Created abstractIS environment which has the right words. abstract is back to no arguments needed.

BSC_MSC-NAME-YEAR.tex

@@ -38,17 +38,17 @@
 \signaturepage{}
 \archivesigpage{}
 
-\begin{abstract}{Abstract}{\thetitle}{\thedate}
-  The abstract goes here in English.
+\begin{abstract}
+  The abstract goes here translated into English.
   If the thesis is in English, it should come first.
   It should be a fairly short summary of the entire document.
 \end{abstract}
 
-\begin{abstract}{Útdráttur}{\thetitleIS}{\thedateIS}
+\begin{abstractIS}
   The abstract goes here translated into Icelandic.
   If the thesis is in Icelandic, it should come first.
   It should be a fairly short summary of the entire document.
-\end{abstract}
+\end{abstractIS}
 
 \begin{dedications}
   I dedicate this to my spouse/child/pet/power animal.

PHD-NAME-YEAR.tex

@@ -48,17 +48,17 @@
 \signaturepage{}
 \archivesigpage{}
 
-\begin{abstract}{Abstract}{\thetitle}{\thedate}
-  The abstract goes here in English.
+\begin{abstract}
+  The abstract goes here translated into English.
   If the thesis is in English, it should come first.
   It should be a fairly short summary of the entire document.
 \end{abstract}
 
-\begin{abstract}{Útdráttur}{\thetitleIS}{\thedateIS}
+\begin{abstractIS}
   The abstract goes here translated into Icelandic.
   If the thesis is in Icelandic, it should come first.
   It should be a fairly short summary of the entire document.
-\end{abstract}
+\end{abstractIS}
 
 \begin{dedications}
   I dedicate this to my spouse/child/pet/power animal.

ruthesis.sty

@@ -696,17 +696,30 @@
 }
 
 
-\renewenvironment{abstract}[3]
+\renewenvironment{abstract}
 {\begin{coverleft}{\centering%
-    {\titletitlefont#2\\}%%
+    {\titletitlefont\thetitle\\}%%
     \vspace{\baselineskip}
     \theauthor\\%
     \vspace{\baselineskip}
-    #3\\%
+    \thedate\\%
   }%
   \setlength{\parskip}{\baselineskip}%
   \par\vspace*{2\baselineskip}%
-  \textbf{#1}\par\vspace{1ex}}
+  \textbf{Abstract}\par\vspace{1ex}}
+{\par\end{coverleft}\newpage}
+
+\newenvironment{abstractIS}
+{\begin{coverleft}{\centering%
+    {\titletitlefont\thetitleIS\\}%%
+    \vspace{\baselineskip}
+    \theauthor\\%
+    \vspace{\baselineskip}
+    \thedateIS\\%
+  }%
+  \setlength{\parskip}{\baselineskip}%
+  \par\vspace*{2\baselineskip}%
+  \textbf{Útdráttur}\par\vspace{1ex}}
 {\par\end{coverleft}\newpage}