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What To Avoid In Thesis Abstracts

Much advice and tips are given about how to write a thesis abstract, but thesis abstract writers can still create issues if they don’t generally avoid certain things (though sometimes some thesis writers intentionally and effectively break guidelines).

Every Word Counts

Thesis abstracts are exercises in concision so make every word count. Remove redundancies, ineffective points, unnecessary content, etc. and pare your thesis abstract right down to its minimal word count while maintaining effective style and including all required content. Also, don’t add words just to reach your thesis abstract limit; instead, trim quality content to get under the limit.

Titles

Citing titles is usually unnecessary, especially as thesis abstracts are near title pages, but repeating them is tedious and consumes words. Remember, every word counts in thesis abstracts.

References

Thesis abstracts prioritise your work, not others. Some (e.g. certain supervisors, universities, disciplines, style guides, examiners) advocate avoiding all references, while others perhaps justify their inclusion. If used, they must be absolutely essential and allowable (style guide, university, etc.) and should not dominate the thesis abstract, but do check this is okay in your context first.

Artwork

Artwork, figures, graphs, tables, etc. are usually avoided. In fact, I’ve never read a thesis abstract that has any – have you? That said, maybe there are exceptional circumstances were thesis abstracts need them.

Content Outside Your Thesis

Do not include keywords just to attract searchers; do not include topical, interesting or other information in your thesis abstract that is not addressed in your thesis.

The Wrong Abstract Type

Certain disciplines, styles or other requirements dictate the type of abstract you should write (e.g. science experiment). Avoid writing the wrong abstract type, do not include elements specifically for one abstract type in another, and omit incorrect content or phrasing (e.g. informative abstracts give the results: they don't tell readers the results are in the thesis).

Unfamiliar Abbreviations And Acronyms

Common and easily recognisable ones are okay (e.g. NHS and NASA), but avoid unfamiliar ones that readers will not understand. Generally unfamiliar ones that are understandable in context are perhaps okay.

Definition Of Terms

If many terms need defining, provide a separate definitions list; if only a few terms need defining, still don't do it in your thesis abstract.

Your Abstract As An Introduction

Your thesis abstract is not an introduction or something else (e.g. review, unless it’s a rare critical abstract). It is an abstract. The two are different. A thesis introduction introduces your thesis; a thesis abstract is your thesis (or a highly condensed version of it). Write a thesis abstract only, and make sure you do what’s required (see how to write a thesis abstract).

Inappropriate Language

Your language use should fit all the requirements for your thesis abstract (e.g. type, university, style, etc.), but it should also be consistent with the rest of your thesis. While in ways your thesis abstract is a document independent of your thesis, the two are also related so their language use should also be so.

If you want to work with me on your thesis or other work, contact Thesis Services now so we can discuss what you require.