A Complete Guide to Writing a Summary in English

We’re all used to reading summaries, yet we’re not always taught how to write a summary in English. Summaries can be found everywhere, from book covers to product descriptions to online review sites. However, no matter how many summaries you’ve read, writing your own when you need to can be challenging.  Follow our guide to get it right.

What is a summary and why is it needed?

A summary is a shorter description of a longer text that summarises all the important points. It provides an overview so that you don’t have to read the whole text to get an idea of the content. Summaries exist for books, films and many other media. And yet, even if you have already read some summaries, it can still be difficult to write your own. Today we want to help you write your own summary.

Summary writing is about presenting the highlights of a text and leaving out anything unimportant. A summary of Hamlet would include only the most important points about the action, Polonius’ murder for example – leaving out things that are not relevant, such as his soliloquy to thine own self be true.

How to write a really good summary in English

You can follow 4 steps to write a good summary:

1. Look at the original (in the case of a text: read it carefully!).

The first step is obvious: Read or look carefully at what you want to write your summary about.

If you want to write a summary about a book, for example, there is always the temptation to work with other summaries from the internet. But especially as a beginner, you should avoid this, because it is difficult to assess which sources are really reliable. In addition, you can run the risk of plagiarism.

2. Make bullet points.

Next, start preparing and write down some key points about your text. Use your memory. What things did you remember when you read the text? This way, you can weed out unnecessary information. But also think about what is really important and less about what might only interest you. You may have to read the text several times to filter the information correctly. You might also divide the text into sections and think of a suitable heading for each section.

3. Write a summary in your own words.

Now turn your bullet points into a text. Follow the order of events in the text or film.
It is important to use only your own words. Of course, you can use direct and indirect quotations and refer to passages in the text, but on the whole you should use your own language to make the summary unique. Also, remember to write the summary for someone who has no idea about the text – they should still know what the text is about at the end. Also pay attention to structuring transitions, don’t just line up sentence after sentence, use adverbs (however, as a result, meanwhile). Furthermore, you should avoid first-person constructions and your own opinion is inappropriate here. A summary is always written in the simple present tense.

4. Revise your summary

The last step is to revise. Now you need to correct mistakes and remove inappropriate words. Also cut out unnecessary sentences, so you have more space to elaborate on the important information. It’s also a good idea to check the transitions.

What you should avoid in your summary:

Sometimes a lot of details are described in the source text but they are mostly unnecessary for your summary. Try to concentrate on the most important information. Also, do not add any new information to your summary, and avoid speaking in the first and second person-  ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘we’ constructions have no place in your text. Narrative elements such as ‘suddenly’ are inappropriate and literal speech is also not to be used in your summary.

English Phrases to use in a Summary

Finally, we would like to give you a few helpful phrases that you can learn and use in your own summary. They will bring your text to a higher level, show the reader that you have dealt with the text type summary and give the result professionalism.

• The text (article) “__” is concerned with/deals with/tells about/is about …
• At the beginning of the text the author describes/dwells on/explains/ points out/characterizes/enumerates/ stresses/underlines…
• The article begins with the description of/the analysis of/the review of/the characterization of/the author’s opinion of …
• Then (after that, next) the author passes on to/goes on to say about/gives a detailed analysis (description) of …
• In addition (besides, moreover, further) …
• In conclusion (at the end of the article) the author underlines/criticizes/draws the conclusion that …
• The article ends with the analysis of …
• In short/to sum it up …

Is writing summaries in English challenging for you?

We can provide personalised lessons to help you overcome your challenges and teach you how to write a summary in English. Lessons will be based on your needs and adapted along the way. Individual lessons can be held online at one of our schools in Malta and Gozo.

Get in touch to discuss a personalised learning plan.

 

Hello there, Summer! Start the new season with new summer idioms.

Here in Malta, the sun shines all year round, but in summer it gets especially hot. The days get longer, the drinks get cooler, and everything seems to get a bit more relaxed. And the best part is that summers in Malta are almost 4 months long. That means that you’ll have plenty of time to put your newly learned summer idioms to use.

