excerpt 🔊
Meaning of excerpt
A short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.
Key Difference
An excerpt is specifically a selected portion taken from a larger work, often used to highlight or represent the whole, whereas synonyms like 'passage' or 'extract' may imply a more general or less deliberate selection.
Example of excerpt
- The professor read an excerpt from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' to illustrate the theme of mortality.
- The documentary included an excerpt of the president's speech to emphasize his stance on climate change.
Synonyms
extract 🔊
Meaning of extract
A portion taken from a larger work, often for analysis or demonstration.
Key Difference
An extract is often chosen for its standalone value, while an excerpt is typically selected to represent the larger work.
Example of extract
- The scientist analyzed an extract from the plant to study its medicinal properties.
- She read an extract from her favorite novel during the book club meeting.
passage 🔊
Meaning of passage
A section of a written work or speech.
Key Difference
A passage is a more general term and may not necessarily be chosen for its representational quality, unlike an excerpt.
Example of passage
- The historian quoted a passage from an ancient manuscript to support his argument.
- The teacher asked the students to summarize the passage in their own words.
quotation 🔊
Meaning of quotation
A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone else.
Key Difference
A quotation is often used to reference or cite someone else's words, while an excerpt is a selected portion of a work.
Example of quotation
- The article began with a quotation from Mahatma Gandhi about non-violence.
- She used a quotation from the CEO's interview to strengthen her presentation.
selection 🔊
Meaning of selection
A carefully chosen part of something.
Key Difference
A selection can refer to any chosen part, not necessarily from a written or artistic work, whereas an excerpt is always from such a work.
Example of selection
- The museum displayed a selection of artifacts from the Roman era.
- The playlist included a selection of songs from the 1980s.
fragment 🔊
Meaning of fragment
A small part broken off or detached from something.
Key Difference
A fragment often implies something incomplete or damaged, while an excerpt is intentionally selected and complete in itself.
Example of fragment
- Archaeologists discovered a fragment of a pottery jar at the dig site.
- The old letter was so worn that only a fragment of the message was legible.
clip 🔊
Meaning of clip
A short piece of video or audio taken from a longer recording.
Key Difference
A clip is usually associated with audiovisual media, while an excerpt can be from any type of work.
Example of clip
- The news channel played a clip from the press conference.
- He shared a clip of the concert performance on social media.
snippet 🔊
Meaning of snippet
A small piece or brief extract.
Key Difference
A snippet is often informal and very short, while an excerpt can be longer and more formal.
Example of snippet
- She shared a snippet of the recipe on her blog.
- The journalist provided a snippet of the interview to tease the full story.
abstract 🔊
Meaning of abstract
A summary of a larger work, often academic in nature.
Key Difference
An abstract is a condensed overview, while an excerpt is a direct portion of the original work.
Example of abstract
- The researcher submitted an abstract of her paper for the conference.
- The abstract at the beginning of the article gave a clear overview of the study.
citation 🔊
Meaning of citation
A reference to a source, often with a direct quote.
Key Difference
A citation is used to credit a source, while an excerpt is a selected portion of the source itself.
Example of citation
- The student included a citation from the textbook in his essay.
- The report had several citations from government documents.
Conclusion
- An excerpt is a purposeful selection from a larger work, often used to highlight key ideas or themes.
- Extracts are useful when focusing on specific details or standalone content.
- Passages are versatile and can be used in broader contexts without the need for representational value.
- Quotations are ideal for referencing authoritative or notable statements.
- Selections are great for curated displays or collections.
- Fragments are best when dealing with incomplete or historical remnants.
- Clips are perfect for sharing audiovisual highlights.
- Snippets work well for informal or brief sharing of information.
- Abstracts are essential for summarizing academic or technical content.
- Citations are necessary for giving credit and supporting arguments.