Yes and no—journal review articles expect abstracts; many student assignments skip them unless your instructor or program requires one.
Writers ask this a lot when they prep a stand-alone review or a chapter that surveys prior studies. The short answer hinges on where you plan to submit. Publishers and conferences usually ask for a concise summary. Many course papers, especially at the undergraduate level, do not ask for one unless your syllabus says so.
This guide shows exactly when a summary is expected, how long it tends to be, and what to put inside. You’ll see quick rules for journals, theses, and class projects, plus a compact template to draft a clear paragraph fast.
When An Abstract Is Expected For A Review Article
Policy varies by venue. Use the table below as a quick map, then read the short notes that follow.
| Context | Usual Requirement | Who Decides |
|---|---|---|
| Journal review article | Required; often structured | Journal’s author instructions |
| Conference submission | Required; strict word cap | Conference CFP and portal |
| Systematic review | Required; checklist based | Editorial policy and reporting guide |
| Thesis or dissertation | Required at the document level | Graduate school manual |
| Course paper (undergrad) | Usually not required | Instructor or rubric |
| Grant or protocol | Required; highly compressed | Funder or registry |
Journals And Conferences
Most refereed outlets ask for a summary page that fits a tight limit, often 150–250 words. Many language and education outlets in the Elsevier family, for instance, detail the requirement in their “Guide for Authors.”
Systematic syntheses face even tighter rules. Many editors expect items like objective, data sources, eligibility criteria, and key conclusions to appear in a fixed order.
Student Assignments
APA guidance notes that student papers generally omit this section unless the teacher asks for it. You can read that guidance here: Order of Pages. That saves time for busy graders.
Systematic Reviews And Checklists
When you prepare a formal synthesis, editors often look for a mini-version of the full report in the opening paragraph. The PRISMA group even provides a short list of items that a summary for a review should contain. See the PRISMA 2020 for Abstracts checklist for details.
Should A Lit Review Include An Abstract? Practical Rules
Use these rules to make the call fast:
- If you plan to publish a review paper in a journal, write one. Editors expect it, databases index it, and readers scan it first.
- If you are submitting to a conference, check the portal. Many conferences use the opening paragraph as the screening step.
- If this is a thesis or dissertation, your graduate school almost always asks for a document-level summary. The review chapter does not need a second one unless your manual says so.
- If this is a regular class paper, ask your teacher. Most courses skip it unless the rubric requires it.
- If you post to a repository, add one. Indexing services display it beside your title, which helps others find your work.
What To Put In A Review Abstract
A clear paragraph answers six things in a tight arc. Use this order and keep the prose plain.
1) Topic And Scope
Open with the subject area and boundaries. Name the population, time window, and setting you covered. Keep it lean: one sentence is enough.
2) Purpose Or Question
State the aim of the synthesis. Point to the decision your reader can make after reading the full paper.
3) Sources And Search
Mention the databases or source pools you used and the span of years. For formal work, give any registration or protocol ID.
4) Selection And Appraisal
Flag the criteria used to include studies and any screening steps or quality checks. If you used a tool or standard, name it.
5) Core Findings
Boil down the main patterns or themes. If you ran a meta-analysis, add the key effect size and model in brief terms.
6) Takeaway Line
Close with one line that reflects the state of knowledge and the practical use for your reader.
Word Limits, Structure, And Templates
Most venues set tight caps. A few also ask for headings inside the paragraph. Use the table below as a quick guide, then check the exact rules for your target outlet.
| Venue Type | Typical Word Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Journal review article | 150–250 | May ask for structured headings |
| Systematic review | 250–300 | Often follows PRISMA for Abstracts |
| Conference submission | 150–200 | Used as a screening tool |
| Thesis or dissertation | 150–350 | Program manual sets the cap |
| Undergrad course paper | 0 or 150–200 | Only if the rubric asks |
| Grant or protocol | 100–250 | Often paired with keywords |
Structured Vs. Unstructured
Many journals favor short headings inside the paragraph: Objective, Data Sources, Study Selection, Synthesis, and Conclusions. If your target outlet shows this style in its sample articles, copy that pattern and keep each segment to one sentence.
Keywords
Some outlets ask for three to five indexing terms under the paragraph. Use the exact phrases readers would type in a database, including the method (e.g., scoping review, narrative review, meta-analysis) and the core topic.
A Fast Template You Can Reuse
Paste this into your draft and replace the brackets. You’ll stay within the typical cap without trimming back later.
[Topic]—This review surveys [scope: population, setting, dates] to assess [aim]. We searched [databases] for records from [years], screened to [inclusion criteria], and appraised using [tool]. Across [number] studies, we found [main themes or pooled effect]. These findings suggest [actionable takeaway] for [stakeholder or use case].
Common Mistakes And Simple Fixes
Too Much Background
Skip long set-ups. Readers already know the field; they want the scope, method, and the distilled message.
Vague Methods
Readers need a sense of what you searched and how you screened. Name the databases and the broad filter you used.
Missing Numbers
When a meta-analysis is involved, add the model and the headline effect size. One clause is enough.
Findings Without A Use
End with a plain-English line that signals how the synthesis helps a reader act, teach, set policy, or plan a study.
Copying The Paper’s Intro
The opening paragraph of the paper and the summary serve different roles. Keep the paragraph as a compressed map, not a teaser.
Quick Writing Workflow
- Read two model review papers from your target outlet. Note length, headings, and tone.
- Draft from the template above in under ten minutes. Do not edit mid-draft.
- Trim to the cap, then swap weak verbs for precise ones. Replace long phrases with shorter ones.
- Add two to three field terms as indexing words if your outlet requests them.
- Proofread once in plain-text view to catch extra spaces and odd characters.
- Upload and preview the PDF proof. Break long lines that wrap poorly on narrow screens.
Discipline Notes And Edge Cases
STEM And Health Fields
Medical and life-science outlets rely on structured headings inside the paragraph, and indexing services pull those lines directly into databases. If your work maps trials or diagnostic tools, plan on a paragraph that mirrors the house style of your target outlet. Clinical syntheses also tend to include a clear statement on population and setting, so include those early.
Social Sciences
Education, psychology, and business outlets often accept an unstructured paragraph with clear signals about scope, method, and key themes. When the piece leans qualitative, name the approach and how you assessed study quality. If you used a mixed-methods pool, flag that blend in one clause.
Humanities
Many humanities journals follow flexible styles. A summary still helps readers scan your piece, even when the field does not demand a strict format. Name the tradition you work in, the time span, and the set of sources you synthesize. Keep the tone direct and avoid dense meta-theory in this space.
Repository Uploads
Preprint servers and institutional repositories display the opening paragraph next to the title in search results. A tight paragraph improves reach, since readers can judge fit without opening the file. If your repository has a keywords field, reuse the indexing terms you plan to submit to a journal.
Formatting And Placement
APA materials place the summary on a separate page after the title page in professional papers. Student papers often skip that page unless a teacher asks for it. The APA site lists the page order and shows where the section sits within the stack; the link above points to that reference page.
Most style guides do not indent the first line. Keep the text left-aligned, single paragraph, and double-spaced unless the outlet shows a different look. Add the word “Abstract” as a bold label at the top of the page when the outlet uses APA style.
When a journal asks for a structured format, place the labels in bold within the paragraph and separate the segments with semicolons.