Annotation is the calling card of a scientific article and one of the first elements that comes into the view of readers, the journal’s editorial team, and reviewers. In many cases, the decision whether to continue reading the article is made precisely on the basis of the annotation. In addition, the algorithms of certain databases, such as Scopus or Web of Science, actively use the text of the annotation to index the work. That is exactly why its quality directly affects the visibility and citation of the work. How can you prepare a high-quality annotation? Let us consider this in our article.
What is an annotation and what is its structure?
Annotation is a concise presentation of the content of a scientific article, briefly describing what was studied in the work and what results were obtained.
In most international journals, the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion) is used for the annotation, adapted to the brief format of the work.
Such an annotation structure is generally accepted and the most widespread among scientific journals. It contributes to a better understanding of the content of the work and may positively influence the outcome of the peer review of the scientific article.
How should you prepare a high-quality annotation for a scientific article?
1. Follow the journal’s requirements
The first thing you need to do before you begin writing the annotation is to familiarise yourself with the recommendations of the relevant journal regarding this section, including the requirements for structure and length. As mentioned above, the most common structure is IMRAD. In addition, the average length of an annotation is 150-250 words.
Compliance with the recommended content of the section will positively influence the reviewer’s conclusion, since in some prestigious journals the submission of a scientific article also includes a separate assessment of the annotation.
2. Arrange the section according to the IMRAD structure
For a structured and logical presentation of information, we recommend arranging the annotation as follows:
- Relevance of the work. In one or two sentences, describe the relevance of the work (why the topic and the problem under study are important in the modern context).
- Aim. Briefly state the aim of the research, which should not duplicate the aim stated in the Introduction.
- Methods. In a generalised way, describe the materials and methods used during the research.
- Results. Briefly state the key results obtained in the course of the research.
- Practical significance. Indicate the practical significance of the work (how and by whom the obtained research results may be used).
3. Follow the scientific style
As in the main text of the scientific article, the annotation must also follow the scientific style of writing. Do not use artistic constructions, conversational expressions, or overly generalised wording, and so on. The text of this section should be logically structured and as informative as possible in order to interest the reader or the editorial team of the journal. Particular attention should be paid to keywords. They should be incorporated naturally into the text of the annotation and the article itself, which will positively affect the visibility of the work in search engines.
Typical mistakes when preparing an annotation
One of the most common mistakes is excessive generalisation and a lack of specificity. Wordings without a clear description of the results create the impression of superficial research. Cases are also common where the author describes only the aim and methods but does not indicate what exactly the research led to.
Mechanical copying of parts of the main text is also perceived negatively, as it makes the annotation less unique. Another problem is overloading it with complex constructions, which complicates perception and reduces interest in the article.
We recommend approaching the stage of preparing the annotation responsibly, since further interest in the article and its visibility depend precisely on its quality.
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