precis

Definition

Noun:
- A concise summary: A "precis" is a brief, clear summary that captures the essential points of a longer piece of writing, such as an article, report, or book chapter. It condenses the original text while preserving its core meaning, structure, and tone.
Verb:
- To summarize concisely: To "precis" means to create such a summary. The act involves reading a text, identifying its main arguments and structure, and then rewriting it in a significantly shorter form without personal interpretation or criticism.

Usage Examples

Noun:
- The assignment was to write a one-page precis of the academic paper.
- Her precis of the novel captured all the major plot points beautifully.
Verb:
- Can you precis this 20-page report into three paragraphs for the meeting?
- Students were asked to precis the first chapter of the textbook.

Advanced Usage

As a formal or academic exercise: Writing a precis is a common task in academic and professional settings to demonstrate comprehension and the ability to distill information.
- The editor requested a precis of each submitted manuscript for the review committee.
Distinction from other summaries: A precis is typically more structured and faithful to the order and proportion of the original than a general summary. It aims to be a miniature, standalone version of the source text.

Variants and Related Words

Precis (plural): The same spelling is used for the plural noun.
- We compared the precis written by different students.
Precising (gerund/participle): The act of making a precis.
- Precising a complex legal document requires careful attention.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Notes on Usage

The word "precis" is often used in formal, educational, or literary contexts.
It is pronounced /ˈpreɪ.siː/ (pray-see).
When used as a verb, it is less common than "summarize" but is perfectly correct. Its past tense and past participle are typically "precised" (e.g., ).

Noun

Verb

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