Abstract vs. Introduction — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 14, 2024
An abstract summarizes a document's entire content, highlighting key points, findings, and conclusions; an introduction sets up the scope, background, and objectives of the document, preparing the reader for detailed exploration.
Difference Between Abstract and Introduction
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An abstract serves as a concise summary of the entire document, usually an academic paper, capturing the main ideas, methodology, results, and conclusions. It's designed to give readers a quick preview of what to expect, often helping them decide whether to read the full document. On the other hand, an introduction provides context for the document, outlining the problem, background information, and the specific objectives or hypotheses of the work.
In academic writing, the abstract allows readers to quickly understand the essence of the paper without reading the entire text. It is typically written in a dense, information-packed style and is often the last part written, despite appearing first in the document. Conversely, the introduction is more detailed regarding the rationale behind the study, the literature review, and the proposed solution or direction of the research.
The abstract is often required to remain within a strict word limit, making brevity and clarity essential. It usually does not include citations or detailed explanations of concepts. Whereas, the introduction can expand on theories, include citations from previous works, and set up a detailed framework for the arguments or research results that follow.
While the abstract is a standalone text that must be understandable without referring to the full document, the introduction assumes that the reader will continue reading the entire text. It is, therefore, part of a larger narrative, setting the stage for a deeper engagement with the topic.
The function of an abstract is to summarize and report on the completed work, making it a critical tool in academic publishing and conferences where researchers look for quick insights into the study's relevance and outcomes. The introduction, however, aims to build a case for the importance of the research, guiding the reader into the narrative with a clear statement of what the subsequent sections will explore and why the topic is important.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Summarizes the whole document.
Sets up the scope and objectives.
Content
Includes objectives, methods, results, conclusions.
Provides background, defines problems, states objectives.
Placement
At the beginning of the document.
Follows the abstract in academic papers.
Word Limit
Typically has a strict word limit.
More flexible, depending on the document length.
Detail Level
High-level summary, no direct citations.
Detailed, often includes citations.
Compare with Definitions
Abstract
A brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, or other long report on a subject or event.
The abstract of the thesis must not exceed 300 words.
Introduction
Detailed context setting for the main content.
Her introduction thoroughly reviewed previous research on the topic.
Abstract
To summarize or condense the crucial information.
Abstracts are typically required for submission to academic journals.
Introduction
Beginning or initial stage of a plan or process.
The project’s introduction phase included extensive market research.
Abstract
Existing as an idea, feeling, or quality, not physically.
The concept discussed in the abstract indicates a high level of understanding.
Introduction
Bringing something to a place or group for the first time.
The introduction of innovative technologies transformed the industry.
Abstract
To consider something theoretically or separately from something else.
To abstract the notion of justice from personal experiences can be challenging.
Introduction
The first section of a book, article, or other document.
The introduction of the book sets the historical context for the events described.
Abstract
Considered apart from concrete existence
An abstract concept.
Introduction
A means of presenting one person to another.
His introduction to the guest speaker was brief yet informative.
Abstract
Not applied or practical; theoretical.
Introduction
The action of introducing something
The introduction of muskrats into central Europe
Issues arising from the introduction of new technology
Abstract
Difficult to understand; abstruse
Abstract philosophical problems.
Introduction
A formal presentation of one person to another, in which each is told the other's name
He returned to his desk, leaving Michael to make the introductions
A letter of introduction
Abstract
Denoting something that is immaterial, conceptual, or nonspecific, as an idea or quality
Abstract words like truth and justice.
Introduction
A thing preliminary to something else, especially an explanatory section at the beginning of a book, report, or speech
Your talk will need an introduction which states clearly what you are talking about and why
Abstract
Impersonal, as in attitude or views.
Introduction
The act or process of introducing or the state of being introduced.
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.
Introduction
A means, such as a personal letter, of presenting one person to another.
Abstract
A statement summarizing the important points of a text.
Introduction
Something recently introduced; an innovation
"He loathed a fork.
