Résume

Résume is a term whose meaning depends on language and context. In French, résume is the present-tense form of the verb résumer and also appears as an imperative: résume means “you summarize” or “summarize.” The noun résumé denotes a short summary of a text or argument.

In English, résumé (with accents) or resume (without accents) refers to a brief document outlining a person’s education and professional experience; it is commonly used in job applications. Modern usage in many English-speaking contexts favors the unaccented form “resume.” The accented form is typically used when aiming for French typography or formal presentation. The English verb to resume (no accent) means to begin again after a pause, a meaning that is etymologically distinct from the CV sense.

Origin and etymology: both the French noun and the English loanword come from the French verb résumer, which itself derives from Latin resumere, meaning to take up again or to summarize.

Usage notes: in French, a résumé is a concise summary of a document, talk, or text, and can be followed by particulars as needed. In English, a résumé or resume is a personal document designed to present qualifications succinctly; it typically includes contact information, education, work experience, and skills. Style guides differ on whether to omit or retain diacritics in English texts.

See also: CV (curriculum vitae), abstract, summary.