Precis Writing

What is a precis?
A precis is a summary, and precis writing means summarising. A precis is the gist or main
theme of a passage expressed in as few words as possible. It should be lucid, succinct, and
full (i.e., including all essential points), so that anyone on reading it may be able to grasp the
main points and general effect of the passage summarised.

Precis writing must not be confused with paraphrasing. A paraphrase should reproduce not
only the substance of a passage, but also its details. It will therefore be at least as long as, and
probably longer, than the original. But a precis must always be much shorter than the
original; for it is meant to express the only the main theme, shorn of all unimportant details,
and as tersely as possible.

No rigid rule can be laid down for the length of a precis. However, a precis should not
contain more than a third of the number of words in the original passage.

Uses of Precis Writing

Precis writing is a good exercise in writing a composition. In a precis you have to work
within strict limits. You must express a certain meaning in a fixed number of words. So you
learn to choose your words carefully, to construct your sentences with an eye to fullness
combined with brevity, and to put your matter in a strictly logical order.

In any position of life, the ability to grasp quickly and accurately what is read, or heard, and
to reproduce it clearly and concisely, is of the utmost value. For lawyers, businessmen, and
government officials it is essential.

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Method of Procedure

1. Reading

First read the passage through carefully, but not too slowly, to get a general idea of its
meaning. If one reading is not sufficient to give you this clearly, read it over again, and yet
again.

Questions to ask yourself:

What is it I am reading?

What does the author mean?

What is his subject?

What is he saying about it?

Can I put in a few words the pith of what he says?

Usually, you are required to supply a title for your precis. Think of some word, phrase, or
short sentence that will sum up briefly the main subject of the passage. Sometimes this is
supplied by what we may call a key-sentence. This key-sentence may be found at the
beginning or at the end of the passage.

After a thorough reading, you should be in a position to decide what parts of the passage are
essential and what parts are comparatively unimportant and so can be omitted without any
loss.

2. Writing

- Rough drafts

You should now be ready to attempt the writing of the precis. If the number of words is given
to you, this is easy. But if you are told to reduce the passage to say, a third of its length, count

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the number of words in the passage and divide by three. You may use fewer words than the
number described, but in no case may you exceed the limit.

It is a good plan to write the first draft without having the actual words of the original
passages before one’s eyes.

3. Revision

- When you have made your final draft, carefully revise it before you write out the fair copy.
See whether it reads well as a connected whole.

Things to keep in mind

The precis should be all in your own words. It must not be a patchwork made up of phrases
and sentences quoted from the original.

The precis must be complete and self-contained. That is, it must convey its message fully and
clearly without requiring any reference to the original to complete its meaning.

The precis must be simple, direct grammatical, and idiomatic English.

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Make a precis of the following in about 70 words and give a suitable title to the same:

One great defect of civilisation is that it does not know what to do with its knowledge.
Science, as we have seen, has given us powers fit for the gods, yet we use them like small
children.

For example, we do not know how to manage our machines. Machines were made to be
man’s servants; yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are in a fair way to become
his masters. Already most men spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon
machines. And the machines are very stern masters. They must be fed with coal, and given
petrol to drink, and oil to wash with, and must be kept at the right temperature. And if they do
not get their meals on when they expect them, they grow sulky and refuse to work, or burst
with rage, and blow up, and spread ruin and destruction all around them. So we have to wait
upon them very attentively and do all that we can to keep them in a good temper. Already we
find it difficult either to work or play without the machines, and a time may come when they
will rule us altogether, just as we rule the animals.

C.E.M. Joad

Men and Machines

We do not know what to do with our knowledge. Science has given us superhuman powers,
which we do not use properly. For example, we are unable to manage our machines.
Machines should be fed promptly and waited upon attentively; otherwise they refuse to work
or cause destruction. We already find it difficult to do without machines. In the course of time
they may rule over us altogether.