Excerpts

An excerpt is a short passage taken from a longer text. It is used to illustrate a point, provide evidence, or give readers a sense of the work without reproducing the entire document. The word derives from Latin excerptus, meaning "taken out." Distinctions are sometimes drawn between an excerpt, a quotation, and an abstract, depending on length and purpose.

Usage and contexts: In literature and journalism, excerpts appear in reviews, annotations, and anthologies. In academic writing, authors may include excerpts to support analysis, with precise attribution and page references. Copyright considerations govern whether and how excerpts may be reproduced; permissions or fair use exceptions may apply, especially for longer selections.

Selection and presentation: Effective excerpts convey the essential idea while avoiding misrepresentation. Editors may indicate when text has been altered for readability, and ellipses may be used to indicate omissions. An excerpt should retain enough context so that readers understand its relation to the whole work.

Related terms: An abstract or synopsis summarizes an entire work, whereas an excerpt presents a fragment of the text itself. Extracts differ from quotations in emphasis and length, and from paraphrase by quoting original language directly. In digital contexts, excerpt previews are common in search results and library databases.