Preface vs. Abstract: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023
Preface is an introductory statement in a book, explaining its purpose or background, while Abstract is a concise summary of a research paper or thesis, highlighting its main points.
Key Differences
Preface typically appears at the beginning of a book, offering insights into the book’s genesis, its journey, and any acknowledgments the author might wish to make. It sets a personal tone. An Abstract, predominantly found in scholarly articles, provides a brief summary, enabling readers to quickly grasp the main arguments and results.
When one encounters a Preface, it often provides context, perhaps detailing the inspiration behind the work or the challenges faced during its creation. In contrast, an Abstract aims to condense the essential aspects of a lengthy piece, such as a research paper, into a short, digestible format.
A Preface often carries a subjective tone, reflecting the author’s personal touch and feelings. An Abstract, on the other hand, retains an objective stance, focusing purely on the factual content and conclusions of the work it represents.
In essence, while a Preface serves as a window into the author's personal relationship with the content and offers context, an Abstract functions as a practical tool for readers to decide the relevance of the full document.
If one was to skip the Preface, they might miss out on the emotional or personal backstory of the work. Skipping the Abstract, especially in academic circles, might lead to missing the crux or the primary findings of a document.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Provides context and background
Summarizes main points
Tone
Often subjective
Objective
Position in Document
Typically at the beginning of books
Usually at the start of research papers
Length
Can vary, generally longer than an abstract
Concise, typically around 150-300 words
Content
Background, motivation, acknowledgments
Research objectives, methods, results
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Preface and Abstract Definitions
Preface
An introduction to a book, explaining its purpose.
In the Preface, the author explained why she wrote the memoir.
Abstract
A brief summary of research findings.
The Abstract highlighted the study's groundbreaking results.
Preface
A section acknowledging those who contributed to the work.
He thanked his mentors in the Preface.
Abstract
A snapshot of a research paper's content.
The Abstract provided a quick review of the experimental methods used.
Preface
An opening remark or introduction.
The Preface set the tone for the upcoming chapters.
Abstract
A short representation of a study's objectives and conclusions.
The Abstract emphasized the significance of the findings.
Preface
A preliminary statement or essay introducing a book that explains its scope, intention, or background and is usually written by the author.
Abstract
A distilled version of a lengthy document.
The conference attendees were provided with Abstracts of each presentation.
Preface
An introductory section, as of a speech.
Abstract
Considered apart from concrete existence
An abstract concept.
Preface
Something introductory; a preliminary
An informal brunch served as a preface to the three-day conference.
Abstract
Not applied or practical; theoretical.
Preface
Often Preface The words introducing the central part of the Eucharist in several Christian churches.
Abstract
Difficult to understand; abstruse
Abstract philosophical problems.
Preface
To introduce by or provide with a preliminary statement or essay.
Abstract
Denoting something that is immaterial, conceptual, or nonspecific, as an idea or quality
Abstract words like truth and justice.
Preface
To serve as an introduction to.
Abstract
Impersonal, as in attitude or views.
Preface
A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others' contributions.
The book included a brief preface explaining the author's motivations for writing.
Abstract
Having an intellectual and affective artistic content that depends solely on intrinsic form rather than on narrative content or pictorial representation
Abstract painting and sculpture.
Preface
An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
Abstract
A statement summarizing the important points of a text.
Preface
(Roman Catholic) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass.
Abstract
Something abstract.
Preface
A title or epithet.
Abstract
An abstract of title.
Preface
(transitive) To introduce or make a comment before (the main point).
Let me preface this by saying that I don't know him that well.
Abstract
To take away; remove
Abstract the most important data from a set of records.
Preface
(transitive) To give a preface to.
To preface a book
Abstract
To remove without permission; steal
A painting that was abstracted from the museum.
Preface
Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
This superficial taleIs but a preface of her worthy praise.
Heaven's high behest no preface needs.
Abstract
To consider (an idea, for example) as separate from particular examples or objects
Abstract a principle of arrangement from a series of items.
Preface
The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass.
Abstract
(ăbstrăkt′) To write a summary of; summarize
Abstract a long article in a paragraph.
Preface
To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.
Abstract
To create artistic abstractions of (something else, such as a concrete object or another style)
"The Bauhaus Functionalists were ... busy unornamenting and abstracting modern architecture, painting and design" (John Barth).
Preface
To make a preface.
Abstract
An abridgement or summary of a longer publication.
Preface
A short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
Abstract
Something that concentrates in itself the qualities of a larger item, or multiple items.
Preface
Furnish with a preface or introduction;
She always precedes her lectures with a joke
He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution
Abstract
Concentrated essence of a product.
Preface
A preliminary statement in a book by the book's author.
The Preface provided a brief history of the manuscript's journey.
Abstract
(medicine) A powdered solid extract of a medicinal substance mixed with lactose.
Preface
A statement of the book's origins and scope.
The Preface outlined the span of time the biography would cover.
Abstract
An abstraction; an abstract term; that which is abstract.
Abstract
The theoretical way of looking at things; something that exists only in idealized form.
Abstract
(arts) An abstract work of art.
Abstract
(real estate) A summary title of the key points detailing a tract of land, for ownership; abstract of title.
Abstract
(obsolete) Derived; extracted.
Abstract
Drawn away; removed from; apart from; separate.
Abstract
Not concrete: conceptual, ideal.
Her new film is an abstract piece, combining elements of magic realism, flashbacks, and animation but with very little in terms of plot construction.
Abstract
Insufficiently factual.
Abstract
Apart from practice or reality; vague; theoretical; impersonal; not applied.
Abstract
(grammar) As a noun, denoting a concept or intangible as opposed to an object, place, or person.
Abstract
Difficult to understand; abstruse; hard to conceptualize.
