1. A clear structure
Keep the structure of your abstract clear and simple to make it easier for both reviewers and participants to understand your topic. Your abstract should contain:
an opening (2-3 sentences) to introduce your topic and why it is interesting;
your hypothesis (1-2 sentences);
methods and results (4-6 sentences) describing how you addressed your hypothesis;
a conclusion (1-2 sentences) summarizing your discoveries and their impact.
2. Less is more
How often have you stumbled across an abstract that was too long and detailed to read? Don’t make the same mistake! Describe only one or two key results: there is no need to go into all the details and exhaust the word limit.
3. Bring out the impact (but don’t oversell)
Put yourself in the shoes of a reviewer from another speciality: make them understand the importance of your findings for the community or society, think of their end-users/beneficiaries, be specific (“our results could largely improve the effectiveness of patient care in oncology in the future”) – without overselling them (“our results will have a tremendous impact for the well-being of all future generations”).
4. Simplify. The. Syntax
Simplify the sentence structure whenever possible: replace long words with shorter ones (methodology -> methods), simplify words and expressions whenever possible (employ -> use, or in order to -> to).
5. Choose the right keywords
Think carefully about the keywords you will use in your text, which should act as signposts for reviewers and participants to better understand your work: “next-generation sequencing technologies” is both more helpful than “new methods to sequence DNA”.
6. Get active
Use the active voice to improve clarity and conciseness: “We simulated the impact of temperature on protein folding” rather than “A simulation was conducted for analysis of the impact of temperature on protein folding was conducted”; “Folding speed increased at higher temperatures” rather than “An increase in folding speed was observed for proteins at higher temperatures”.
7. Get feedback
Share your abstract with colleagues and friends outside your scientific speciality (which will likely be the case for reviewers and participants). If the abstract is well structured and clearly written, they will understand the key message.
