Abstract and Executive Summary are two distinct terms that are often misunderstood. An abstract is a brief summary of a research paper, used to provide readers with a quick understanding of the paper’s content. It is typically used in academic writing and is written with the intention of orientating the reader. In contrast, an executive summary is a condensed version of a longer report, typically used in business documents. It is written in non-technical language and includes a conclusion and recommendations at the end.
Key Takeaways
- Abstracts are used in academic writing to provide a brief summary of a research paper, whereas executive summaries are used in business documents to provide a condensed version of a longer report.
- Abstracts are written for orientation purposes and do not include conclusions or recommendations, while executive summaries include both conclusions and recommendations at the end.
- Executive summaries are written in non-technical language and can summarize multiple documents, while abstracts are often written in technical language and only summarize one research paper.
