paraphrasing with definition

Someone once wrote that musicians are touched on the shoulder by God, and I think it’s true. You can make other people happy with music, but you can make yourself happy too.

In John Berendt’s nonfiction novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , a character references what someone has once written by paraphrasing their message.

I’m going to paraphrase Thoreau here… rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness… give me truth.

In this example from the nonfiction novel Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer paraphrases Thoreau’s larger message of transcendence.

So far, Laurance’s critiques of new road-building schemes have been well received, but he expects that to change.

In Michelle Nijhuis’ article “What Roads Have Wrought,” William Laurance is paraphrased rather than quoted to express his general viewpoint.

VI. Paraphrase in Pop Culture

Paraphrasing is often found in pop culture when attempting to translate the language of older plays, poems, and stories, such as Shakespeare’s works. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in pop culture:

10 Things I Hate About You (1999):

Just a minor encounter with the shrew… the mewling, rampalian wretch herself.

In the modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew , many characters ’ lines paraphrase Shakespeare’s originals. Here is Shakespeare’s version:

A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.

A Different World: Romeo, Oh Romeo

First, the student reads Shakespeare’s original words:

Oh gentle Romeo. If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. Or if thou thinkest I’m too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, so thou wilt woo.

Then, she paraphrases to translate its meaning for modern ears:

It’s all about translation. Oh, sweet thang Romeo. If you think I’m all that, then step to me correctly. But if you think I’m a skeeze, I’ll be dissin’ and dismissin’, then you’ll be workin’ overtime getting’ me back.

VII. Related Terms

Like paraphrases, summaries are rewordings of original statements. Whereas paraphrases are precise and specific, summaries are brief and selective. Summaries report main points in a shortened version of the original, whereas paraphrases simply restate the original statement in a new way. Here is an example of summary versus paraphrase:

Original Statement:

At the party we had delicious red punch, a bunch of different appetizers, and a cookout. Since it was at the park, we played volleyball, went swimming, and sunbathed for fun.

At the party we enjoyed food and drink and various outdoor activities.

Here, the summary purposefully shortens the original statement while covering its major points.

At the party we drank some punch, ate a handful of appetizers, and had a cookout. The park allowed us to enjoy a number of enjoyable activities from volleyball to swimming to sunbathing.

As this example shows, the paraphrase rephrases the original statement and keeps more of its original content than the summary.

Translation

Although paraphrase sometimes translates difficult phrasing into more understandable phrasing, it is not literally considered translation. For something to be a translation, it must change writing in one language to another language. Here is an example of translation versus paraphrasing:

Original Phrase:

That’s life.

Translation into French:

C’est la vie.

That’s just how life goes sometimes.

Although we loosely may refer to paraphrase as translating ideas, technically it is not a tool of translation.

VIII. In Closing

Paraphrasing is an important tool for nonfiction writers, journalists, and essayists alike. It is a common proponent of news and reporting. Correct paraphrasing protects writers from plagiarism and allows them to creatively rephrase original works, incorporating them into their own compositions.

List of Terms

Definition of paraphrase

(Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of paraphrase (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Did you know?

When we paraphrase, we provide a version that can exist beside the original (rather than replace it). We paraphrase all the time. When you tell a friend what someone else has said, you're almost always paraphrasing, since you're not repeating the exact words. If you go to hear a talk, you might paraphrase the speaker's main points afterward for your friends. And when writing a paper on a short story, you might start off your essay with a paraphrase of the plot. Paraphrasing is especially useful when dealing with poetry, since poetic language is often difficult and poems may have meanings that are hard to pin down.

Example Sentences

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paraphrase.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback .

Word History

Noun and Verb

Middle French, from Latin paraphrasis , from Greek, from paraphrazein to paraphrase, from para- + phrazein to point out

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Dictionary Entries Near paraphrase

paraphrasis

Cite this Entry

“Paraphrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paraphrase. Accessed 5 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of paraphrase.

Kids Definition of paraphrase (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on paraphrase

Nglish: Translation of paraphrase for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of paraphrase for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paraphrase

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How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on November 4, 2022.

Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.

Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.

Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism .

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How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs. quoting, paraphrasing vs. summarizing, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing.

If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.

Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.

Incorrect paraphrasing

You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for synonyms .

Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).

This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:

Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism .

Correct paraphrasing

Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.

Here, we’ve:

Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.

Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.

Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.

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It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:

But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:

A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.

When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing .

Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.

When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism .

This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.

Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.

To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.

To paraphrase effectively, don’t just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:

The main point is to ensure you don’t just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.

Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .

As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.

Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.

So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?

