How to Write a Precis: Definition, Rules, Steps, Format & Solved Example

How to Write a Precis: A précis (pronounced pray-see) is a clear, compact restatement of a passage in your own words, reduced to approximately one-third (1/3) of the original word count while preserving its central theme, tone, and essential ideas.

What Is Precis Writing? (Definition)

The word précis comes from the French word meaning ‘precise’ or ‘cut brief’. Unlike a general paraphrase or a loose list of bullet points, a précis is a single, well-connected paragraph written in the writer’s own language, in the third person and indirect speech, with an appropriate title.

7 Essential Characteristics of a Good Precis

1. Completeness: It must include every essential point and argument of the original passage so nothing important is missed.
2. Compactness: Every sentence is tight and purposeful, free from filler words or repetition.
3. Brevity (One-Third Rule): A good précis is roughly one-third (1/3) the length of the original text unless another word limit is specified.
4. Clarity: A reader who has never seen the original passage should still understand the entire argument clearly.
5. Coherence: Ideas flow logically from sentence to sentence in a unified paragraph rather than disjointed notes.
6. Own Language: It is written in the précis writer’s own words instead of copying sentences directly from the passage.
7. Objectivity (No Personal Opinion): It reports only the author’s ideas without adding personal comments, examples, or criticism.

10 Golden Rules for Writing a Good Precis

1. Identify the Central Theme: Read the passage carefully to find its main subject; this helps separate major points from minor details.
2. Remodel, Do Not Copy-Paste: Never form a précis simply by lifting a few sentences and deleting the rest.
3. Balance Brevity with Clarity: Follow the ABC of Précis Writing—Accuracy, Brevity, and Clarity.
4. Self-Contained Meaning: Write so that anyone who has not read the original passage can grasp the full message.
5. Use Your Own Vocabulary: Replace long phrases and idioms with single precise words (one-word substitutions).
6. Always Use Third Person & Indirect Speech: Even if the original passage uses ‘I’ or direct dialogue, convert it into third-person indirect speech (e.g., ‘The author observes that…’).
7. Omit Ornaments & Examples: Leave out quotations, metaphors, proverbs, rhetorical questions, and secondary illustrations.
8. Handle Statistics Carefully: Omit minor numerical illustrations, but retain core figures if the passage’s main argument depends on them.
9. Maintain Proportion: Give space to each part of the passage according to the importance of its idea.
10. Supply a Short, Apt Title: Always give your précis a clear 3-to-6 word title that captures the central theme, even if the question does not explicitly ask for one.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Write a Precis (With Flow Chart)

1. First Reading: Read the passage from start to finish to understand its general theme and tone.
2. Second Reading & Underlining: Re-read slowly and underline key ideas while crossing out examples, repetitions, and decorative phrases.
3. Select a Working Title: Note down the central subject in a brief phrase.
4. Jot Down Key Points: List the main points in sequential order in your own words.
5. Write the Rough Draft: Combine your points into a connected paragraph in the third person and count the words.
6. Edit to One-Third Length & Write Fair Copy: Trim excess words until the draft is within ±5 words of one-third of the original passage, write the final title at the top, and record the exact word count in brackets at the end.

Solved Precis Writing Example (With Word Count)

Original Passage (138 words):
Trees give shade for the benefit of others, and while they themselves stand in the scorching sun and endure its heat, they produce the fruit by which others profit. The character of a good human being is like that of trees. What is the use of this perishable body if no use is made of it for the benefit of mankind? Sandalwood, the more it is rubbed, the more scent does it yield. Sugarcane, the more it is peeled and cut up into pieces, the more juice does it produce. Those who are noble at heart do not lose their qualities even by losing their lives. Life itself is unprofitable to a person who does not live for others. To live for the mere sake of living one’s own life is to live the life of dogs and crows.

Solved Precis (46 words — 1/3 of 138 words):
Title: Living for Others / The True Value of Noble Life
Précis: Like trees, sandalwood, and sugarcane that suffer to benefit others, noble human beings dedicate their mortal lives to the service of humanity. They retain their virtue even in adversity, whereas a selfish life lived solely for oneself is meaningless and unworthy of a human being. (46 words)

Difference Between Summary and Precis

Frequently Asked Questions on Precis Writing