When a list of thing is given in the original, a
general word should be used to express the idea.
“There were dogs, cats, hens, ducks, geese and pigs barking,
scuealing, crowing, quacking, and growing all over the farm-yard”.
In compressing this, we shall convey the
idea in the following manner:
Different animals and birds were making various noises over
the farmyard.
The number of words used here is more than one-third of the
original, but that is because the original passage is too short to allow a précis
one-third in length. This is only an illustration to convey the technique to
the student.
Now take the following sentence:
“Carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers and those
engaged in similar other trades had
assembled there to voice grievances.