Summary vs Synopsis
Writing a summary is a skill taught to students early in their education. The goal is to create a short, condensed version of a story or play while maintaining the original author’s viewpoint. There are other terms for this task, such as synopsis, gist, and abstract, which can be confusing for non-native speakers. Both summary and synopsis involve condensing or abridging a work, but there are some differences between the two tasks.
Summary
When faced with a large book containing a story or a play, many people may not be tempted to read it, thinking it would consume too much time. However, if there is a short version of the same play or story containing the main points, most people show interest and read it. Thus, a summary is a condensed and shortened version of a work of prose.
The person writing the summary does not make judgments or pass personal remarks or opinions. They try to present the author’s viewpoint while keeping it short. A summary can be quite brief, maybe just a page or two at the most, no matter how long the original work may be.
Key Takeaways
- Summary is a short, condensed version of a story or play while maintaining the original author’s viewpoint.
- A summary is typically only a page or two long, even if the original work is much longer.
- There is no attempt by the person writing the summary to be judgmental or pass personal remarks or opinions.
Synopsis
A synopsis is more or less the same as a summary, as it has been defined in various dictionaries as an outline, condensation, or summary of the main points of a work, book, or article. A synopsis carries the gist of a work of prose without presenting the viewpoint of the writer of the synopsis.
Précis writing is a skill that is taught at an early age to students. A synopsis is another term representing the same skill. A synopsis is short but longer than a summary, and in some cases, it is deliberately kept 25-30 pages long.
Summary vs Synopsis
- Synopsis, summary, précis, gist, abstract, etc., are all shortened and condensed versions of a long story or play.
- Both synopsis and summary retain the author’s viewpoint, but a summary is very short, maybe a page or two long, while a synopsis can be 25-30 pages long.
