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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →You can customize a WordPress excerpt without touching code: write a summary in the post’s Excerpt field, choose a separate summary setting for feeds, or—if you use a block theme—adjust the Post Excerpt block in the Site Editor. The active theme or template still decides whether and where that summary appears.
What a WordPress excerpt does
An excerpt is optional summary text associated with a post. WordPress uses it in places such as blog archives, search results, and other listing views when the active theme or template is built to display excerpts. The field applies only to post types that support excerpts. See WordPress’s Block Editor excerpt guide and the Page/Post Settings sidebar documentation.
If you leave the field empty, WordPress automatically creates an excerpt from the first 55 words of the post. That 55-word behavior is a default product setting, not a recommended length for every site.
Add a custom excerpt in the Block Editor
- Open the post in the Block Editor.
- Open the settings sidebar using the settings control near the save or publish controls if it is closed.
- Select the Post tab.
- Find Excerpt and enter a concise one- or two-sentence summary.
- Choose Update (or Publish for a new post).
This changes the summary stored for that post. It does not redesign archive or search pages; those views must be configured by the theme or template.
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Show the Excerpt box in the Classic Editor
- Open the post in the Classic Editor.
- Open Screen Options at the top of the editing screen.
- Enable Excerpt if the panel is hidden.
- Enter your summary in the Excerpt box and save or update the post.
The Classic Editor workflow is documented in WordPress’s Classic Editor excerpt guide and Write posts (Classic Editor). If no Excerpt option exists, the current post type may not support excerpts.
Control excerpt output in a block theme
Block themes let you edit listing templates without code. Go to Appearance > Editor, open the relevant template—such as the blog home or archive—and locate its Query Loop. Add or select the Post Excerpt block.
Options available in the Post Excerpt block
- Set a maximum word count (the documented default is 55 words).
- Customize the Read More link text.
- Adjust available visual styling options.
The exact controls vary by WordPress version and theme. The block is intended for templates, commonly inside a Query Loop. Reference: Post Excerpt block and the developer block reference.
Set summaries for RSS feeds
- Go to Settings > Reading.
- Under For each article in a feed, show, select Summary.
- Save the setting.
This controls feed items only. It does not force archive or search templates to display excerpts.
Manual excerpt, Post Excerpt block, or More block?
| Control | Best for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Post Excerpt field | A custom summary for one post | The post type must support excerpts, and the theme or template must output them. |
| Post Excerpt block | Site-wide presentation in a block-theme template | It is a template tool, usually used in a Query Loop; visible settings depend on the theme and WordPress version. |
| More block | A cutoff in the post content when a listing shows full content | It is ignored when the theme’s listing is configured to show excerpts; the manual excerpt is then used instead. See WordPress’s More block documentation. |
| Settings > Reading feed option | Choosing summaries for RSS feed entries | It does not configure archive-template presentation. |
Why an excerpt may not appear
- The template displays full content: edit the block-theme template or check the classic theme’s archive settings.
- The post type lacks excerpt support: the field is not available for every post type.
- You used the More block: it controls a content cutoff, not the stored manual excerpt, and has no effect when listings already use excerpts.
- You changed the feed setting: feed summaries and on-site archive output are separate controls.
Because themes place and format excerpts differently, verify the result on the actual archive, search, or feed view after saving.
How to write a useful custom excerpt
- State the post’s subject and the practical outcome for the reader.
- Use one or two sentences that make sense without the headline.
- Put the key detail first; listing layouts may truncate longer text.
- Keep wording distinct from the opening paragraph when the excerpt is shown beside the article.
The Bottom Line
For a single post, fill in its Excerpt field. For block-theme archives, configure the Post Excerpt block in Appearance > Editor. Use the More block only when you need a content cutoff, and use Settings > Reading separately for RSS summaries.
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