Here are our top 10 English idioms related to summer.

1. Travel ‘on a Shoestring’

Summertime means travel time. To travel on a shoestring means to travel very cheaply. Many young people want to travel cheaply, so they choose hostels rather than hotels. This way you can save money and see more of the world.

Example: We travelled on a shoestring while backpacking through Europe last summer.

2. ‘Soak Up Some Sun’

To soak up some sun means to lie in the sun and enjoy the rays.

Example: I have been soaking up the sunshine here in Malta and I hope you’ve been watching it all on my Instagram!

3. ‘Dog Days of Summer’

Dog Days are the warmest days of summer. On days like these, the air is stuffy and every movement is an effort. Usually these days occur in July or August.

The expression has its origins in Greek mythology. In summer, you can watch Sirus, the dog star, during the nights. In late summer, he rises and sets in the northern hemisphere in line with the sun. The ancient Greeks believed that this combination of the sun and Sirus was responsible for the hot weather.

Example: Temperatures slowly climb up and we’re going into the dog days of summer.

4. ‘Like a cat on a hot tin roof’

Like a cat on a hot tin roof is a wonderful figurative expression. A tin roof which can quickly become very hot in the summer sun. So if you imagine a cat on such a roof, scurrying across it with its paws, you can imagine the meaning of this idiom. So this refers to a nervous and anxious person.

There is also an American film from 1958 called Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It stars Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman.

Example: The actor was like a cat on a hot tin roof while he was waiting for his first performance to begin.

5.  ‘Summer fling’

A summer fling is a short summer romance or relationship during the summer. This is a summer fling that is not meant to last forever. With the summer, the romance also ends.

Example: I can’t believe Tiffany is a teenager already! She had her first summer fling with a boy from summer camp but thankfully it wasn’t too serious. I’m not prepared for her growing up so fast!

6. ‘A fair-weathered friend’

At first glance, it seems that this phrase is positive, because fair weather means good weather, but appearances are deceiving. A fair-weathered friend is someone who is only friends with you when you are doing well. However, if you get into trouble or things go badly for you, this person will not stand by you.

Example: I thought he was a great friend but he’s really just a fair-weather friend.

7. ‘Hotter than Dutch love’

This expression translates as “hotter than Dutch love. It is believed that this expression comes from Calvinism. It is said that the Dutch followers of Calvinism were very passionate with each other behind closed doors. So this expression means very hot days in summer, but it is also used to describe a hot partnership. You will hear it often in New York or Pennsylvania.

Example: How hot is it? Hotter than Dutch love.

8. ‘Chasing rainbows’

Chasing rainbows literally means “chasing rainbows”, but probably the German term “nach den Sternen greifen” fits better at this point. Someone who “chases rainbows” is trying to achieve something seemingly impossible. This term is mostly used for naive people, but maybe sometimes we should all try a little bit more to chase the rainbows.

Example: I know you want to be famous, but I think you should stop chasing rainbows and get an office job.

9. ‘Social butterfly’

A person is described as a social butterfly if he/she is very social and open. Social butterflies have no problem making friends in a new group and can adapt to different people – just like real butterflies. The downside, however, can be that these individuals have a hard time making deeper friendships because they care about multiple friendships at once.

Example: She’s a true social butterfly and loves parties and social events.

10. ‘One swallow doesn’t make a summer’

This expression is about swallows. It could be seen again and again that some swallows returned from their African winter quarters as early as March, and so it is said that one swallow does not yet mean that summer is here, if one wants to express that just because one good thing has happened, it does not necessarily mean that good thing will continue to happen.

Example: A lot of things went right for us this year, but one swallow does not make a summer.

Time to practice! Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom about summer.

