How to Cite Conference Abstracts

Learn how to create citations for published conference abstracts and summaries.

Basic Format

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of abstract [Abstract]. Conference Name, Location. Source/Database.

Note: The format may vary depending on whether the abstract is published in proceedings, a journal supplement, or an online database.

Examples with Explanations

Abstract in Conference Proceedings

Smith, J., & Wilson, R. (2023). Neural networks for climate prediction [Abstract]. In Proceedings of the International Climate Conference (p. 234). Climate Science Society.
  • • Include page number in proceedings
  • • Add [Abstract] after title
  • • Include publishing organization
  • • Note if part of proceedings

Abstract in Journal Supplement

Lee, M., & Park, S. (2023). Advances in quantum computing [Abstract]. Journal of Physics, 45(Suppl. 2), S123. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
  • • Include journal information
  • • Note supplement number
  • • Add DOI when available
  • • Use standard journal format

Online Abstract Database

Chen, K. (2023). Machine learning in healthcare [Abstract]. Abstracts International Database. https://abstracts.org/record/789
  • • Include database name
  • • Add direct URL to abstract
  • • Omit conference location if not relevant

Special Cases

Abstract of Unpublished Presentation

Thompson, M. (2023, October). Data science applications [Abstract]. Paper presented at the Annual Technology Conference, Boston, MA, United States.

Include presentation details when citing unpublished abstracts.

Translated Abstract

Garcia, A. (2023). Inteligencia artificial en medicina [Artificial intelligence in medicine] [Abstract]. Spanish Medical Conference Proceedings, 45-46.

Include English translation in square brackets after original title.

Publication Types

Print Publications

  • Conference proceedings
  • Abstract books
  • Journal supplements
  • Conference programs

Digital Publications

  • Online databases
  • Conference websites
  • Digital repositories
  • Electronic proceedings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't omit [Abstract] designation
  • Don't confuse abstracts with full papers
  • Don't include unnecessary conference details
  • Don't cite abstract without checking full paper availability
  • Don't mix citation formats for different publication types

Best Practices

  • Always verify if a full paper is available
  • Include abstract number if assigned
  • Note if abstract is from a special issue
  • Specify the publication format
  • Include permanent identifiers when available