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Precis for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: preɪ'si

What does Precis really mean?

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Hey there!

So you're wondering about the word "precis," huh? Well, don't worry because I'm here to explain it to you in the easiest way possible. Let's dive right in!

Okay, picture this:

Imagine you have a super long and complicated storybook sitting on your desk. It has so many words and details that it might feel overwhelming to read, right? Well, what if I told you there's a way to make it shorter and much easier to understand?

That's where a precis comes in!

A precis is like a super special summary or a shortened version of a longer piece of writing. It's a way to take all the important parts of a text and condense them into a much smaller version, while still keeping the main ideas intact.

To give you an idea, think of a movie trailer. It's a short preview that tells you what the movie is about, without revealing all the details. Just like that, a precis gives you a sneak peek into the main points of a story or an article, without going into too much depth.

Now, let's break it down even further:

There are actually two different meanings for the word "precis," and I want to make sure you understand both of them. The first meaning is the one I just explained – it's about summarizing or condensing a longer piece of writing.

But the second meaning of "precis" is kind of like a verb. It's a way of actively reading a text and taking notes on the important points. So when someone tells you to "precis" something, they're asking you to read it carefully, underline or highlight the key ideas, and maybe even write a little summary of your own.

So, to sum it all up:

Think of a precis as a magical tool that makes complex information more manageable. It's like a mini version of a story or an article that gives you the main points without overwhelming you with too many details. And remember, you can also "precis" something by actively reading and taking notes on the important parts.

I hope that makes sense to you now! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I'm here to help!

Keep shining bright!


Revised and Fact checked by Mia Harris on 2023-10-28 15:49:51

Precis In a sentece

Learn how to use Precis inside a sentece

  • When you write a report for school, you can start by giving a precis of what the report will be about. This means you summarize all the important points in a short and clear way.
  • If you read a long story or book and want to quickly understand what it is about, you can ask someone to write a precis of it for you. This way you can get a quick summary without reading the whole thing.
  • In history class, your teacher might ask you to write a precis of an important event. This means you need to write a short and concise summary of what happened and why it was significant.
  • When you watch the news, sometimes they show a precis of the highlights from a sports game. This means they show the most important moments, like goals or touchdowns, without showing the entire game.
  • If you are researching a topic for a project, you can find a precis of a research article or a book chapter. This way you can quickly decide if the information is relevant to your research before reading the whole thing.

Precis Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Precis Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Precis Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.