What an abstract should contain
An abstract is a self-contained summary of your work. A reader who sees only the abstract should know why you did it, how, what you found and what it means. In most empirical fields it follows this order:
- Background and aim: one or two sentences on the problem and your question.
- Method: design, sample or data, instruments and analysis.
- Results: the main findings, with numbers where you have them.
- Conclusion: what the findings mean and what should happen next.
Humanities abstracts are often shorter and describe the argument rather than a method. Follow the template of your journal or university.
Writing the notes that make a good abstract
The tool can only use what you give it. Include your research question, design, sample size, measures, the key result and the main limitation. If you leave out the results, the abstract will describe them in general terms instead of making them up, which is honest but not yet submit-ready.
Check before you submit
Read the result like a reviewer. Does every number match the paper? Is the verb right (suggests vs shows)? Did the abstract overstate the conclusion? Abstracts are often indexed in databases and read far more than the paper, so a wrong claim travels far.
Word limits and formats
Most journals ask for 150 to 250 words, but some allow 300 or require headed sections such as Objective, Methods, Results and Conclusions. Trim with the Sentence Shortener or paraphrase a clumsy sentence with the Paraphrasing Tool. If you only need to condense an article, the Text Summarizer is the better fit. Format the paper's sources with the Citation Generator.
Disclosure
Some journals and universities require you to disclose AI assistance in writing. Check the policy, and remember that you remain responsible for the accuracy of the abstract.