1. I know you want to become an actor but I think you should _______________  and get an office job.
2. I was hit by an accident and was hoping my friend Jenny to help me, but she is really just a _______________.
3. We got a big order from Sweden this morning. Things are getting better but _______________ , so I don’t want to be too optimistic.
4. They were only together on their holiday and drifted apart shortly after, it was just a _______________!
5. During the _______________, I always plan a long vacation to the cooler climes of the mountains.
6. She loved to entertain and was a real _______________.
7. It is impossible to run a large symphony orchestra _______________ or to run good opera cheaply.
8. Visitors can _______________  in our garden by the pool, after having lunch on our terrace.
9. Watching that game was so stressful—I was like a cat _______________  the whole time!
10. The weather that week was _______________. It exceeded all records of previous heatwaves.

Answer key:

1. Stop chasing rainbows.
2. A fair-weather friend
3. One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
4. Summer fling.
5. Dog days of summer.
6. Social butterfly.
7. On a shoestring.
8. Soak up the sun.
9. A cat on a hot tin roof.
10. Hotter than Dutch love.

Do you want to learn more seasonal idioms? Read about spring idioms, winter idioms, and autumn idioms.

 

Dive into Australian English Slang Words with us!

Here’s a list of Australian words in English that you definitely need if you want to sound like a real Aussie.

Welcome to Oz – that’s what Australians affectionately call their country. But that’s just one of the many cute Australian words in English. Take a look at our article and dream away with us to faraway Australia.

Australian English is more than just an accent and the ‘Aussie’ vocabulary amazes many British people. Australian English is similar to British English but differs from American English in many ways – and so there are many Australian expressions and phrases, a few of which we’d like to introduce you to today.

The origins of Australian English date back to the late 18th century when Australia was still a kind of penal colony for British prisoners and outcasts. It is likely that various dialects had already developed in England and at sea but the first settlers were a milestone in the language of Australia. Although the people in the European settlements of Australia did not actually think of changing the English language, it simply could not be avoided. When the British arrived in Australia, they mostly lived close together in the big cities and were more or less left to their fate. They came from various parts of Britain and their dialects essentially shaped Australian English. Later, Irish and Scottish farmers and stockbreeders came in and brought not only their customs but also their language with them. Australian English can therefore be described as a mix of Irish, Scottish and English influences. But traces of the indigenous Aboriginal languages can often be detected as well.

Australian English is still characterised by many abbreviations and hearty nicknames. It symbolises Australian values and the Australian national feeling: friendship, friendliness, informality and solidarity with other Australians.  The following are clear examples of words that are unique to Australian English.

1.  arvo: afternoon
2. barbie: barbeque
3. bogan: redneck – an uncultured person
4. truckie: someone who drives a truck, a truck driver
5. bottle-o: bottle shop
6. bloody ripper: ‘Awesome!’ ‘Cool!’
7. suss: short form of ‘suspicious’ – people or things that you can’t really trust are ‘suss’.
8. drongo: drongos are actually a type of bird, but in Australia they are also used to describe people who behave in a somewhat naïve, perhaps even stupid, way. For example: ‘Why did you put your tablet on the barbecue, John? You’re such a drongo!’. It is meant kindly and affectionately in most.
9. pash: a long, intense kiss. A pash rash is an irritation of the skin as a result of such a kiss with a bearded person.
10. mozzie: mosquito
11. brekkie: breakfast – It sounds like a trivialisation of the term breakfast, but it is an everyday word among Australians.
12. mate: friend – This is a classic term, you’ve probably come across it before.
13. roo: kangaroo – Of course, Australians have their own word for their kangaroos. They are probably the most famous animals in Australia.
14. my shout: it’s my turn to pay – If you want to buy someone a drink, this is how you show that you’ll pick up the bill.
15. cabbie: taxi driver
16. g’day, howzit goin?: Good day, how is it going? – A casual greeting in Australia. It is more of a polite phrase than a real question.
17. sheila: an Australian female – sheila is the Australian term for a woman, while a man is called a bloke.
18. hit the sack: go to bed to sleep
19. she’ll be right: everything will be ok – It seems like a form for women only, but it’s not. Australians use this expression when they want to look forward optimistically.
20. Go troppo: go crazy – This is the last Australian expression we want to introduce to you. Presumably, the term go troppo comes from the northern areas of Australia where it can get so hot that you go crazy.

