CONSOLIDATE

In the course of thinking about something, it can be extremely useful to pause now and again to consolidate what has been achieved up to that point.

OPERATION

Ask the question:

How far have I got?

A consolidation is more than just a summary because different ideas can be put together to give a single idea.

Different ideas can also be put together under one heading.

When there is a consolidation you can look at it to find the gaps in the thinking or to find the points that need thinking about more fully.