Précis
/ˈpreɪsi/
nounB2
Definition
A précis is a brief statement or summary that explains the most important points of a longer piece of writing or talk. It helps readers or listeners understand the main ideas quickly without reading the full text.
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See It in Action
A short summary of a longer text or speech
- •She wrote a précis of the article for her class.
- •The report included a précis of the main findings.
- •Before the meeting, I read the précis to understand the topic quickly.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "précis" like "summary" (A2 word), but more formal and often used in school or work.
- ✓Picture a long story being made small, like a small box holding only the most important things.
- ✓It's the feeling when you tell a friend the main points of a movie you saw, without all the details.
- ✓Sounds like "PRAY-see" → imagine praying quickly to get the main help you need, just like getting the main points fast.
- ✓Think of a teacher asking you to write a précis of a book, so you must find the key ideas only.
- ✓NOT like "copy" (which is the full text), a précis is much shorter and focuses on main ideas.
- ✓NOT like "opinion" (your personal thoughts), a précis is only facts and main points.
- ✓NOT like "detailed" (full of small parts), a précis is short and clear.
Try Other Words
- •Summary: a short version of a longer text (Use when the context is casual or general)
- •Abstract: a brief overview often used in scientific or academic texts (Use when the text is a research paper or formal study)
- •Synopsis: a short description of the main points, often for stories or plays (Use when talking about books, movies, or plays)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (No prefix or suffix in English; borrowed whole)
- •Etymology: From French "précis," meaning "precise" or "exact," originally from Latin "praecisus" meaning "cut off" or "shortened"
- •Historical development: Entered English in the 17th century to mean a brief summary that cuts down a longer text
- •Modern usage: Used mainly in academic, professional, or formal writing to describe short, clear summaries
Reflect & Connect
•How does writing a précis help you understand a text better than just reading it once?
•When might a précis be more useful than reading the full text, and when might it not be enough?
Fill in the blanks
1.A précis is useful when you want to ___ the main ideas of a long text quickly.
2.Unlike a full report, a précis leaves out ___ details and focuses on key points.
3.When writing a précis, you should avoid adding your own ___ or opinions.
4.A précis is often used in ___ or business to save time.
5.The teacher asked us to write a précis ___ the article we read last week.
6.A précis is ___ than a summary because it is more formal and exact.
7.If you want to understand the full story, reading a précis might not give you ___ information.