Abstract generator that turns your paper into a tight abstract
You have finished the paper, and now you have to squeeze months of work into 250 words. Attach your manuscript, and this prompt has your todo.is agent write an abstract that states the problem, method, key numbers and conclusion within your word limit, without claiming more than your results show.
The prompt
- Write an abstract for my paper: [PAPER FILE]. Target: [JOURNAL OR CONFERENCE]. Format: [ABSTRACT FORMAT], maximum [WORD LIMIT] words. Use only what is in the paper: background in 1 to 2 sentences, the aim, the method with sample size, the main results with the key numbers, and a conclusion that does not overclaim. Past tense for methods and results, no citations, no abbreviations that are not defined. Also give me 5 keywords not already in the title, a 100-word version for a poster, and a count of the words. Flag any number in the abstract so I can double-check it against my tables.
What to change
- [PAPER FILE]: Attach your manuscript as Word or PDF.
- [JOURNAL OR CONFERENCE]: e.g. "BMC Public Health", "an IEEE conference", "my master's thesis". Your agent can read the author guidelines.
- [ABSTRACT FORMAT]: "structured (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions)" or "unstructured, one paragraph".
- [WORD LIMIT]: e.g. "250", "150", "300".
Example result
- Structured abstract (248 words)
- Background: Long commutes are linked with lower physical activity, but little is known about how bike-share access changes travel habits in mid-sized cities.
- Methods: We surveyed 612 adult commuters in three districts of a mid-sized European city before and 12 months after the opening of a public bike-share scheme. Weekly active travel minutes were self-reported using a validated questionnaire. Changes were compared between residents living within 500 m of a station (n = 288) and those living further away (n = 324) using linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex and car ownership.
- Results: Residents near a station increased weekly active travel by a mean of 41 minutes (95% CI 29 to 53), compared with 9 minutes (95% CI 0 to 18) among those further away. The effect was larger among people without a car. Car trips under 5 km fell by 14% in the near group and did not change in the comparison group.
- Conclusions: Living near a bike-share station was associated with more active travel and fewer short car trips over one year. Station placement in areas with low car ownership may increase the benefit. Controlled studies are needed to confirm whether the scheme caused these changes.
- Keywords
- active travel; bicycle sharing; commuting; physical activity; urban transport
- 100-word poster version
- After a bike-share scheme opened, 612 commuters reported their active travel... (full version in the reply)
- Numbers to double-check
- • 612, 288, 324 (sample sizes) · 41 and 9 minutes · both confidence intervals · 14%
How to do it with todo.is
- Fill in the target journal, format and word limit, then attach the paper.
- Send it to your agent from todo.is or by email with the PDF attached.
- Check the flagged numbers against your results tables before you submit.
- Need a different limit? Ask "make it 150 words" or "unstructured version" and you get it in seconds.
Tips for a better result
- Write the abstract last, from the finished paper. Abstracts written first often promise results the paper does not deliver.
- Put real numbers in the results. "Improved significantly" says less than "increased by 41 minutes (95% CI 29 to 53)".
- Keywords should add search terms that are not in your title, so more people find the paper.
- Match the conclusion to the design. Observational data supports "associated with", not "caused".
abstract generator: FAQ
- How long should an abstract be? Most journals ask for 150 to 300 words, and many use 250. Always check the author guidelines of your target journal or conference.
- What is a structured abstract? An abstract with labelled sections, usually Background, Methods, Results and Conclusions. Medical and health journals often require it.
- Should an abstract include citations? Usually not. An abstract should stand alone, so avoid citations and define any abbreviation you use.
- Can I use an AI-written abstract in my submission? Many journals allow AI help with language but ask authors to disclose it and take responsibility for the content. Check your journal's policy and verify every number.
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