To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It’s appropriate to quote when:

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Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2022, November 04). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 3, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-paraphrase/

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How to Paraphrase (Without Plagiarizing a Thing)

A paraphrase (or paraphrasing) is a restatement of another piece of writing with new words or phrases while keeping the same meaning, usually to modify the language or simply avoid plagiarism . For example, Shakespeare’s famous line, “To be or not to be,” could be paraphrased as, “Is it better to exist or not exist at all?”

Paraphrasing is an important communication technique, especially in research papers , to avoid copying an original source verbatim. However, learning how to paraphrase can take some practice, so below we explain what you need to know, starting with a simple paraphrase definition.

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What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing takes an original passage and uses different words or phrases to express the same meaning. Essentially, a paraphrase just rewrites the original text in its own way.

A paraphrase always uses unique wording, something you come up with that’s different from the original source. Because they’re unique, paraphrases do not require quotation marks as direct quotes do.

What is the purpose of paraphrasing?

Why bother paraphrasing when you can just quote the primary or secondary source? With a variety of benefits, paraphrasing comes in handy in quite a few different situations. In particular, here are six common reasons to paraphrase:

1 Improve word choice

Sometimes you just want to rewrite the original text in your own words—maybe you want to fit it to your personal writing style, or perhaps you just prefer your own word choice . In any case, paraphrasing gives you the chance to pick your own words or phrases while keeping the core of the message the same.

2 Change subject matter

Paraphrasing is very useful if you like the wording of the original passage but want to change the subject to apply to something else. For example, Will Rogers’s famous quote, “I never met a man I didn’t like,” is often paraphrased, sometimes humorously, as in comedian Jim Gaffigan saying, “I never met a cheeseburger I didn’t like.”

3 Avoid plagiarizing

Rewriting someone’s text without changing the words is plagiarism. If you want to repeat a sentiment or cite another person’s research, you have to at least put it into your own words or quote it directly, but overusing quotes can also be problematic, as we see below.

4 Avoid overusing quotes

Quotations are great when the author said it best themselves, but use too many quotes and you’re essentially just copying someone else’s work. If you’re constantly referencing others’ works, it’s best to switch between paraphrasing and direct quotes to make a piece of writing your own.

5 Avoid problematic language

Occasionally, the language in a direct quote won’t fit what you’re writing. Often this is a mechanical mistake, such as a partial quote with the wrong subject-verb agreement or gender pronoun .

Other times, it could be insensitive or outdated language. For example, the famous (albeit antiquated) line “a good man is hard to find” can be paraphrased more modernly as “a good partner is hard to find.”

6 Shorten lengthy quotes

Last, paraphrasing works wonders when you need to condense a long, verbose quote to make it more digestible. Some writers get paid by the word, so to speak, but if you’re writing something meant to be concise, you can paraphrase their original text more succinctly.

What is the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing?

Paraphrasing and summarizing are two similar and related ideas, so it makes sense that they’re often confused with each other.

To tell them apart, think of them like this: Paraphrasing is putting an individual passage into your own words while summarizing is putting a text or passage’s main idea, theme, or story into your own words.

Summarizing deals with the big picture, such as an entire body of work or a complete chapter, while paraphrasing deals with specific passages, from a few words to a few paragraphs, but nothing terribly lengthy. Summaries are always shorter than their original source, but paraphrases are typically around the same length as, if not slightly shorter than, their source.

Another distinction is that summaries tend to gloss over the details, as we mentioned when explaining how to write a summary , whereas paraphrases can still incorporate everything, as long as it’s reworded.

How to paraphrase, with examples

Paraphrasing is one of the five most effective methods for avoiding plagiarism , but how do you say the same thing without using the same words? Here are some simple strategies that we suggest in combination for effective paraphrasing:

1 Use synonyms

Replace the essential words of an original passage with other words that mean the same thing, such as using “scientist” for “researcher,” or “seniors” for “the elderly.” This is a common approach to paraphrasing, but it’s not sufficient on its own. Combine this strategy with some of the others below to make your writing appear fresh.

Original text:

Some plants release certain aromas to alert their plant neighbors that they’re under attack.

Paraphrase :

Some vegetation emits special scents to warn other plants that there’s danger nearby.

2 Change the parts of speech

Sometimes, you can rephrase a sentence by changing the parts of speech, such as converting a gerund into the operative verb, or turning an adjective into an adverb . This strategy depends on the wording of the original passage, so you may not always have the opportunity; we also suggest using this in combination with other strategies here for more original writing.

Polar bears are almost undetectable by infrared cameras because of how they conserve heat.

Paraphrase:

Polar bears cannot be detected easily by infrared cameras due to their unique heat conservation.

