Summarise vs. Abridge — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Summarise involves condensing content into main points, focusing on brevity and essence, whereas abridge means to shorten content while retaining essential elements.
Difference Between Summarise and Abridge
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
When you summarise, the aim is to distill the main points or essence from a larger text or discussion, capturing the core message in fewer words. On the other hand, to abridge involves reducing the length of the text but ensuring that the primary, essential parts remain intact and the overall narrative or message is preserved.
Summarising often results in a shorter, often bulleted or highlighted form, emphasizing clarity and brevity. Whereas abridging maintains a narrative form, carefully edited to shorten the length without losing the integral elements of the original work.
In academic or professional settings, summarising is frequently used to quickly convey the outcomes or key points of research and meetings. Conversely, abridged versions of texts are common in literature or legal documents, where time or space constraints necessitate a shorter version that still conveys the full intent.
Tools and techniques for summarising might include outlines or graphical representations like mind maps to visualize the main ideas succinctly. On the other hand, abridging might involve more in-depth editorial skills, focusing on language and content to refine and condense the text while maintaining coherence.
The skill of summarising is crucial for effective note-taking and studying, allowing individuals to capture essential information quickly. Meanwhile, abridging is an art that editors and authors use to adapt texts for specific audiences or formats without sacrificing depth or meaning.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Purpose
To capture the essence in brief
To shorten while maintaining essential parts
Outcome
Condensed form, often bullet points
Shortened narrative form
Common Uses
Academic summaries, business meetings
Literature, legal documents
Required Skills
Ability to identify key points quickly
Editorial skills, deep understanding of text
Tools/Techniques
Outlines, mind maps
In-depth editing, careful content selection
Compare with Definitions
Summarise
To reduce large amounts of information into main points.
The professor asked the class to summarise the article in one paragraph.
Abridge
To shorten a book or play without losing the essence.
The classic was abridged for younger readers.
Summarise
To create a concise version of a longer piece.
She summarised the three-hour movie into a ten-minute presentation.
Abridge
To condense with the intention to simplify.
They abridged the lengthy report into a ten-page document.
Summarise
To condense spoken or written content into essential elements.
He summarised the key points of the debate.
Abridge
To edit out parts of a text for various purposes.
The film script was abridged to highlight the main storyline.
Summarise
To give a brief statement of the main points of something.
Summarise the book's plot in a few sentences.
Abridge
To shorten while maintaining the integrity of the content.
The historical text was abridged but still detailed the critical events.
Summarise
To provide an overview or abstract.
The research paper began with a summary of the findings.
Abridge
To reduce the length of a text while keeping crucial information.
The editor abridged the novel to fit the publishing guidelines.
Summarise
(British spelling) summarize.
Abridge
Abridge is a village in Essex, England. It is on the River Roding, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of the county town of Chelmsford.
Summarise
Be a summary of;
The abstract summarizes the main ideas in the paper
Abridge
To reduce the length of (a written text); condense
The editor abridged the manuscript by cutting out two chapters.
Summarise
Give a summary (of);
He summed up his results
I will now summarize
Abridge
To limit; curtail
An unconstitutional law that abridged the rights of citizens.
Abridge
To deprive; to cut off.
Abridge
To debar from.
Abridge
(transitive) To make shorter; to shorten in duration or extent.
Abridge
(transitive) To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense.
Abridge
(transitive) Cut short; truncate.
Abridge
(transitive) To curtail.
He had his rights abridged by the crooked sheriff.
Abridge
To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights.
She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity.
Abridge
To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary.
Abridge
To deprive; to cut off; - followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.
Abridge
Reduce in scope while retaining essential elements;
The manuscript must be shortened
Common Curiosities
What does abridging a text involve?
Reducing its length while ensuring the key elements are preserved.
Is summarising useful in academic contexts?
Yes, especially for capturing key concepts and study efficiency.
Can abridged texts be considered original?
Yes, they maintain original intent but in a shortened form.
Is summarising more common in business or academia?
It's prevalent in both, but the styles and purposes may differ.
What is the primary goal of summarising?
To condense information to highlight only the main points.
When should one summarise rather than abridge?
When quick recall and clarity of the core ideas are needed.
How does abridging affect the reading experience?
It makes texts more accessible while keeping the narrative enjoyable.
Can summarising be automated?
Yes, several software tools can auto-summarise texts.
Does abridging alter the style of the text?
It might, depending on how the text is edited.
How important is the choice of what to exclude in abridging?
Crucial, as it determines the effectiveness and integrity of the abridged version.
What skills are necessary for effective abridging?
Strong editorial skills and a deep understanding of the content.
Are summaries always shorter than abridged versions?
Typically, yes, since summaries are more condensed by nature.
Can an abridged version replace the original?
In some contexts, such as educational or recreational reading.
What are common mistakes in summarising?
Missing key points or oversimplifying complex topics.
Which is faster, summarising or abridging?
Summarising is generally faster due to its focus on brevity.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Assignee vs. Assign
Next Comparison
Cattail vs. BulrushAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
