英文摘要是科學家在現代科技交流中高速地輸入和輸出信息的重要手段。本文討論了優秀英文摘要的基本要素，包括文摘的功能，文摘的種類，文摘的內容和文摘的風格。同時提供了簡明的英文摘要寫作指南。
文摘是長篇文獻的縮影，它置於論文、技術報告、專論、和其他文獻之前，概括總結和突出文獻的要點.在科技文獻急驟增加的信息時代，各種文獻雜誌和檢索系統情報庫應運而生，種類越來越多，覆蓋面越來越廣，信息量越來越大。文摘已成為科技人員輸人和輸出信息的重要手段，成為科學交流中傳遞科技情報的重要方式.為了促進國際交流，各國科技出版物都附有英文摘要.本文擬從英文摘要的功能、種類、內容和文體風格等方面對英文摘要的寫法進行探討。
英文摘要的功能
好的英文摘要應具備以下功能
1. 提供足夠的信息，讓讀者迅速準確地瞭解文獻的基本內容，幫助該專業讀者決定是否查閲原文，幫助相關專業讀者毋需閲讀原文就能獲得所需要的信息;
2. 幫助一次出版物的編輯人員縮短選稿進程，使他們一看文摘就能估計該文獻的深度和創造性;
3. 減輕文獻雜誌等二次出版物的編輯工作，供他們直接採用或稍作加工就使用;
4. 幫助克服使用一次文獻的語言障礙
英文摘要的種類
文摘可根據內容、目的、結構及作者等不同標準來分類。短的文摘只有一句話，甚至只有一個短語，放在標題之前或之後，點出文獻的最精彩部分，類似於一個副標。例如：
This paper describes results of research in process on the feasibility of Pre-Earthquake for Post-Earthquake Rebuilding (PEPER)
長的文摘長達數百詞，分成幾段，類似一篇短的論文.有的文摘是由作者自己寫的，置於一次出版物之前，稱為作者文摘;有的則是由專門的文摘員或其他編輯人員寫。目前，普遍根據內容特徵把文摘分成資料性文摘(Informative Abstract)、指示性文摘(Indicative Abstract)和資料-指示性文摘(Informative-Indicative Abstract) 3 種。
資料性文摘概括地敍述文獻的研究對象、性質、目的、範圍、方法、過程、條件、結果和結論。它不但包括文獻的基本思想和主要論點，同時也包括基本事實和主要論據，還包括所取得成果的技術性能、參數特徵、使用範圍、價值意義等。下面是一篇摘自『能量研究文摘』的資料性摘要。
Thee paper analyzes the petroleum-industry price and allocation controls that dominated US energy policy during the 1970s. It is emphasized that since controls on refined products tied maxilnuln prices to costs of production, the market effects of this regulatory system were quite unusual. The paper shows that controls induced firms to price refined products below marginal costs. In addition, the regulations tended to increase the degree of dispe rsion in prices charged by firms in the industry. Finally, in the context of multiple-product analysis, it is shown that the presence of effective ceiling prices for any of the products reduced the prices of all products below marginal costs.
這樣的文摘包括了文獻的實質內容，它可以獨立存在，只要註明此摘要出自何處，就可供文摘雜誌和各類情報庫使用。這樣的文摘有相當高的實用價值，絕大多數文摘雜誌上的摘要都屬這類資料性文摘。
指示性文摘僅列出一次文獻所探討的對象、目的、角度、方法和主要結論而無具體的實質性信息，讀者不能從文摘中直接獲取所需要的事實。一次文獻上所附的文摘中有相當一部分都是這種指示性文摘，起指導閲讀的作用。目前大多數學報均使用指示性文摘(請參閲本文的英文摘要)，目的在於吸引讀者閲讀論文全文。例如：
New methods for the synthesis of submicmn Tib 2 powders have be en found and experimentally demonstrated. Three reaction schemes are proposed that can give submicron Tib 2 powders as end product. Some properties of these powders are discussed.
文摘中僅僅提到合成粉末有 3 種反應技巧和討論了粉末的性能，要想知道是哪 3 種反應技巧和討論了粉末的哪些性能，讀者必須閲讀全文。
資料-指示性文摘綜合了以上兩種文摘的特點。例如：
The author examines eight major residential appliances in the US that currently consunle 8.9 quads/year, representing more than 12% of total 1984 US energy use. Expenditures on energy for these appliances totaled over $56 billion in 1984. Results indicate that improving the efficiency of all these appliances to economically optimal levels would reduce these annual expenditures by almost 30%, a savings of $17 billion per year. In steady state, the annualized additional investment cost to achieve this efficiency improvement is $7 billion. So the net savings is about $10 billion per year. This paper describes and analyzes energy efficiency choices for residenfial appliances and space conditioning equipment. The first section briefly illustrates historical trends in the average efficiencies of new appliances sold in the United States during the last decade. The second section shows results of the life-cycle cost analysis of eight major residential appliances. Results provide striking evidence that the market is not achieving economically optimal efficiency levels.
