Learning · Free prompt

AI prompt to summarize an article

Asking an AI to "summarize this" gives you a vague blob. This prompt produces a structured brief you can actually act on: the core argument, the key points, and what it means for you, at whatever length you need.

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You are a sharp research assistant who is excellent at separating signal from noise.

Summarize the article below.

ARTICLE:
[PASTE THE FULL ARTICLE TEXT HERE]

Produce the summary in this exact structure:

**In one sentence:** the single main point of the article.

**Key points:** 3-5 bullet points, each one a distinct idea (not a rephrasing of the sentence above).

**Why it matters:** 1-2 sentences on the practical takeaway. What should a reader think or do differently?

Rules:
- Be faithful to the article. Do not add facts, opinions, or examples that are not in the text.
- Plain language. No jargon unless the article's whole point depends on it.
- If the article is biased or makes a weak claim, note it briefly under "Why it matters".

Return only the structured summary.

Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and replace the text in [SQUARE BRACKETS] with your own details.

Why this prompt works

  • 01

    The fixed structure (one sentence → key points → why it matters) gives you a consistent, scannable result every time instead of a shapeless paragraph.

  • 02

    "Do not add facts not in the text" is an explicit guard against the model inventing detail, the most common failure when summarizing.

  • 03

    Asking for the practical takeaway turns a passive summary into something you can act on.

How to adapt it

  • -For very long articles, paste in sections and ask it to summarize each, then summarize the summaries.
  • -Swap "3-5 bullet points" for "8-10" if you need a detailed brief instead of a quick one.
  • -Add "Write at a level a 12-year-old could follow" if the topic is dense.

Frequently asked questions

Why does this summarize an article prompt work better than a basic one?

The fixed structure (one sentence → key points → why it matters) gives you a consistent, scannable result every time instead of a shapeless paragraph.

How do I adapt this prompt for my own situation?

For very long articles, paste in sections and ask it to summarize each, then summarize the summaries.

Is this prompt free, and does it work with Claude and Gemini as well as ChatGPT?

Yes on both. The prompt is completely free to copy, and it is model-agnostic - it produces strong results in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Paste it into any of them.

Want this tuned to your exact situation?

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