GRASP
Write an article title and abstract readers can't ignore
November 5th, 2025, by
After all the hard work of writing a research paper - the late nights, the revisions, the endless coffee … many writers end up rushing the title and abstract. However, these two small pieces of text often decide whether your submitted article will get past the editor’s desk, and, if published, whether anyone will ever read your paper.
Getting them right can mean the difference between your work being discovered, read and cited, or remaining largely invisible.
Why titles and abstracts matter
A strong title and abstract can:
- Grab attention - editors and readers are drawn to something new, clear, and relevant.
- Boost discoverability - search engines and databases rely on these sections for indexing, so clear wording helps your paper get found.
- Set you apart - in a world of “effects of X on Y,” your title can show that your paper has something fresh to offer.
Crafting a title
Bad titles tend to be too vague or focused on unimportant information. Good titles, on the other hand, tell readers exactly what happened and why it matters.
Take this title, for example:
“The effect of an extract from Leptospermum fasciculum on wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus”.
It doesn’t tell you much, does it? Here are two stronger versions, framed in different ways, that tell more of a story.
“Extracts from Leptospermum fasciculum reduce infection in wounds by Staphylococcus aureus”. This title focusses on the main findings.
“Leptospermum fasciculum could replace conventional antibiotics in treating infected wounds”. This title focusses on the conclusion.
Each of these are effective in communicating a narrative, and the use of verbs (‘reduce’ and ‘replace’) helps to make them more active and informative.
A few quick tips for writing good titles
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Use keywords - draft your title with all your key terms, and put the most important ones first.
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Use verbs where possible — they make titles more dynamic (increase, reduce, improve).
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Avoid vague words like effect, influence, or change — they don’t tell the reader anything much.
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Avoid cute or clever especially if obscure, out of context or uses puns
Writing a strong abstract
Once your title has drawn people in, your abstract has to convince them your paper is worth reading.
The abstract is basically your entire paper in miniature. It’s a concise, self-contained summary that explains why you did the research, how you did it, what you found, and why it matters.
Keep in mind:
- Many journals use structured abstracts with headings
- Always check the journal’s guidelines — they might have word limits or preferred formats.
- Avoid references, acronyms, and jargon. Write in clear, direct language.
- Write (or at least revise) your abstract after writing the article, as that’s when your main story becomes clear.
A simple structure you can adapt:
- Why you did the research — What’s the problem or gap?
- How you did it — The methods or approach.
- What you found — Your key results.
- Why it matters — The significance or implications.
Different article types may tweak this structure slightly:
| Type of article | Typical abstract structure |
|---|---|
| Empirical research article: | Background → Method → Results → Conclusion |
| Review article: | Rationale → Scope → Method → Synthesis → Implications |
| Theoretical/ conceptual: | Problem → Framework → Argument → Significance |
| Practitioner/ professional: | Context → Approach → Outcomes → Implications for practice |
Final thoughts
Your title and abstract are the first impression your research makes, and can be the deciding factor in whether it gets noticed. So it’s worth taking the time to craft them well.
Show readers what is fresh and new, and why your research makes a difference. You know your research is important, so make sure everyone who reads your title and abstract knows it too.
Sources used:
Many of these tips as well as the title examples are from David Lindsay, Scientific writing: Thinking in words
Patrick Dunleavy, Why do academics choose useless titles for articles and chapters? Four steps to getting a better title
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Photo by Mayur Deshpande on Unsplash