How can you make your abstract or summary more visible and relevant?

1 Use keywords and phrases

One of the most important aspects of making your abstract or summary more visible and relevant is to use keywords and phrases that reflect the main topic, purpose, and findings of your research. Keywords and phrases are the words that readers and search engines use to find and filter relevant publications. They should be specific, accurate, and consistent with the terms used in your title, introduction, and conclusion. You can use tools such as Google Scholar, Scopus, or Web of Science to identify and compare the most common and relevant keywords and phrases in your field or discipline. You should also avoid jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations that are not widely known or explained.

2 Follow the guidelines and format

Another important aspect of making your abstract or summary more visible and relevant is to follow the guidelines and format of the journal, conference, or institution where you intend to publish or submit your work. Different journals, conferences, and institutions may have different requirements and preferences for the length, structure, and style of your abstract or summary. Some may ask for a structured abstract or summary that follows a specific order of headings, such as background, objectives, methods, results, and conclusions. Others may prefer a narrative abstract or summary that summarizes the main points in a coherent and logical way. You should always check the instructions for authors or submission guidelines before writing or editing your abstract or summary, and adhere to the word limit, font size, spacing, and citation style.

3 Highlight the significance and implications

A third important aspect of making your abstract or summary more visible and relevant is to highlight the significance and implications of your research. Your abstract or summary should not only describe what you did and what you found, but also why it matters and how it contributes to the existing knowledge or practice in your field or discipline. You should emphasize the main problem or gap that you addressed, the main question or hypothesis that you answered, the main contribution or innovation that you made, and the main implications or recommendations that you derived from your findings. You should also avoid vague or general statements, and use clear and precise language to convey your message.

4 Proofread and revise

A final important aspect of making your abstract or summary more visible and relevant is to proofread and revise it carefully. Your abstract or summary should be free of grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors that can undermine your credibility and professionalism. You should also check if your abstract or summary is coherent, concise, and comprehensive, and if it reflects the main content and structure of your paper, thesis, or dissertation. You can use tools such as Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to check and improve your writing quality. You can also ask for feedback from your peers, supervisors, or mentors, and incorporate their suggestions and comments.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?