summarize

USAGE SUMMARY

"summarize" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to give a summary or brief overview of something, such as a story, book, or article. For example: "I will summarize the key points of this story in the following paragraph."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She asks Yellen to summarize how the policy worked.

The Guardian - Business

LAST week, Tyler Cowen quoted a famous paper in which the question was asked: Why is there so little money in politics:We summarize the data on campaign spending, and show through our descriptive statistics and our econometric analysis that individuals, not special interests, are the main source of campaign contributions.

The Economist

Mr LaCour concludes:To summarize, most individuals do not refuse to hear the other side.

The Economist

Indicate their name, address, and summarize the testimony they will give.

WikiHow

Let us summarize the situation.

SEP

To summarize: Russell's distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description is arguably best understood as a distinction between foundational knowledge of truths acquired by acquaintance and nonfoundational knowledge of truths that depend, ultimately, on foundational knowledge.

SEP

Richard's greatest accomplishment lay, perhaps, in his ability to encapsulate and summarize a huge number of such logical puzzles, presenting for the student a handy reference book filled with examples of a host of logical fallacies.

SEP

We briefly summarize these developments under two subheadings below.

SEP

Since I have discussed these objections at length elsewhere (Ridge 2007), I shall be brief here and simply summarize the main worries.

SEP

In order to help the reader find his or her way through this involved debate, we shall briefly summarize the considerations which are open to the ethno-nationalist to defend his or her case.

SEP

It is sometimes elusive, and it is certainly not easy to summarize briefly.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you "summarize", focus on the most important points and avoid including unnecessary details. This ensures clarity and conciseness.

Common error

Avoid over-simplifying complex topics when you "summarize". Ensure your summary still accurately represents the original content's nuances and key arguments.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "summarize" is as a verb, indicating the action of providing a concise overview of a larger text or idea. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where "summarize" is used to describe the act of condensing information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "summarize" functions as a verb used to condense information, predominantly in scientific, news, and formal business settings. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct, and serves the purpose of conveying essential details efficiently. While frequently employed, it's important to avoid over-simplification when using "summarize", ensuring the accuracy of the condensed information. Alternative phrases include "recapitulate", "sum up", and "outline", offering nuanced ways to express the act of condensing information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recapitulate

Focuses on briefly restating the main points, often orally.

sum up

Implies a concise overview of the key elements.

outline

Suggests providing a structural overview without detailed content.

restate briefly

Emphasizes conciseness when expressing something again.

give the gist

Focuses on conveying the essential idea or meaning.

present a synopsis

Refers to a brief summary of a plot or story.

provide an overview

Indicates a general description covering main points.

offer a precis

Implies a highly condensed and accurate summary.

compress information

Highlights reducing the length or size of content.

abstract

Suggests creating a brief, formal summary, often in academic contexts.

FAQs

How do you use "summarize" in a sentence?

You can use "summarize" to describe the act of providing a concise overview. For example: "I will summarize the main points of the article" or "Could you summarize the report for me?"

What are some synonyms for "summarize"?

Alternatives include "recapitulate", "sum up", and "outline", each with slight differences in nuance.

Is it better to "summarize" or "summarise"?

"Summarize" and "summarise" are both correct, but "summarize" is more common in American English, while "summarise" is more common in British English.

What's the difference between "summarize" and "analyze"?

"Summarize" means to provide a brief overview of the main points, while "analyze" means to examine something in detail to understand its structure or meaning.