英文摘要的內容
理想的文摘通常應包括以下主要內容：目的和範圍、方法和過程、結果和結論。
1. 目的和範圍
多數文摘一開始便簡明扼要地説明該研究或實驗的目的和範圍，或者陳述寫這篇文章的原因，有的文摘同時又指出或暗示該項研究的特點、結果和意義。目的和範圍要寫得具體，要能吸引讀者，要給讀者留下深刻的印象。在表示目的和範圍時，常用下列句型：
This paper develops a theoretical framework to evaluate the benefits and costs of energy projects in oil-producing developing countries.
This paper presents an approach to equipment reliability prediction based on the concept that failures of electronic equipment are ultimately due to chemical, mechanical and/or metallurgical processes.
This paper ( report, thesis，work, presentation, document, account, etc.) describes ( reports, explains, outlines, summarizes, documents, evaluates, surveys, develops, investigates, discusses, focuses on, analyzes, etc. ) the results (approach, role, framework, etc.) of ...
This paper ( article, report, etc.) addresses ( is concerned with, argues, specifies, covers, etc.) the following questions...
This paper has three main objectives...
This research project is devoted to…
The objective ( purpose, motivation, etc.) of this paper ( report, program, etc.) is...
Our goal has been to develop...
目的和範圍也常用名詞短語前置的句型表示，把重點內容放在最顯著的位置加以強調。如
Procedures for testing atmospheric transport and dispersion models for distances of several hundred to 1000 km from sources of pollutants are reviewed.
The first known measurement of the differential cross section for electron capture to the continuum (ECC) from atomic hydrogen is presented.
為了使句子平衡而不至於過分的頭重腳輕，也常使用下列句式：
New results are presented of studies of the applicafion of inorganic exchangers in the following fields...
Detailed information is presented about...
An account is provided of...
方法和過程
在源於實驗的論文摘要裏，通常需要描述實驗的方法和過程，特別要注重描述新方法。當然有時也需要描述基本原理、操作程序及精確度等。在非源於實驗的論文摘要裏，如各種評論文章的摘要，可描述資料的來源和資料的處理方法。寫這一部分時應採用一些連接手段，諸如詞彙手段、語法手段和邏輯承接語等，使之前後連貫，過渡自然，易於理解。這一部分不宜寫得太繁瑣、太長。有的文摘省掉了這一部分，有的文摘把「方法和過程」與「目的和範圍」揉進一個句子。請看下面的例子：
The method of preparation is based on a chemical bath deposition process during which a cathode potential is applied to the substrate.
The mechanical and cohesion properties of brass plated steel cords have been investigated in dryhydrogen sulphide between 25℃ and 450℃.
結果和結論
結果和結論是科學研究的結晶，是讀者普遍關心的問題，是論文、報告等文獻的重要部分，在文摘裏也應該清楚地表示出來。結果和結論在文摘裏不一定要分開陳述，但要注意把推測和事實分開。這裏所説的「結果」，包括各種實驗和理論方面的.結果、收集到的數據以及觀察到的新現象等。對於各種新的發現應儘可能準確詳盡地寫出來。如果有許多發現的話，應首先考慮新的和經過驗證的事件、與以前的理論不相符的發現或與實際問題有關的發現。「結論」可以是這些「結果」的價值、用途與意義，也可以是各種假設或建議。文摘中的結果或結論常用下列句型表示。
It was found that both molecular weight an d its distribution affected tensile strength
It has been observed (shown, proved , etc.) that...
These experiments indicate (reveal, show, demonstrate, etc.) that...
The approach (method, framework, etc.) promises to be very useful for...
The (experimental) results show (indicate, suggest, etc.)that...
It is shown (concluded, proposed, etc.)that...
This could imply that...
This strategy appeared to be effective in...
These studies are of significance to ...
These results have direct application to...
英文摘要的文體
一般的英文摘要為 200 詞左右的一段文章，用標準的英語、規範的語法和完整的句子，簡明扼要地陳述一次文獻的目的、方法、結果和結論。文摘自身要完整，可以不依附於一次文獻而獨立存在。它應儘可能多地包含一次文獻的信息，最好能保持一次文獻的基調和風格，但不能出現一次文獻裏沒有的東西。由於篇幅的限制，文摘不宜列舉例證，不宜引用他人的作品，不宜使用插圖和表格。為了提高可讀性 (readability)，文摘中應儘量少用或不用非標準的縮寫詞及符號，方程式和分子式，不宜過多地運用太專業化的術語。好的文摘應是：信息準確，文字精煉，連貫流暢，邏輯性強，通俗易懂，引人人勝。請看下例：
The nature of quality education is to nurture qualified people with creative spirit an ability. The kernel of quality education is individualization accomplishing education.The premise of individualizational accomplishing education is to recognize that every student is unique, and we should conduct special education to every student in accordance with his aptitude, and help every student to develop his own individual characteristics. The key of individualizafional accomplishing education is to make every student be initiative to put the foundation on students, and to treat students as the main part of education. Do not excessively responsive, directing, and demanding to students. Individualizational accomplishing education represents the humanity spirits of modern education.
1. 文摘的開頭
文摘關係到讀者是否閲讀文獻全文，文摘的開頭多種多樣。下面這兩種方法是比較好的，用得比較普遍。