The politician gave a somewhat abstract answer when asked about their plans to cut spending.
Abstract
Separately expressing a property or attribute of an object that is considered to be inherent to that object: attributive, ascriptive.
Abstract
Pertaining comprehensively to, or representing, a class or group of objects, as opposed to any specific object; considered apart from any application to a particular object: general, generic, nonspecific; representational.
Abstract
(archaic) Absent-minded.
Abstract
(arts) Pertaining to the formal aspect of art, such as the lines, colors, shapes, and the relationships among them.
Abstract
Free from representational qualities, in particular the non-representational styles of the 20th century.
Abstract
(music) Absolute.
Abstract
(dance) Lacking a story.
Abstract
Being a partial basis for subclasses rather than a complete template for objects.
Abstract
(transitive) To separate; to disengage.
Abstract
(transitive) To remove; to take away; withdraw.
Abstract
To steal; to take away; to remove without permission.
Abstract
(transitive) To summarize; to abridge; to epitomize.
Abstract
To conceptualize an ideal subgroup by means of the generalization of an attribute, as follows: by apprehending an attribute inherent to one individual, then separating that attribute and contemplating it by itself, then conceiving of that attribute as a general quality, then despecifying that conceived quality with respect to several or many individuals, and by then ideating a group composed of those individuals perceived to possess said quality.
Abstract
To extract by means of distillation.
Abstract
(transitive) To consider abstractly; to contemplate separately or by itself; to consider theoretically; to look at as a general quality.
Abstract
To withdraw oneself; to retire.
Abstract
(transitive) To draw off (interest or attention).
He was wholly abstracted by other objects.
Abstract
To perform the process of abstraction.
Abstract
To create abstractions.
Abstract
To produce an abstraction, usually by refactoring existing code. Generally used with "out".
He abstracted out the square root function.
Abstract
Withdraw; separate.
The more abstract . . . we are from the body.
Abstract
Considered apart from any application to a particular object; separated from matter; existing in the mind only; as, abstract truth, abstract numbers. Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult.
Abstract
Expressing a particular property of an object viewed apart from the other properties which constitute it; - opposed to concrete; as, honesty is an abstract word.
A concrete name is a name which stands for a thing; an abstract name which stands for an attribute of a thing. A practice has grown up in more modern times, which, if not introduced by Locke, has gained currency from his example, of applying the expression "abstract name" to all names which are the result of abstraction and generalization, and consequently to all general names, instead of confining it to the names of attributes.
Abstract
Abstracted; absent in mind.
Abstract
To withdraw; to separate; to take away.
He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from his own prejudices.
Abstract
To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his was wholly abstracted by other objects.
The young stranger had been abstracted and silent.
Abstract
To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute.
Abstract
To epitomize; to abridge.
Abstract
To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to abstract goods from a parcel, or money from a till.
Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins from the harness.
Abstract
To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts of a substance, by distillation or other chemical processes. In this sense extract is now more generally used.
Abstract
To perform the process of abstraction.
I own myself able to abstract in one sense.
Abstract
That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a brief.
An abstract of every treatise he had read.
Man, the abstractOf all perfection, which the workmanshipOf Heaven hath modeled.
Abstract
A state of separation from other things; as, to consider a subject in the abstract, or apart from other associated things.
Abstract
An abstract term.
The concretes "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts "paternity" and "filiety."
Abstract
A powdered solid extract of a vegetable substance mixed with sugar of milk in such proportion that one part of the abstract represents two parts of the original substance.
Abstract
A concept or idea not associated with any specific instance;
He loved her only in the abstract--not in person
Abstract
A sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
Abstract
Consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
Abstract
Make off with belongings of others
Abstract
Consider apart from a particular case or instance;
Let's abstract away from this particular example
Abstract
Give an abstract (of)
Abstract
Existing only in the mind; separated from embodiment;
Abstract words like `truth' and `justice'
Abstract
Not representing or imitating external reality or the objects of nature;
A large abstract painting
Abstract
Based on specialized theory;
A theoretical analysis
Abstract
Dealing with a subject in the abstract without practical purpose or intention;
Abstract reasoning
Abstract science
Abstract
A concise overview of a document's main points.
By reading the Abstract, I understood the article's core arguments.
FAQs
Is an Abstract necessary for all research papers?
In academic and scientific contexts, most research papers require an Abstract.
Can a Preface be considered a summary of the book?
Not exactly. A Preface provides context and background, not a summary of content.
Does an Abstract include personal opinions?
No, an Abstract is objective and focuses on key findings and methodologies.
How long is a typical Abstract?
Abstracts are concise, often ranging from 150-300 words.
Is an Abstract found in fictional works?
Rarely. Abstracts are mainly for summarizing non-fiction, especially research.
Is a Preface always written by the author?
Generally, yes, the Preface is written by the author to give personal context.
Can a book have both a Preface and an Introduction?
Yes, a book can have a Preface for personal context and an Introduction for content overview.
In what order do Abstract and Introduction appear in a paper?
Usually, the Abstract comes first, followed by the Introduction.
Can a Preface acknowledge people?
Yes, authors often use the Preface to acknowledge and thank contributors and supporters.
Is reading the Preface essential to understand a book?
Not always, but it can provide valuable context and the author's perspective.
What's the main goal of a Preface?
The Preface offers insights into the book’s genesis, challenges faced, and acknowledgments.
What kind of documents usually have an Abstract?
Abstracts are common in research papers, theses, and scholarly articles.
Can a Preface be emotional?
Yes, a Preface can carry emotional tones, reflecting the author's personal journey.
Who should read the Preface?
Readers interested in the author's motivations, context, and book journey should read the Preface.
Why is an Abstract important for scholars?
It helps determine the relevance of the full document without reading it entirely.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