If you are equipped with these Australian English words, expressions and phrases, you will soon be able to speak like a real Australian and feel at home in Australia. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to speak English with slang like this.

Would you like to learn more about the English language variations? Read this article about the differences between British and American English. 

What’s the difference between British and American English?

And how important is it? Here’s a simple way to understand the conundrum!

For many non-native speakers, English seems to be a universal language that is spoken in the same way everywhere. But this is not quite true. In particular, the English spoken in America and the English spoken in Britain are very different. So what are the differences between British and American English?

1. Vocabulary

The biggest linguistic difference is probably in the vocabulary. Hundreds of everyday words are different. For example, British people call the front of a car a ‘bonnet’, while Americans refer to it as the ‘ hood’. People in New York live in apartments, while people in London live in a flat. Americans go on ‘vacation’, British people go on ‘holidays’ or just ‘hols’.

2. Nouns

Above all, these two forms of English also bring differences in the grammatical area. For example, if you look at nouns that refer to a group of people, you will notice differences.

For example,

• In American English, group nouns are in the singular. Staff refers to a group of employees, band refers to a group of musicians and team refers to a group of athletes.
• In contrast, in British English, these nouns are used in both the singular and the plural. That is why you will hear both The team are playing tonight and The team is playing tonight.

Above all, these two forms of English also bring differences in the grammatical area. For example, if you look at nouns that refer to a group of people, you will notice differences.

In American English, group nouns are in the singular. Staff refers to a group of employees, band refers to a group of musicians and team refers to a group of athletes.

In contrast, in British English, these nouns are used in both the singular and the plural. That is why you will hear both The team are playing tonight and The team is playing tonight.

3. Auxiliary Verbs

Another phenomenon that makes some differences are the auxiliary verbs. They help to form a grammatical function.

For example, if you take a closer look at the auxiliary verb shall, you will see that shall is used to express the future. For example: When British people announce I shall go home now, Americans know what is meant by shall, but they would not express it that way. Shall is very formal in America, so Americans would probably say I will go home now.

When Americans want to say that something is not obligatory, they use the auxiliary verb do in conjunction with not followed by need: You don’t need to come to work today. British people, on the other hand, simply omit the auxiliary verb and the not and prefer: You needn’t come to work today.

4. Past Tenses

There are also some differences in the past tenses between American and British English. The American past tense of learn is learned – the British, on the other hand, use not only learned but also learnt. The same applies to dreamed and dreamt, burned and burnt or leaned and learnt.

5. Confirmation questions (or Question Tags)

A confirmation question turns a statement into a question. For example,

The whole situation is unfortunate, isn’t it? or You don’t like her, do you?

Americans also use confirmation questions, but much less often than British people.
The last part consists of a pronoun and an appropriate form of the verb to be, have or do. Confirmation questions encourage people to answer and agree with you.

6. Spelling

The difference in spelling is probably one of the biggest differences between British and American English. Although it may not be noticeable when speaking or listening, there can be some confusion when writing.

Many words in British have the letter u after the o. For example, you might come across colour or honour. In America, the ‘u’ is dropped, and American English is usually simplified.

Another common difference is that Americans use the letter ‘z’, while British people use an ‘s’, for example in the verb organise. Words like theatre or metre are spelled theatre and meter in America.

Also, in the UK you will often find a double ‘l’, such as in ‘travelled’, which Americans find unnecessary, and write ‘travelled’ instead. There are also other small differences, such as ‘grey’ and ‘gray’ or ‘kerb’ and ‘curb’.

How important are the differences between British and American English?

In the end, however, British and American English still have more in common than differences, it is simply often exaggerated. If you know one version, you will have no problems with the other. With the exception of a few regional dialects, most British and Americans have no problem communicating with each other. They watch each other’s TV series, listen to the same songs and read the same books.

On the other hand, there’s also Australian English with its own unique vocabulary. Discover the varieties of Australian English here.