It is a modern introduction which has still scarcely reached common people" (D.H. Lawrence).
Abstract
Something abstract.
Introduction
A preface, as to a book.
Abstract
An abstract of title.
Introduction
(Music) A short preliminary passage in a larger movement or work.
Abstract
To take away; remove
Abstract the most important data from a set of records.
Introduction
A basic introductory text or course of study.
Abstract
To remove without permission; steal
A painting that was abstracted from the museum.
Introduction
The act or process of introducing.
The introduction of a new product into the market
Abstract
To consider (an idea, for example) as separate from particular examples or objects
Abstract a principle of arrangement from a series of items.
Introduction
A means, such as a personal letter, of presenting one person to another.
David was feeling groggy at his introduction to Sophie, and didn't remember her name.
Abstract
(ăbstrăkt′) To write a summary of; summarize
Abstract a long article in a paragraph.
Introduction
An initial section of a book or article, which introduces the subject material.
This book features a preface by a well-known botanist, and an introduction by the author's mentor at university.
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).
Introduction
A written or oral explanation of what constitutes the basis of an issue.
Abstract
An abridgement or summary of a longer publication.
Introduction
The act of introducing, or bringing to notice.
Abstract
Something that concentrates in itself the qualities of a larger item, or multiple items.
Introduction
The act of formally making persons known to each other; a presentation or making known of one person to another by name; as, the introduction of one stranger to another.
Abstract
Concentrated essence of a product.
Introduction
That part of a book or discourse which introduces or leads the way to the main subject, or part; preliminary; matter; preface; proem; exordium.
Abstract
(medicine) A powdered solid extract of a medicinal substance mixed with lactose.
Introduction
A formal and elaborate preliminary treatise; specifically, a treatise introductory to other treatises, or to a course of study; a guide; as, an introduction to English literature.
Abstract
An abstraction; an abstract term; that which is abstract.
Introduction
The first section of a communication
Abstract
The theoretical way of looking at things; something that exists only in idealized form.
Introduction
The act of beginning something new;
They looked forward to the debut of their new product line
Abstract
(arts) An abstract work of art.
Introduction
Formally making a person known to another or to the public
Abstract
(real estate) A summary title of the key points detailing a tract of land, for ownership; abstract of title.
Introduction
A basic or elementary instructional text
Abstract
(obsolete) Derived; extracted.
Introduction
A new proposal;
They resisted the introduction of impractical alternatives
Abstract
Drawn away; removed from; apart from; separate.
Introduction
The act of putting one thing into another
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.
Introduction
The act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new;
She looked forward to her initiation as an adult
The foundation of a new scientific society
He regards the fork as a modern introduction
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
Condensed essence of the main article.
He read the abstract to decide if the full article would be relevant to his study.
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between an abstract and an introduction?
An abstract summarizes the entire document including key findings and conclusions, whereas an introduction sets the stage for the document without revealing the detailed outcomes.
Is the introduction part of the abstract?
No, the introduction is a separate part of the document that follows the abstract in academic papers.
How long should an abstract be?
It usually ranges from 150 to 250 words, depending on the journal or academic requirements.
What should be included in a good introduction?
A good introduction should provide sufficient background information, outline the problem, and state the objectives or hypotheses of the study.
Can an abstract contain citations?
No, abstracts typically do not contain citations; they are a high-level summary of the main document.
How do abstracts and introductions vary across disciplines?
They can vary significantly, with some fields requiring highly technical language and others a more narrative style.
Why is an abstract important in academic writing?
It helps readers quickly determine the relevance of the document to their interests, facilitating efficient literature surveying.
Can the introduction influence the readability of the document?
Yes, a well-crafted introduction can engage the reader and provide a clear roadmap for understanding the subsequent sections.
What are the common mistakes in writing an abstract?
Overloading the abstract with too much detail, including undefined abbreviations, or being vague about the study’s results.
Should the introduction predict the conclusions of the research?
It should not predict but should lay the groundwork for understanding the importance of the research and its anticipated direction.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
