Ask for Quotes and Locations, Not Just Claims
What it is
A grounding habit: ask the summary to attach the exact supporting quote and its location to each key claim, so you can verify the point without re-reading the whole source.
Why it works
A paraphrased summary can subtly overstate or invert what the source said, and you'd never know. Requiring a quote and a location for each claim anchors the summary to the text — drift becomes visible, and checking a point takes seconds. It also discourages the model from asserting things the document doesn't actually support.
When to use it
Summaries you'll act on or repeat: legal or policy documents, contracts, research papers, anything where a misread claim has consequences.
When not to use it
Casual gists for your own orientation, where quote-hunting is overhead and rough accuracy is fine.
Prompt
Summarise <document>. For each key claim, include the exact quote that supports it and where it appears (section/page). If a point isn't directly stated in the text, say so rather than inferring it.Example
A contract summary claims 'termination requires 30 days' notice' and pins it to the quoted clause — you confirm it in seconds instead of re-reading twelve pages.
Common mistakes
- Trusting a paraphrase that quietly overstates the source.
- Not asking for locations, so verifying means re-reading everything.
- Letting the model infer claims the document never actually makes.