Research Paper Abstract Dos and Don'ts
When writing your abstract, make sure to follow these dos and don'ts:
Dos
- Do summarize the key points of your research, including the research question, methods, results, and conclusion.
- Do be concise and precise—limit your abstract to 150-300 words.
- Do highlight the significance of your research and how it contributes to the field.
- Do write the abstract last, after completing the rest of your paper.
- Do use clear, accessible language and avoid jargon or complex terms.
- Do focus on the major findings, not minor details or extended explanations.
- Do follow the specific formatting guidelines provided by the journal or conference.
Don'ts
- Don’t introduce new information not covered in the main body of the paper.
- Don’t include long explanations or background information that isn’t directly relevant to your research.
- Don’t use abbreviations or acronyms that aren’t defined in the abstract.
- Don’t include citations or references to other studies or sources in the abstract.
- Don’t make speculative or unfounded claims—keep your language factual and based on evidence.
- Don’t exceed the recommended word count; keep the abstract focused.
- Don’t repeat your introduction, conclusion, or other sections verbatim in the abstract.