Summarize vs. Sum — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
Summarize focuses on condensing content into a brief, essential overview, often highlighting main points or conclusions, while sum refers to the total result of adding values together.
Difference Between Summarize and Sum
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Summarize involves reducing a larger piece of content into a shorter form, retaining only the key elements or main points, which helps in quickly conveying the essence without the details. On the other hand, sum is a mathematical term that refers to the result obtained by adding two or more numbers or quantities together, emphasizing the total or whole amount.
When you summarize a text, your goal is to provide an abridged version that encapsulates the central themes or arguments, making complex information more accessible and digestible. Whereas, when you calculate a sum, you are consolidating all parts into one aggregate figure, which is critical in contexts like financial transactions or data analysis.
Summarize is typically used in literary, academic, or informational contexts to make long texts or discussions more compact and easier to understand. Conversely, sum is used in mathematical, financial, and statistical contexts to provide a quantitative total of individual elements.
The process of summarizing requires understanding, interpretation, and ability to distinguish between crucial and supplementary information. On the other hand, calculating a sum requires numerical accuracy and often the use of computational tools or techniques.
While both summarize and sum involve aggregation, summarize does so by compressing textual or informational content for clarity and brevity, while sum deals with the numerical addition of values, focusing on total computation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Condense detailed content into a concise summary.
Total of added values.
Contexts Used
Literary, academic, informational.
Mathematical, financial.
Key Skills
Interpretation, distillation of information.
Numerical computation.
Outcome
Brief overview focusing on main points.
Quantitative total.
Tools Used
Intellectual analysis, language skills.
Calculators, software.
Compare with Definitions
Summarize
To condense a larger text or discourse into a brief and comprehensive synopsis.
The student was asked to summarize the chapter for the class presentation.
Sum
To calculate the total of various elements combined.
He summed the invoices to find the total expense.
Summarize
To create a summary, which is a concise version of a longer written or spoken material.
Her task was to summarize the report into a one-page document.
Sum
A mathematical expression involving addition.
Children learn to find the sum of numbers in elementary school.
Summarize
To extract and communicate the main points from a broad range of data or discussion.
Can you summarize the main points of the article?
Sum
The total result obtained by adding numbers or quantities.
The sum of 3 and 7 is 10.
Summarize
To provide an overview intended to give the essence without all details.
The professor summarized the historical event to help students understand the context.
Sum
The aggregate of two or more figures.
The sum of all votes cast determined the election result.
Summarize
To present the core ideas or conclusions of a complex argument succinctly.
He summarized the meeting's outcomes in just a few sentences.
Sum
The overall total or conclusion of an account or story.
The sum of his experiences contributed to his wisdom.
Summarize
"Summarize" is the first single released from Australian indie rock band Little Birdy's third studio album, Confetti. It was released on 10 April 2009 and the single made it to number 54 on the ARIA charts.Two versions were released: a CD single featuring the track "One in a Million", and an iTunes version which featured the track "Sorrow" instead.
Sum
An amount obtained as a result of adding numbers.
Summarize
Give a brief statement of the main points of (something)
These results can be summarized in the following table
To summarize, there are three main categories
Sum
An arithmetic problem
A child good at sums.
Summarize
To make a summary or make a summary of.
Sum
The whole amount, quantity, or number; an aggregate
The sum of the team's combined experience.
Summarize
(ambitransitive) To prepare a summary of (something).
Jim was asked to summarize the document by Wednesday.
Sum
An amount of money
Paid an enormous sum.
Summarize
(ambitransitive) To give a recapitulation of the salient facts; to recapitulate or review.
After the meeting, Jim summarized the major decisions made.
Sum
A summary
My view of the world, in sum.
Summarize
To comprise in, or reduce to, a summary; to present briefly.
Sum
The central idea or point; the gist.
Summarize
Give a summary (of);
He summed up his results
I will now summarize
Sum
(Mathematics) To add.
Summarize
Be a summary of;
The abstract summarizes the main ideas in the paper
Sum
To give a summary of; summarize.
Sum
A quantity obtained by addition or aggregation.
The sum of 3 and 4 is 7.
Sum
(often plural) An arithmetic computation, especially one posed to a student as an exercise (not necessarily limited to addition).
We're learning about division, and the sums are tricky.
Sum
A quantity of money.
A tidy sum
The sum of forty pounds
Sum
A summary; the principal points or thoughts when viewed together; the amount; the substance; compendium.
This is the sum of all the evidence in the case.
