Page 37 - Міністерство освіти і науки України

IV Some specific recommendations for writing a summary

1. Keep to one tense.
In summarizing the action of a drama, the writer should use the present tense. In
summarizing a poem, story or novel, he should use the present, though he may use the
past if it seems more natural to do so. If the summary is in the present tense, antecedent
action should be expressed by the present perfect; if in the past, by the past perfect.
e.g. Chance prevents Friar John from delivering Friar Lawrence`s letter to
Romeo. Meanwhile, owing to her father`s arbitrary change of the day set for her
wedding, Juliet has been compelled to drink the potion on Tuesday night, with the result
that Balthasar informs Romeo of her supposed death before Friar Lawrence learns of the
nondelivery of the letter.
But whichever tense is used in the summary, a past tense in indirect discourse or
in indirect question remains unchanged.
e.g. The Friar confesses that it was he who married them.
Apart from the exceptions noted, whichever tense the writer chooses he should
use it throughout. Shifting from one tense to another gives the appearance of uncertainty
and irresolution.
2. Keep related words together.
The position of the words in a sentence is the principal means of showing their
relationship. Confusion and ambiguity result when words are badly placed. The writer
must, therefore, so far as possible, bring together the words, and groups of words, that
are related in thought, and keep apart those that are not so related.
e.g. 1) He noticed a large stain in the rug that was right in the center.
2) He noticed a large stain right in the center of the rug.
In the first sentence, the reader has no way of knowing whether the stain was in
the center of the rug or the rug was in the center of the room.
3. Omit needless words.
This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all
detail, but that every word tell.
e.g. The fact that he had arrived  his arrival.
In spite of the fact that  though (although)
He is a man who  he
It has rarely been the case that any mistake has been made  Few
mistakes have been made.
4. Put statements in positive form.
Make definite assertions. Use the word “not” as a means of denial or in antithesis,
never as a means of evasion.
e.g. He was not very often on time  He usually came late.
He did not think that studying Latin was much use  He thought the study
of Latin useless.
5. Use the active voice.

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