abstract
A brief summary of a research paper, thesis, or report that highlights the main points and findings. It is typically found at the beginning of a document to help readers quickly understand the core purpose and results.
Examples
3 of 5I read the abstract of the article to see if it was relevant to my project.
I read the short summary of the article to check its relevance to my project.
The committee requested a three-hundred-word abstract for the upcoming conference.
The committee asked for a short 300-word summary for the next conference.
Just give me the abstract; I don't have time for the whole report.
Just give me the quick summary because I am in a hurry.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'AB-stract' as an 'AB-breviated tract' (a shortened piece of writing).
Quick Quiz
The journal editor asked the researcher to shorten her _____ because it exceeded the 250-word limit.
Correct!
The correct answer is: abstract
Examples
I read the abstract of the article to see if it was relevant to my project.
everydayI read the short summary of the article to check its relevance to my project.
The committee requested a three-hundred-word abstract for the upcoming conference.
formalThe committee asked for a short 300-word summary for the next conference.
Just give me the abstract; I don't have time for the whole report.
informalJust give me the quick summary because I am in a hurry.
The abstract must clearly state the research methodology and the primary conclusions.
academicThe summary needs to explain how the research was done and what the results were.
Please include an abstract at the start of the proposal for the executive team.
businessPlease put a summary at the beginning of the proposal for the managers.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
in the abstract
considering something theoretically rather than in practice
abstract of title
a summary of the history of ownership of a piece of land
scientific abstract
a summary specifically for a scientific study
Often Confused With
An extract is a small part taken directly from a text, while an abstract is a newly written summary of the entire text.
An introduction starts the narrative of the paper, whereas an abstract summarizes the whole paper including the results.
Usage Notes
When used as a noun in academic contexts, it always refers to a summary. Note that the pronunciation of the noun emphasizes the first syllable: AB-stract.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 'summary' for academic papers when 'abstract' is the specific technical term required by journals.
Memory Tip
Think of 'AB-stract' as an 'AB-breviated tract' (a shortened piece of writing).
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'abstractus', meaning 'drawn away' or 'removed from'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In global academic culture, the abstract is often the only part of a paper that is free to read behind paywalls, making it the most important section for visibility.
Quick Quiz
The journal editor asked the researcher to shorten her _____ because it exceeded the 250-word limit.
Correct!
The correct answer is: abstract
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