Precis Writing

Do's

• Start clearly with the main idea of the passage so readers grasp the essence immediately.
• Maintain the original author's tone, flow, and logical order of ideas.
• Write in the third person using indirect speech with proper past tense.
• Provide a suitable title that reflects the essence of the precis.
• Use your own words; paraphrase rather than copy verbatim.
• Keep the precis concise — about one-third the length of the original passage.
• Focus on important facts, methods, and points; omit examples and illustrations.
• Use clear, formal, and error-free language with appropriate grammar.
• Review the precis for clarity, coherence, and accuracy.
• Use full forms instead of abbreviations to maintain formality.

Don'ts

• Do not include your own opinions, criticisms, or interpretations.
• Avoid copying sentences directly from the original text.
• Do not add information or assumptions that are not present in the passage.
• Avoid using abbreviations, informal language, and slang.
• Do not write questions, rhetorical statements, or address the reader directly.
• Do not focus disproportionately on one point; keep balanced coverage.
• Avoid breaking the logical flow or jumbling ideas.
• Don’t use first-person or second-person pronouns; maintain objectivity.
• Avoid repetition and unnecessary details or embellishments.
• Do not change the original meaning or tone of the passage.