Writing an abstract that gets cited

Your abstract is the most-read part of your paper. Use a structured format — Background, Methods, Results, Conclusion — and keep it under 300 words. State the precise question, the population, the key finding and its implication. Avoid vague claims like "results are discussed." Add 3–5 keywords that match MeSH and database thesauri. A strong abstract increases discoverability, reviewer clarity and citation potential.