What is a Precis?

Hornby, in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary , explains precis as a "restatement in shortened form of the chief ideas , points etc. of a speech or piece of writing". Webster 's New World Dictionary defines it as a concise abridgement; summary; abstract. A precis is a condensed or shortened restatement of a bigger piece of writing. It is brief or short but also to the point i.e the superfluous part of the original passage is not included. It should be clear too. All the ambiguities of language or intricacies of details are excluded to give it exactness of meaning and precision in form.

                      It would be wrong to consider precis a summary. A summary is a loose brief reading. It is generally very short without caring for order and style. A paraphrase includes some details too while a substance is a still shorter form than a summary. Distinct form all these a precis maintains the system or arguments, the full spirit of the original passage, clarity and exactness. It is rather an artistic and clear miniature form of the original passage without superfluities maintaining one third of its length.