Excerpting Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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excerpting
[ɪkˈzɜːrptɪŋ ]
Definition
text extraction
Excerpting refers to the process of selecting or extracting specific portions of text from a larger document or work. This is often done to highlight key points, provide a summary, or to quote specific information. Excerpting is commonly used in academic writing, journalism, and editing.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The article included several excerpting strategies to make research accessible.
- She spent hours excerpting important passages from the book for her paper.
- The editor was excerpting relevant sections of the manuscript for publication.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Literature
- Authors often use excerpts in promotional materials to entice readers by showcasing the book's highlights.
- In literary analysis, excerpts serve critical roles, allowing teachers to focus on themes, characters, and stylistic devices.
- Famous literary excerpts can lead to iconic quotes that shape cultural conversations and values over time.
Education
- Teachers frequently assign excerpting as a skill to help students learn how to summarize and find main ideas.
- In research, excerpting helps scholars to condense large volumes of information into manageable pieces for analysis.
- Studying excerpts encourages critical reading skills by prompting readers to evaluate the significance of different sections.
Digital Media
- On social media platforms, excerpting is widely used to share insightful or entertaining snippets from articles or videos.
- Content creators often excerpt their work for trailers, teasers, or promotional snippets to generate interest.
- Quick access to excerpts allows users to consume and share information rapidly, facilitating engagement in our fast-paced digital world.
Origin of 'excerpting'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'excerptum,' meaning 'taken out,' which reflects its function of extracting information.
- The process of excerpting has roots in ancient texts, where scholars would select important passages for study.
- The suffix '-ing' indicates an ongoing action, showing the continuous practice of choosing key phrases.
The word 'excerpt' comes from the Latin 'excerpere', which means 'to pluck out' or 'to select'. The prefix 'ex-' means 'out' and 'cerpere' translates to 'to seize' or 'to gather'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century, evolving to describe the action of taking selected parts from larger texts. Over the centuries, the practice of excerpting has been particularly relevant in literary and educational contexts, allowing individuals to focus on significant ideas without the need to engage with entire texts. As the digital age has progressed, the term has also adapted to encompass the extraction of content from various forms of media, including audio and video, reflecting the evolving nature of how we interact with information.