outline the main points of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outline the main points of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to summarize or highlight the key aspects of a topic or document. Example: "In your report, please outline the main points of the research findings to provide a clear overview for the readers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Each interview will be accompanied by a brief summary that will outline the main points of the discussion.

BMJ Open

In the present perspective, I outline the main points of my lecture at the American Conference of Pharmacometrics (slides in Supplementary Material 1).

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the same year he outlined the main points of what became known as the Marshall Plan.

Encyclopedia Britannica

2.50pm: 2.59pm: Here's the Guardian's head of environment, Damian Carrington, outlining the main points of BP's report.

The Guardian

The top-end scenario is a framework agreement that outlines the main points of a deal - how much uranium enrichment Iran is allowed to carry out, how big an enriched uranium stockpile it is permitted to keep and what it will do with the remainder; how long an agreement should last, and when and how sanctions should be lifted, and so on.

The Guardian

We've outlined the main points of a new picture of aging and disease.

HuffPost

Fortunately, Mitchell Bard's excellent post outlines the main points of this act of epic stupidity, so I can at least get my head around how it happened.

Huffington Post

President Barack Obama outlined the main points of the deal during a press conference outside the White House Thursday, which will reportedly see 10-year restrictions placed on uranium enrichment in Iran, allowing the Natanz nuclear facility to remain in the country with only one enrichment site, commuting existing sites for various other purposes.

Vice

In addition, FAO and the Partnership outlined the main points of a five-year regional plan that seeks to address the main problems affecting soil in the subregion, which will be formalized during the International Year of Soils 2015.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The White House said a number of agreements would be signed after two more meetings between the leaders on Friday, including a chemical weapons accord and probably an outline of the main points of the strategic arms treaty.

The New York Times

In this brief outline of the main points of rupture since the middle of the previous century, I am mainly concerned with stating the case for the presence, in fact, the persistence of continuity across those phases.

Asian Journal of German and European Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outline the main points of" to transition into a structured summary, guiding your audience through the essential information in a logical sequence.

Common error

Avoid merely listing points without providing a clear organizational structure. A good outline should highlight the relationships between different ideas.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outline the main points of" functions as a directive verb phrase, instructing someone to provide a structured summary of the most important aspects of a subject. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and is used to introduce a concise overview.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "outline the main points of" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for requesting a structured summary of a topic. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, noting its suitability for use in academic, news, and general contexts. While it's not an extremely common phrase, it's appropriate for clear communication. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "summarize the key aspects of" or "highlight the essential points of". Ensure clear organization when outlining and consider the phrase's usage in formal settings for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

summarize the key aspects of

Focuses on a concise summary rather than a structured outline.

highlight the essential points of

Emphasizes drawing attention to important details rather than providing a comprehensive overview.

present the core arguments of

Specifically targets the main arguments or justifications within a topic.

delineate the central themes of

Emphasizes identifying and describing the primary themes.

recapitulate the major takeaways of

Focuses on summarizing the key learning outcomes or conclusions.

give a synopsis of the crux of

Focuses on providing a brief overview of the most important part.

provide an executive summary of

Implies a concise summary tailored for decision-makers.

abstract the salient features of

Stresses extracting the most noticeable or important elements.

condense the principal ideas of

Emphasizes shortening and simplifying the main ideas.

cover the significant elements of

Focuses on including all the important elements rather than detailing them.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "outline the main points of" in a sentence?

Use "outline the main points of" to introduce a summary or overview. For instance, "Let me "outline the main points of" the agreement before we proceed further."

What are some alternatives to "outline the main points of"?

Consider using alternatives like "summarize the key aspects of", "highlight the essential points of", or "present the core arguments of" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "outline the main points" or "summarize the details"?

"Outline the main points" is more appropriate when you want to provide a structured overview, while "summarize the details" is better when you need to provide a concise account of specific elements.

How does "outline the main points of" differ from "go into detail about"?

"Outline the main points of" means providing a broad overview of the most important aspects, whereas "go into detail about" means discussing specific aspects extensively.