Final answer:
Abstracts and excerpts are typically fewer than 500 words, thus the statement is true. Abstracts aim to condense the essence of a complex text into a brief overview, usually between 150 to 250 words, and can reach up to 500 words. Excerpts also maintain brevity and are commonly under 500 words to provide a snapshot of the larger text. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that abstracts and excerpts are usually fewer than 500 words is typically true. An abstract is a brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, conference proceeding, or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject and is often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper's purpose. When writing an abstract, one aims to highlight the key points from the full text, and this is generally accomplished within a concise word limit.
The common range for an abstract is usually between 150 to 250 words, though it can sometimes be up to 500 words depending on the complexity and requirements of the work it accompanies. On the other hand, an excerpt is a short extract from a text, and it usually encompasses a small portion that represents the whole, often under 500 words as well.
Excerpts are similarly brief and tend to be concise enough just to provide a glimpse into the larger text or to highlight a particular point of interest. It is important to integrate quotations from texts smoothly and to limit their length in academic writing, always giving preference to preciseness over verbosity.
Therefore, in academic and professional settings, you will frequently observe that both abstracts and excerpts do not exceed the 500-word threshold. Shorter abstracts help readers to quickly understand a paper's main findings and determine its relevance to their interests or research requirements without the need for reading a 1500 words full-length article or document.