3 Rearrange the structure

You can switch around the order of certain phrases and clauses—or mix and match them from other sentences—to create brand new sentences. Although it may be tempting to use the passive voice when paraphrasing, try to avoid it unless there’s no other option.

The observable universe consists of 50,000,000,000 galaxies.

Fifty billion galaxies comprise the known universe.

4 Add or remove pieces

If a part of a quote isn’t relevant to what you’re writing about, you can remove it and paraphrase the remainder in your own words. Likewise, you can add your own personal take to an existing quote to help contextualize it or adapt it to your topic. In either case, make sure you still reword whatever comes from the original source.

Human eyes get used to darkness after an hour, but by then they’ll be 100,000 times more sensitive to light.

If you sit in a dark room, your eyes will eventually adjust and become 100,000 times more sensitive to light—but be careful when you turn on the light again!

Paraphrasing FAQs

Have specific questions about paraphrasing and how to paraphrase? You’re not alone! Here are some frequently asked questions about paraphrasing by others just like you.

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is restating another author’s original text in your own words. In essence, it is a new piece of writing with the same meaning, as opposed to a direct quotation from an existing piece of writing.

What is an example of paraphrasing?

The original passage from the US Declaration of Independence, “All men are created equal,” can be paraphrased in a more progressive way as “All people are created equal.”

How do you paraphrase a sentence?

Some common techniques for paraphrasing involve using synonyms, changing the parts of speech, rearranging the sentence structure, and adding/removing specific sections.

What makes a good paraphrase?

A good paraphrase has the same meaning as the original source, but with new words or phrases. It’s best for taking another author’s sentiments and expressing them in your own personal style.

Ensure your writing is original

When writing essays, research papers, and other academic writing assignments, you’re expected to turn in documents that are wholly original and in your own words. However, unintentional plagiarism is a risk many students face. Enter Grammarly’s plagiarism detector , which checks your writing against 90 billion online texts to flag any instances of unoriginal wording. Writing with Grammarly helps you avoid plagiarism and get better grades in the process.

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What is Paraphrasing? Definition, Example & Tips

You might have read some sentence or a paragraph that you found intriguing and wanted to include in your blog, but alas! You can't use those sentences because of the possible risk of plagiarism.

That's when you can think of restructuring the sentences, and the process is called paraphrasing. Honestly, paraphrasing is legit if the sentence makes sense and sounds intriguing to your audience.

In this guide, we have shared the definition of paraphrasing and paraphrasing a sentence without compromising the quality.

Paraphrase Definition

Paraphrasing is the restatement of a text or a method of retaining ideas in a way slightly different from the original passage.

However, different dictionaries might have different meanings for this word.

According to Merriam Webster , paraphrasing is “ a statement that says something that another person has said or written in a different way.”

Cambridge dictionary defines it as " to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a simpler and shorter form that makes the original meaning clearer. "

The paraphrased content should be close to the original sentence's language and intent while adding extra information or details that make sense for your writing style.

Paraphrasing can also help you avoid plagiarism by not copying someone else's work directly from their website or blog.

Now, paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting. In quoting, you can place the original quote as it is. In paraphrasing, you change the sentence structure of the given sentence to create a different version of the same sentence.

That said, paraphrasing can help create different versions of the sentences with the same meaning.

Paraphrasing Examples Without Plagiarizing

Let’s look at some paraphrasing examples without plagiarizing, which will help you understand the process better:

Sentence 1 (Original): Giraffes like Acacia leaves and hay, and they can consume 75 pounds of food a day.

Paraphrased: Giraffes can feed on 75 pounds of food per day, thanks to Acacia leaves and hay.

Sentence 2: The federal crackdown on crypto has led to instabilities in the market.

Paraphrase: Because of the federal crackdown on crypto, the market has suffered instabilities.

Sentence 3: The states are merely agents of the federal government.

Paraphrased: The states are only operating as agents of the federal government.

As evident from the above examples, paraphrasing was simply a restatement of the original sentence.

Why Should You Paraphrase?

Paraphrasing offers various benefits in content creation that we may often fail to identify. Here are the six major purposes of paraphrasing a sentence:

Better word choice

Sometimes you just want to rewrite the original content in your own words—perhaps to match your own writing style or simply because you prefer your own word choices.

In any event, paraphrasing allows you to use your own words or phrases while keeping the fundamental message intact.

No plagiarism

Writing is a form of expression, and while it is true that some people plagiarize in order to pass as their own. This can lead to legal trouble if the original writer files charges against you for copyright infringement or theft.

Paraphrasing avoids this problem by only changing common words or phrases so long as your meaning still remains intact with few exceptions such as "academy" replacing "school", rather than paraphrasing an entire sentence.

