How to summarize an article quickly

By the Luminar team · Updated October 27, 2026

Short answer: read the headline, the first two paragraphs and the last one. Then skim the subheadings and write one sentence that says what the article argues. For long pieces, an AI summary with sources gets you there in seconds.

1. Read the top and the bottom

Most articles put the main point in the first two paragraphs and come back to it at the end. Read those first. You will often have most of the story already.

2. Skim the subheadings

Subheadings show how the argument is built. Read each one and ask what it adds. Skip sections that only repeat earlier points.

3. Write it in one sentence

Try to say what the article argues in one sentence, in your own words. If you can, you understood it. If you cannot, read the part you are unsure about again.

4. Keep the facts you might quote

Note any number, date or quote you may use later, with where it came from. Summaries lose these first.

5. Use AI for long reads

Paste the article link into Luminar and get the main points as a short briefing. Each point links back to the sentence it came from, so you can check it before you share it. It works on news sites, blogs and Wikipedia pages.

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