This is the sum and substance of his objections.
Sum
A central idea or point; gist.
Sum
The utmost degree.
Sum
(obsolete) An old English measure of corn equal to the quarter.
Sum
The basic unit of money in Kyrgyzstan.
Sum
The basic unit of money in Uzbekistan.
Sum
A type of administrative district used in China, Mongolia, and Russia. In Mongolia, a sum is smaller than a province. In China, it is only used in Inner Mongolia, where it is equivalent to a township.
Sum
(transitive) To add together.
Sum
(transitive) To give a summary of.
Sum
Eye dialect of some
Sum
Eye dialect of some
Sum
The aggregate of two or more numbers, magnitudes, quantities, or particulars; the amount or whole of any number of individuals or particulars added together; as, the sum of 5 and 7 is 12.
Take ye the sum of all the congregation.
Sum
A quantity of money or currency; any amount, indefinitely; as, a sum of money; a small sum, or a large sum.
With a great sum obtained I this freedom.
Sum
The principal points or thoughts when viewed together; the amount; the substance; compendium; as, this is the sum of all the evidence in the case; this is the sum and substance of his objections.
Sum
Height; completion; utmost degree.
Thus have I told thee all my state, and broughtMy story to the sum of earthly bliss.
Sum
A problem to be solved, or an example to be wrought out.
A sum in arithmetic wherein a flaw discovered at a particular point is ipso facto fatal to the whole.
A large sheet of paper . . . covered with long sums.
Sum
To bring together into one whole; to collect into one amount; to cast up, as a column of figures; to ascertain the totality of; - usually with up.
The mind doth value every moment, and then the hour doth rather sum up the moments, than divide the day.
Sum
To bring or collect into a small compass; to comprise in a few words; to condense; - usually with up.
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard," in few words sums up the moral of this fable.
He sums their virtues in himself alone.
Sum
To have (the feathers) full grown; to furnish with complete, or full-grown, plumage.
But feathered soon and fledgeThey summed their pens [wings].
Sum
A quantity of money;
He borrowed a large sum
The amount he had in cash was insufficient
Sum
A quantity obtained by addition
Sum
The final aggregate;
The sum of all our troubles did not equal the misery they suffered
Sum
The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;
The gist of the prosecutor's argument
The heart and soul of the Republican Party
The nub of the story
Sum
The whole amount
Sum
The basic unit of money in Uzbekistan
Sum
A set containing all and only the members of two or more given sets;
Let C be the union of the sets A and B
Sum
Be a summary of;
The abstract summarizes the main ideas in the paper
Sum
Determine the sum of;
Add all the people in this town to those of the neighboring town
Common Curiosities
Where is the term sum commonly used?
It is commonly used in mathematical contexts and wherever numerical addition is involved.
Is summarizing a skill that can be improved?
Yes, summarizing is a skill that improves with practice and by enhancing comprehension and analytical abilities.
Can summarize be used in everyday conversation?
Yes, it is often used to convey the main points of a story or event succinctly.
What does sum refer to in mathematics?
It refers to the total result obtained from adding multiple numbers together.
What skills are essential for effective summarization?
Understanding of the content, analytical thinking, and ability to distinguish key points are essential.
Can sum also mean a summary?
In non-mathematical contexts, sum can indeed mean the gist or summary of an argument or story.
What is the primary purpose of summarizing?
To condense detailed content into a concise form that highlights only the essential points.
What are common tools used to calculate a sum?
Calculators, computers, and even mental math are commonly used tools.
How does summarize differ from paraphrasing?
Summarize involves condensing the content significantly, focusing only on main points, while paraphrasing involves rewording the content, often without reducing its length significantly.
Why is it important to be accurate when calculating a sum?
Accuracy in sums is crucial for correct data analysis, financial calculations, and everyday transactions.
What are the benefits of being able to summarize well?
It helps in better understanding, remembering, and communicating complex information efficiently.
How do you teach children to calculate a sum?
Children are taught to add numbers using visual aids, practical examples, and increasingly complex exercises.
How can summarizing help in learning?
It promotes active thinking, improves comprehension, and helps in organizing and retaining information.
In what situations might someone need to summarize information?
In academic, professional, or personal settings where conveying key information quickly is necessary.
What are some common mistakes when calculating sums?
Errors can include misalignment of decimal points, incorrect addition, or misunderstanding the values to be added.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Braising vs. Roasting
Next Comparison
Seer vs. SageAuthor Spotlight
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
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
