Your teacher asked for a 50-word summary, and yours is sitting at 130. You've already read the article twice, every sentence feels important, and deleting any of it feels like losing something. The good news: most long summaries are long for the same few reasons, and each one has a quick fix. Below are six edits, applied one at a time to a real draft, so you can see exactly how much each one cuts and why the meaning survives.
Why summaries get too long
A summary runs long when it tries to do the original's job instead of its own. The original has room to explain, give examples and repeat key points for emphasis. A summary doesn't. Purdue OWL describes it as putting the main ideas into your own words, "including only the main point(s)," and says it should be "significantly shorter than the original."
In practice, extra length usually comes from five habits:
- Following the source line by line. You summarize each paragraph in order, so the summary inherits the article's whole structure.
- Keeping the examples. The story or statistic that made a point vivid gets copied over, even though the point itself is enough.
- Restating repetition. Authors repeat their main idea for emphasis. A summary only needs it once.
- Adding commentary. "This is an interesting article that makes a strong case..." is your opinion, not the author's content.
- Wordy phrasing. "Due to the fact that" instead of "because."
Here's the draft we'll fix. It summarizes an imagined opinion article arguing that cities should plant more street trees:
Before (128 words): In this article, the author talks about the topic of trees in cities and makes the argument that cities should plant more street trees. The author begins by describing a hot summer afternoon on a street with no shade, where people were waiting at a bus stop in the sun. The author then explains that trees provide shade, which helps to keep streets cooler during the summer months. In addition to this, trees can also help to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff during heavy rain. The author also mentions that trees make streets look nicer. Some people argue that trees are expensive to maintain, but the author says that the benefits are worth the costs. I think this is a very convincing article that everyone should read.
6 ways to make a summary shorter
Each edit below starts from the result of the one before, so you can watch the word count drop.
1. Write the main claim first, in one sentence
Before deleting anything, decide what the author is arguing. Here it's: cities should plant more street trees because the benefits outweigh the costs. Lead with that, and you can drop the slow build-up.
Before: In this article, the author talks about the topic of trees in cities and makes the argument that cities should plant more street trees.
After: The author argues that cities should plant more street trees.
This works because the claim is the anchor for every other cut. If a sentence doesn't support it, it's a candidate for deletion. The University of Toronto Mississauga's summary guide makes the same point: separate the "need-to-know information" from minor details by asking how each one connects to the thesis.
2. Cut examples and anecdotes
The bus stop scene makes the article memorable, but it only illustrates the shade point. The point itself is enough.
Before: The author begins by describing a hot summer afternoon on a street with no shade, where people were waiting at a bus stop in the sun. The author then explains that trees provide shade...
After: Trees provide shade...
That one cut removes around 30 words. Removing minor details and examples is one of UTM's six core tips, with one caution: don't cut so much that you misrepresent the author's intent.
3. Delete your opinion
"I think this is a very convincing article that everyone should read" tells the reader about you, not the source. Cut it completely. Your evaluation belongs in a response or analysis, not a summary.
Before: I think this is a very convincing article that everyone should read.
After: (deleted)
4. Swap wordy phrases for short ones
Scan for phrases that take five words to say one thing. Common ones in summaries:
| Wordy | Shorter |
|---|---|
| in addition to this | also |
| the amount of | (often delete) |
| during the summer months | in summer |
| helps to keep | keeps |
| the author also mentions that | (often delete) |
Before: In addition to this, trees can also help to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff during heavy rain.
After: They also reduce stormwater runoff.
For more of these swaps, see our guide on how to write concise sentences.
5. Merge sentences that share a subject
When three sentences all start "Trees...", combine them into one list. You keep every idea and lose the repeated set-up.
Before: Trees provide shade, which keeps streets cooler in summer. They also reduce stormwater runoff. The author also mentions that trees make streets look nicer.
After: Trees cool streets with shade, reduce stormwater runoff and make neighborhoods more attractive.
6. Keep the counterargument, but compress it
Don't cut the part where the author answers critics. It's part of the argument, and dropping it would misrepresent the article. Just say it in fewer words. Also check the ending is still there; a common mistake is running out of words and dropping the last section of the source.
Before: Some people argue that trees are expensive to maintain, but the author says that the benefits are worth the costs.
After: The author acknowledges maintenance costs but argues the benefits outweigh them.
The result
After (34 words): The author argues that cities should plant more street trees. Trees cool streets with shade, reduce stormwater runoff and make neighborhoods more attractive. The author acknowledges maintenance costs but argues the benefits outweigh them.
From 128 words to 34, and nothing the author argued is missing. Notice what changed: the claim moved to the front, the order follows the argument rather than the article, and every remaining sentence supports the main claim. UTM's guide notes you're free to re-order ideas like this if it makes the summary more logical.
Remember to credit the source when you use a summary in your own work. Purdue OWL is clear that summarized ideas still need attribution.
When to start over
Sometimes editing is slower than rewriting. Start a fresh draft when:
- You can't state the main claim in one sentence. That usually means you need to reread the source, not trim the summary.
- More than half your sentences are copied or close paraphrases. Close the original and write from memory or notes instead, then check back for accuracy.
- The word limit is extreme. Going from 300 to 50 words through cuts often leaves choppy fragments. Write the one-sentence claim, add two or three supporting points, and stop.
- The summary follows the source paragraph by paragraph. Re-organizing is often easier from scratch than through dozens of small edits.
A quick restart method: list the main claim and the three most important supporting points as bullets, then turn each bullet into one sentence. You'll often land close to your limit on the first try.
If you use an AI tool to help, follow your school's or employer's rules on AI. Many teachers allow tools for understanding a reading but expect the summary you submit to be your own words.
How Summary App can help
When you're facing a long article, PDF or report, it helps to see the core argument before you start cutting. Summary App lets you paste in text and get an AI summary in seconds; its App Store listing says it aims to identify core arguments rather than pull random sentences. Use that as a check: compare its version with your one-sentence main claim, and see whether you've missed a key point or kept something minor. Then write and trim your own version with the six edits above. It's iPhone only, and works with emails, web articles and documents. More guides are on our summary blog.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a summary be?
There's no fixed rule, but a summary should be significantly shorter than the original, as Purdue's writing lab puts it. If your teacher gives a word limit, that wins. Otherwise, a single paragraph usually works for an article, and a few short paragraphs for a long report or book chapter.
What should I cut first from a summary?
Cut examples, anecdotes and statistics that only illustrate a point the author already states. Then remove repeated ideas, background the reader doesn't need, and your own opinions. These cuts usually remove the most words while changing the meaning least, so start there before rewording sentences.
How do I shorten a summary without losing meaning?
Before you cut, write the author's main claim in one sentence. Every sentence you keep should support that claim. After editing, check that the summary still covers the whole source, including the ending, and that someone who hasn't read the original would understand the argument.
Can I use an AI summarizer for school?
Only if your school or teacher allows it. Some courses permit AI to help you understand a reading but expect the summary you submit to be your own words. Check your syllabus or honor code, ask when unsure, and always credit the original source of the ideas.
Is it OK to use quotes in a short summary?
Use them sparingly. A summary is meant to restate the author's ideas in your own words, so quotes take up space you could use for main points. If one phrase is so precise that rewording would change its meaning, quote just that phrase and cite it.
Conclusion
Making a summary shorter is mostly about deciding what the author is really saying, then removing everything that doesn't serve that claim. Write the main claim first, cut examples and opinions, tighten wordy phrases, merge related sentences, and compress rather than drop the counterargument. Check that the ending survived. If the draft fights back, start over from a bullet list. With practice, you'll write short summaries from the start instead of trimming long ones.