Summary vs. Abstract: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 8, 2023
A summary provides an overview of the main points of a text, while an abstract offers a brief description, especially of a research paper or article.
Key Differences
Both a summary and an abstract serve the purpose of condensing information, but they do so in different contexts and manners. A summary typically captures the essence of a text, highlighting its main ideas and points. This means that after reading a summary, one should have a general understanding of the original content.
In contrast, an abstract is often associated with academic and scientific papers. It provides a concise description of the study's purpose, methods, results, and conclusions. This allows researchers or readers to quickly ascertain the relevance of a document without delving into its entirety.
A summary can be applied to various forms of content, be it a book, an article, or a film. The goal is to reduce the length while retaining the core message. On the other hand, an abstract is more standardized, particularly in its structure. Given its association with research, it maintains a consistent format across different studies and fields.
While the length of a summary can vary, depending on the length and complexity of the original content, an abstract typically adheres to a word limit, often between 150-300 words. This brevity ensures that the abstract remains a quick snapshot of the larger work.
It's essential to note that while a summary might be subjective, based on what the summarizer deems important, an abstract aims to be objective, presenting factual and crucial details of the research without personal bias.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Provides an overview of main points of a text.
Offers a concise description of a research paper or study.
Associated With
Various forms of content (books, articles, movies).
Primarily academic and scientific papers.
Structure
Flexible, based on content's main ideas.
Standardized, detailing purpose, methods, results, and conclusions.
Length
Varies based on original content.
Typically between 150-300 words.
Subjectivity
Can be subjective, based on summarizer's perspective.
Aims to be objective, presenting factual details of the research.
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Summary and Abstract Definitions
Summary
A brief statement or account of the main points of a text.
After reading the book, she wrote a two-page summary.
Abstract
A concise description of a study's purpose, methods, and findings.
The abstract highlighted the groundbreaking results of the experiment.
Summary
An overview capturing the central ideas or themes.
The executive provided a summary of the company's annual performance.
Abstract
A standardized overview detailing a study's relevance and outcome.
The journal had guidelines for writing the perfect abstract.
Summary
A shortened form of a longer piece, retaining its core message.
Before the meeting, they handed out a summary of the project proposal.
Abstract
A preliminary section giving readers insight into the research's scope and results.
The conference booklet included an abstract from each presenter.
Summary
A condensed version that provides the essence of the original content.
The teacher provided a summary of the lecture's key points.
Abstract
Considered apart from concrete existence
An abstract concept.
Summary
A brief statement mentioning the main points of something
A summary of our findings.
Abstract
Not applied or practical; theoretical.
Summary
Prose that provides information in a condensed format, as by mentioning only the most significant details of a narrative
The novelist did not like writing dialogue and preferred to write stories in summary.
Abstract
Difficult to understand; abstruse
Abstract philosophical problems.
Summary
Presenting the substance in a condensed form; concise
A summary review.
Abstract
Denoting something that is immaterial, conceptual, or nonspecific, as an idea or quality
Abstract words like truth and justice.
Summary
Performed speedily and without ceremony
Summary justice.
A summary rejection.
Abstract
Impersonal, as in attitude or views.
Summary
Concise, brief or presented in a condensed form
A summary review is in the appendix.
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.
Summary
Performed speedily and without formal ceremony.
They used summary executions to break the resistance of the people.
Abstract
A statement summarizing the important points of a text.
Summary
(legal) Performed by skipping the procedures of a standard and fair trial.
Summary justice is bad justice.
Abstract
Something abstract.
Summary
An abstract or a condensed presentation of the substance of a body of material.
Make a summary of the events
Abstract
An abstract of title.
Summary
Formed into a sum; summed up; reduced into a narrow compass, or into few words; short; brief; concise; compendious; as, a summary statement of facts.
Abstract
To take away; remove
Abstract the most important data from a set of records.
Summary
Hence, rapidly performed; quickly executed; as, a summary process; to take summary vengeance.
Abstract
To remove without permission; steal
A painting that was abstracted from the museum.
Summary
A general or comprehensive statement; an abridged account; an abstract, abridgment, or compendium, containing the sum or substance of a fuller account.
Abstract
To consider (an idea, for example) as separate from particular examples or objects
Abstract a principle of arrangement from a series of items.
Summary
A briefstatement that presents the main points in a concise form;
He gave a summary of the conclusions
Abstract
(ăbstrăkt′) To write a summary of; summarize
Abstract a long article in a paragraph.
Summary
Performed speedily and without formality;
A summary execution
Summary justice
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).
Summary
Briefly giving the gist of something;
A short and compendious book
A compact style is brief and pithy
Succinct comparisons
A summary formulation of a wide-ranging subject
Abstract
An abridgement or summary of a longer publication.
Summary
A recapitulation of information in a concise manner.
The news segment began with a summary of the day's top stories.
Abstract
Something that concentrates in itself the qualities of a larger item, or multiple items.
Abstract
Concentrated essence of a product.
Abstract
(medicine) A powdered solid extract of a medicinal substance mixed with lactose.
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 brief summary of a research article, thesis, or review.
Before reading the full paper, he glanced at the abstract.
Abstract
An introductory snapshot of an academic or scientific paper.
Researchers often decide which papers to read based on the abstract.
FAQs
How long is a typical abstract?
A typical abstract ranges between 150-300 words, depending on the publication's guidelines.
Where is an abstract commonly found?
An abstract is commonly found at the beginning of academic and scientific papers.
What is the main goal of a summary?
The main goal of a summary is to provide an overview of the main points of a text.
Is a summary longer than an abstract?
Not necessarily. While summaries can vary in length, abstracts are usually concise due to publication guidelines.
Can a summary include personal opinions?
A summary generally focuses on the original content's main points, but it can sometimes include the summarizer's perspective.
Who usually writes the abstract of a research paper?
The authors of the research paper typically write the abstract.
Why is an abstract important for researchers?
An abstract allows researchers to quickly gauge the relevance and findings of a paper without reading it in full.
How should one approach writing a summary?
When writing a summary, focus on capturing the main ideas and themes, eliminating unnecessary details.
What should be avoided in an abstract?
Avoid lengthy backgrounds, undefined jargon, and references in an abstract.
Can a summary be written for non-textual content?
Yes, a summary can be written for various content types, such as movies or lectures.
Is a summary the same as a synopsis?
While similar, a synopsis often provides a more detailed account, especially in the context of literature or films.
Is a summary a type of review?
No, a summary provides an overview of content, while a review offers evaluation and opinion.
Is an abstract the same as an introduction?
No, an abstract provides a concise overview of the whole study, while an introduction sets the context for the research.
Is paraphrasing essential in writing a summary?
Yes, paraphrasing is essential to convey the original content's message without copying verbatim.
Can an abstract contain citations?
Typically, abstracts do not contain citations. They should stand alone and be understandable without references.
How do editors and reviewers use the abstract?
Editors and reviewers use the abstract to get a quick understanding of the research's significance and decide on its suitability for publication.
Can a summary be as long as the original text?
No, a summary is intended to be a concise version of the original content.
What's the primary purpose of an abstract in a conference?
In a conference, the abstract allows attendees to determine the relevance of a presentation or poster to their interests.
Should a summary be objective?
A summary should aim to objectively represent the original content, but it can occasionally reflect the summarizer's viewpoint.
Do all academic papers require an abstract?
Most academic papers, especially in scientific journals, require an abstract, but it depends on the publication's guidelines.
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
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
