Text summarizer that gives you the point in three sizes
Long emails, reports, articles and transcripts pile up, and you only need to know what matters. This prompt has your todo.is agent read the text and return a one-sentence takeaway, the key points, a short summary and any decisions or deadlines, so you can choose how deep to go.
The prompt
- Summarize this: [TEXT, LINK OR ATTACHED FILE]. I am reading it because [WHY YOU NEED IT]. Give me, in this order: 1) one sentence with the main point, 2) the [NUMBER] most important points as bullets, 3) a summary of about [LENGTH], 4) any numbers, dates, deadlines or decisions in a separate list, 5) anything that seems missing, unclear or contradictory. Use only what the text says and do not add outside facts. If it is longer than 20 pages, add a short summary per section with page numbers. Send it to me as a message, and also as a Word file if it is longer than one screen.
What to change
- [TEXT, LINK OR ATTACHED FILE]: Paste the text, send a web link, or attach a PDF, Word file or transcript.
- [WHY YOU NEED IT]: e.g. "I need to decide if we sign this", "I am preparing for a meeting", "for a class reading".
- [NUMBER]: How many key points, e.g. "5" or "10".
- [LENGTH]: e.g. "150 words", "one paragraph", "half a page".
Example result
- Main point
- The council will replace the Westbrook pool with a smaller indoor center, opening in 2028, unless residents object during the consultation that ends on 14 November.
- 5 key points
- • The current outdoor pool needs repairs the report calls "beyond economic value"
- • The new center has a 25 m pool, a learner pool and a small gym
- • Construction would close the site for about 20 months
- • Two options were rejected: full repair and closing with no replacement
- • Funding comes from a mix of a capital grant and selling part of the car park
- Summary (150 words)
- The report reviews the condition of Westbrook outdoor pool and recommends replacing it. Inspections found failing pipework and an unsafe pool tank, and the report says repairs would cost more than a rebuild over 15 years. The preferred option is a smaller indoor center with a 25 m pool, a learner pool and a gym, open all year. Building would take about 20 months, during which swimmers would be directed to two other pools. The report rejects a full repair as too expensive and closure without replacement as unfair to the area. Funding would come from a capital grant and the sale of part of the car park for housing. A public consultation is open until 14 November.
- Dates and decisions
- • 14 November: consultation closes
- • January: final council vote
- • 2028: planned opening
- Unclear or missing
- • No figure for how many parking spaces will be lost
- • The report does not say whether the new pool will have outdoor swimming in summer
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in the brackets with your text or file and how long you want the summary.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or forward it to your agent on WhatsApp, Telegram or email with the file attached.
- Read the takeaway first and open the longer summary only if you need it.
- Ask follow-ups like "what does it say about costs?" and your agent answers from the same document.
Tips for a better result
- Say why you are reading. A summary for a decision highlights risks and costs; a summary for a class highlights arguments and evidence.
- For very long files, ask for summaries by section with page numbers so you can jump to the original.
- Make it recurring for things you read every week, like a newsletter or a long internal report, and get the summary by email.
- Check numbers in the summary against the source before you quote them anywhere.
text summarizer: FAQ
- How long should a summary be? A common rule is 10 to 25 percent of the original for a detailed summary, or a few sentences for a quick one. Asking for several sizes at once lets you choose.
- Can it summarize a web page or a YouTube video? It can read web pages from a link. For a video, attach the file or audio and your agent transcribes it first, then summarizes the transcript.
- Does a summary add information that is not in the text? This prompt tells your agent to use only the text. It also lists what is unclear or missing instead of guessing.
- Is my document private? Your files stay in your own agent workspace and only your agent uses them.
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