sometimes add jargon that might not fit the context. Many times, these jargons can be complex terminology, using technical terms even when there are alternatives that are easy-to-understand.
If there is too much jargon, it confuses the readers and will also damage the overall flow of the writing. The reviewers might get distracted by the quality of the research as well. Simplifying and clarifying the language wherever possible will make the writing interesting. Avoiding the common errors will result in the successful acceptance of the abstract.
Explaining Citations, Abbreviations, References, and Detailed Measurements
Many academic conferences don’t prefer mentioning citations in abstracts. It is better to avoid abbreviations, including references, and any kind of detailed measurements, because it wastes space and disrupt the entire flow. An abstract must be a stand-alone source without the need for any external sources.
If in the guidelines it’s mentioned to add abbreviations and citations in the abstract, then it is good to add. If there are instructions not to mention them, then it is better to remove them and only focus on important aspects like the structure and content instead of referencing others.
Exceeding or Limiting the Word Count
Many researchers face difficulty keeping their abstracts within the specified word count. Going beyond or falling short in the words is a common error. But from the reviewer’s point of view, ignoring the word count can come across as carelessness on the author’s part. It can also result in automatic rejection or might look underdeveloped.
Following the word count ensures fairness and consistency in the submissions. Aiming to write just slightly below, not more than the prescribed maximum limit, is a good idea. Using concise language, eliminating unnecessary words, avoiding jargon, and removing redundancies are helpful to preserve the meaning without getting compromised on the word count.
Using Promotional or Emotional Language
An abstract should be top-notch when it comes to language usage. They shouldn’t sound like marketing or promotional pitches. Providing highly dramatic claims or using exaggerated language can harm the abstract’s credibility. Using the following words, such as “groundbreaking,” “revolutionary,” or “the best study ever,” is the biggest red flag. This can be tackled by focusing on using measured, objective language that reflects academic standards.
Submitting Without Proofreading and Plagiarism Check
Any minor mistake can result in a negative impression. There are high chances to encounter typos, grammar errors, such as spelling, punctuation, and tense errors, in the abstract. Many times, the presence of awkward phrasing undermines the overall credibility. To deal with this effectively, it is important to proofread the whole document multiple times without missing or leaving any details.
Unintentional copying is very common and often ignored by many research scholars. This can lead to serious consequences like rejection of the work. Reviewers usually relate the issues in writing and content to poor research quality. To avoid this mistake, run a detailed plagiarism check of the whole abstract. This ensures that the aspects of originality and authorship are completely met.
Checklist to Write an Effective Abstract
A well-written abstract is essential to effectively communicate research findings and boost the visibility and acceptance of academic research and professional papers. The steps mentioned below are helpful for the abstract to make it clear, concise, and effectively summarize the whole document:
Focus on completing the research paper first
Completing the academic research paper gives an understanding of what the most crucial points are that need to be included. Never write the abstract first; there are high chance of missing important elements.
Identify key components
Emphasize the introduction, purpose, methodology, results, and conclusions. These are the key components for an abstract. They act as the backbone in creating an appealing abstract.
Create an abstract draft
Concentrate on including all the main elements without stressing about the word limit first. Try to capture the essence of the research.
Refine for clarity and quality
Always make sure that there is a logical flow, coherence, and rationality. Avoid vague statements, unnecessary words, and jargon.
Edit to meet word count requirements
Cut unnecessary details, edit thoroughly, and mention only the most important information. Make sure that the abstract remains informative from start to end.
Consider peer feedback
Ask for input from colleagues to improve the abstract. Feedback is helpful to understand different perspectives. Feedback can be a valuable addition.
Make final adjustments
Clearly state the research problem and how it can be proved or explored. Provide context and justify how the academic research work adds to the field.
Parting Thoughts
Avoiding the most common abstract submission mistakes can create a big difference. Always take enough time to focus strategically on quality and accuracy and improve writing. Make changes carefully to enhance the style, clarity, flow, structure, tone, conciseness, grammar, and spelling. Following the guidelines and paying attention to detail will result in the successful acceptance of the abstract.