Abstract Formatting Guidelines

Editing

Please review the following guidelines before submitting your Researchers Meeting Abstract, Poster Abstract, or Research and Practice Highlight. Improperly formatted abstracts will not be accepted. All abstracts should be 250 words or less.

Author Names and Affiliations:

  • Include first name, last name, and primary organizational affiliation.
    Example: Jane Jones, University of Colorado Boulder (not Jane Jones, Department of Sociology).
  • Use consistent capitalization. Do not use acronyms. Example: Ahmad Aziz, Federal Emergency Management Agency (not AHMAD AZIZ, FEMA).

Abstract Titles:

  • Titles are limited to 12 words or less.
  • Please use APA Title Case and capitalize nouns, verbs, and all other words of four letters or more.
  • Do not use acronyms or abbreviations in titles.

Abstract Text:

  • The abstract should briefly describe the aims and design of your project and highlight its significance for the hazards and disasters field.
  • Start your abstract by telling the reader how your project is advancing research or practice. Your first 1-3 sentences should be the most important takeaways that you want others to know about your project. In other words, “put the bottom line up front.”

Abstract Formatting:

  • Text should appear as one single paragraph. Do not add paragraph or line breaks.
  • Format lists using APA style for lettered lists. Do not add bullet lists or numbered lists that are separated by line breaks.
  • Use only one space between sentences.
  • Do not include references or citations.
  • Spell out all acronyms on first use and then use the acronym alone in subsequent instances.
    Example: The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded this research. Opinions expressed in this work are not necessarily the opinions of the NSF.
  • Limit or avoid use of uncommon or non-standard acronyms.
  • Use the Oxford (serial) comma.
  • In general, spell out numbers zero through nine and use numerals for 10 and above. For exceptions to this rule, see APA Style guidance for cases in which you should always use numerals, even for numbers zero through nine.