Abbreviated vs. Summary — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 21, 2024
Abbreviated means shortened by omitting parts, while summary is a concise presentation of the main points of a larger work.
Difference Between Abbreviated and Summary
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Abbreviated refers to something that has been shortened by omitting certain parts, often letters or segments of text. This process involves reducing the length while retaining the essential meaning. Summary, on the other hand, involves creating a brief statement that presents the main points of a larger piece of work, such as an article, book, or speech. Summaries condense the content, providing a concise overview without the detailed specifics.
Abbreviations are commonly used in writing to save space or time, often seen in notes, texts, and formal documents. They focus on brevity by truncating words or phrases. Summaries serve a different purpose, aiming to give a quick understanding of the entire content, making them useful in reports, reviews, and academic settings.
Abbreviated forms retain the core meaning but in a much shorter form, suitable for quick reference. Summaries provide a comprehensive yet concise recap, making complex information more accessible. While abbreviations are about reducing length, summaries are about distilling content.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Shortened by omitting parts
Concise presentation of main points
Purpose
Save space or time
Provide an overview
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Usage
Notes, texts, formal documents
Reports, reviews, academic settings
Focus
Brevity
Comprehensiveness
Example
"abbr." for "abbreviated"
Brief description of a book's plot
Compare with Definitions
Abbreviated
Reduced in length.
The lecture was abbreviated due to time constraints.
Summary
Comprehensive yet succinct.
The summary was only a page long but very informative.
Abbreviated
Compressed but retaining essential meaning.
The document was abbreviated for easier reading.
Summary
Concise presentation of main points.
The manager provided a summary of the meeting.
Abbreviated
Made shorter by omission.
The speech was abbreviated to fit the schedule.
Summary
Brief overview of a larger work.
She wrote a summary of the article for her class.
Abbreviated
Truncated version of content.
The report included an abbreviated version of the results.
Summary
Short account of essential information.
He gave a summary of the project's progress.
Abbreviated
To make shorter
Abbreviated the meeting to make time for your visit.
Summary
Condensed version capturing key details.
The summary highlighted the book's major themes.
Abbreviated
To reduce (a word or phrase) to a shorter form intended to represent the full form.
Summary
A brief statement mentioning the main points of something
A summary of our findings.
Abbreviated
Shortened; made briefer.
The abbreviated lesson only took fifteen minutes as opposed to an hour and a half.
Summary
Prose that provides information in a condensed format, as by mentioning only the most significant details of a narrative
The novelist did not like writing dialogue and preferred to write stories in summary.
Abbreviated
Relatively short; shorter than normal, or compared to others.
Summary
Presenting the substance in a condensed form; concise
A summary review.
Abbreviated
Scanty, as in clothing.
Summary
Performed speedily and without ceremony
Summary justice.
A summary rejection.
Abbreviated
Simple past tense and past participle of abbreviate
Summary
Concise, brief or presented in a condensed form
A summary review is in the appendix.
Abbreviated
Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.
Summary
Performed speedily and without formal ceremony.
They used summary executions to break the resistance of the people.
Abbreviated
(of clothing) very short;
An abbreviated swimsuit
A brief bikini
Summary
(legal) Performed by skipping the procedures of a standard and fair trial.
Summary justice is bad justice.
Abbreviated
Cut short in duration;
The abbreviated speech
A curtailed visit
Her shortened life was clearly the result of smoking
An unsatisfactory truncated conversation
Summary
An abstract or a condensed presentation of the substance of a body of material.
Make a summary of the events
Abbreviated
Shortened form of a word or phrase.
Mr. is the abbreviated form of Mister.
Summary
Formed into a sum; summed up; reduced into a narrow compass, or into few words; short; brief; concise; compendious; as, a summary statement of facts.
Summary
Hence, rapidly performed; quickly executed; as, a summary process; to take summary vengeance.
Summary
A general or comprehensive statement; an abridged account; an abstract, abridgment, or compendium, containing the sum or substance of a fuller account.
Summary
A briefstatement that presents the main points in a concise form;
He gave a summary of the conclusions
Summary
Performed speedily and without formality;
A summary execution
Summary justice
Summary
Briefly giving the gist of something;
A short and compendious book
A compact style is brief and pithy
Succinct comparisons
A summary formulation of a wide-ranging subject
Common Curiosities
How is an abbreviation used?
An abbreviation is used to save space or time, often seen in notes and formal documents.
Can a summary be abbreviated?
A summary can be made shorter, but it typically aims to remain comprehensive.
What does abbreviated mean?
Abbreviated means shortened by omitting parts of the original content.
What is the purpose of a summary?
The purpose of a summary is to provide an overview of a larger piece of work.
What is an example of an abbreviated word?
"Etc." is an abbreviated form of "et cetera."
What makes a good summary?
A good summary captures the main points concisely without unnecessary details.
How does a summary differ from a detailed report?
A summary is a brief overview, while a detailed report includes in-depth information.
Is a summary the same as a synopsis?
A summary and a synopsis are similar, both providing a concise overview, but a synopsis is often used for creative works.
What is a summary?
A summary is a concise presentation of the main points of a larger work.
Where are summaries commonly found?
Summaries are commonly found in reports, reviews, and academic papers.
Can an abbreviation change the meaning of a word?
An abbreviation should retain the original meaning in a shorter form.
Is "Dr." an abbreviation?
Yes, "Dr." is the abbreviated form of "Doctor."
Why are summaries important?
Summaries are important because they provide a quick understanding of comprehensive content.
What is the abbreviation for "Professor"?
"Prof." is the abbreviation for "Professor."
Are abbreviations used in formal writing?
Yes, abbreviations are used in formal writing to save space and time.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
