Which term describes the act of condensing a longer text into main points?

The correct term for condensing a longer text into its main points is summarization. Summarization involves distilling the essential ideas or key elements of a text while eliminating extraneous details. It serves the purpose of providing a concise version of the original content, allowing readers to grasp the fundamental concepts quickly without needing to engage with the entire text.

This skill is critical in various fields, such as education, research, and business, where professionals often need to present information efficiently. The process of summarization helps in retaining the core message while ensuring clarity.

Other terms listed may have varying meanings or applications. For example, abstracting typically refers to creating an abstract, which is a summary of the main ideas of a scholarly work, often accompanied by an analysis or critical viewpoint, rather than merely summarizing the text. Briefing refers to providing a concise statement or summary of essential points, often used in specific contexts like meetings or reports, but it is narrower than summarization. Overviewing is less commonly used in academic or professional settings and typically implies providing a broad view rather than a detailed condensation of content. Therefore, summarization is the most accurate term to describe the act of condensing a longer text into its main points.