The abstract is the most-read part of any article. Journal editors often decide whether a manuscript goes out for review on the strength of its title and abstract alone, so a clear, compact abstract matters as much as strong data.
A four-part structure
Most journals in the sciences and health expect an abstract that follows the article itself (IMRaD). Whether or not it carries subheadings, it usually covers four things:
- Background and aim: the problem and why it matters, ending with the aim of the study. One or two sentences are enough.
- Methods: the study design, sample or materials, and main analysis.
- Results: the main findings, ideally with key numbers (effect sizes, p values, or percentages).
- Conclusion: what the findings mean, without going beyond what the data support.
The most common problem we see is a long background followed by results that are barely mentioned. The results are why people read your article, so give them the most space.
Respect the word limit
Word limits vary between journals, usually somewhere between 150 and 300 words. Always check the target journal’s Guide for Authors, including whether the abstract must be structured. An abstract over the limit is one reason manuscripts are returned before review.
Choosing a tense
Common conventions in English-language abstracts:
| Part | Usual tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Established facts | simple present | Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. |
| Aim and methods | simple past | We measured serum IL-6 levels in 40 rats. |
| Results | simple past | Curcumin reduced IL-6 levels by 42%. |
| Conclusion | simple present | These findings suggest that … |
Consistency matters most. Switching tense within a section makes an abstract read as unpolished.
Sentence patterns we often correct
A long opening. This research was conducted with the aim to know the effect of … reads better as We examined the effect of …
Literal translation from another language. The result of this research showed that … can simply be The results showed that …, or state the finding directly.
Overclaiming. This extract can cure diabetes. is more accurately This extract may be a candidate for further study in diabetes models.
Active sentences with we as the subject are now accepted by many journals and are usually shorter than long passive constructions. Follow your target journal’s style guide.
Checklist before you submit
- The aim of the study is stated explicitly
- The main method and sample size are given
- Results include key numbers, not only the word significant
- The conclusion does not go beyond the data
- No undefined abbreviations, and no citations unless the journal allows them
- Within the word limit and format of the target journal
- Keywords do not simply repeat the title
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