Avoid problematic language

A straight quote's terminology may not always be appropriate for what you're writing. An error, such as a partial quote with the incorrect subject-verb agreement or gender pronoun, is frequently the cause.

A paraphrase, on the other hand, provides an opportunity to reword the original phrase so that it meets your own criteria. This allows you to avoid accidentally implying another meaning or word choice with a quote while maintaining its fundamental message intact.

Convey information more efficiently

Paraphrasing often allows you to convey information more efficiently and effectively.

Paraphrasing may involve some effort, but it is well worth the time spent.

Sometimes, just rewriting what someone else said can be as simple as writing down their exact words verbatim or using an online translator. However, it is not always enough because your message will carry too much of the original author's voice. In this case, you need to write from your own voice and perspective.

Avoid overuse of quotes

It is often tempting to use a quote in your own writing because it saves effort, but this can be a problem if you do not replace the author's exact wording with words that best suit your message.

If too many quotes are used without any kind of paraphrase being present instead, then someone may assume that the content was copied word for word from another source.

Moreover, if you use the original sentence, you need to put them in quotation marks and lookup for the original source, which might be hard to find on the Internet sometimes.

You can shorten lengthy quotes

Finally, when you need to compress a long, verbose phrase into something more digestible, paraphrasing comes in handy.

Some authors are paid by the word, but if you're producing anything that needs to be brief, you can paraphrase their original material more effectively.

What is the Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing?

Paraphrasing and summarizing may often be confused with each other, but they have slightly different meanings.

Summarizing replaces a person's ideas with your own, but does not involve writing from another point of view.

Paraphrasing requires you to be original, which in turn allows you to convey that idea more effectively than if it were taken from someone else's words alone.

Summaries focus on the main points of a longer work, while paraphrasing deals with specific paragraphs, usually keeping them the same length as their original source. Summaries are always shorter than their original source, while paraphrases are typically around the same length, if not slightly shorter than their source.

How to Paraphrase (With Examples)?

To paraphrase means to make a version of something that is not the original, and is usually done for one or more reasons.

Here is how you can paraphrase better:

Use synonyms

Replace the important words in an original section with synonyms, such as "ideally" for "preferably" or "antagonist" for "the villain."

This is a frequent method of paraphrasing. However, it isn't sufficient in itself. To make your writing appear new, combine this method with some of the ones listed below.

Use rewording

This is a more creative method of paraphrasing, but it doesn't necessarily always work.

Rewording may occur when you are rewriting something that was already in your original source, and the words no longer fit very well.

In this case, rewording might slightly change the meaning to make your writing sound better or new, but keep its structure close to what was written at first.

Change parts of speech

This is a very effective method of paraphrasing because it can make your writing sound fresh and new.

The main thing to remember about this method of rewriting is that you should keep the same meaning as the original source.

If you change from an adjective into a noun or vice versa from the original statement, some readers will think there has been a mistake in your work.

Make adjustments by adding or removing words

Remove any parts of a quote that aren't related to what you're writing about and rephrase the rest in your own words. Similarly, you can personalize an old quotation by adding your own spin to it to assist in contextualizing or adapting it to your theme.

In either case, make sure to rewrite everything that originates from the original source.

Restructure your sentences

Make a few changes to the structure of your writing. An example would be changing "he wanted" into "he wished." Also, if you paraphrase some things in one place and not others, then rearrange them so that they go together better.

Is Rephrasing the Same as Paraphrasing?

A paraphrase is a restatement of a text's or passage's context using different words. The word itself comes from the Greek word paraphrasis, which means "extra method of talking."

When you paraphrase someone else's words, you say or write them in a different way to make them your own. Rephrasing, on the other hand, is when you speak or write something in a different way than you originally intended (mostly to make it clearer).

In conclusion, you should always take care when paraphrasing texts to ensure that the meaning is retained and that changes are made in a way that does not disrupt the original message. You can also use paraphrasing software, which will help you do your work accurately and quickly.

By following these simple tips, you can produce fresh and engaging writing. If there are any remaining doubts about paraphrasing, feel free to reach out to us.

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ABout the AUTHOR

Priya Jamba is a Content Marketer at Scalenut. She loves marketing technologies and believes that with the right combination of tools and creativity, every organization can build sustainable brands. She is on a mission to help marketing teams across the globe produce tangible results from their marketing campaigns. Currently, she is working along with the Product team to enhance the AI content quality through prompt engineering.

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Paraphrase: Write It in Your Own Words

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This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.

Paraphrasing is one way to use a text in your own writing without directly quoting source material. Anytime you are taking information from a source that is not your own, you need to specify where you got that information.

A paraphrase is...

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

Some examples to compare

Note that the examples in this section use MLA style for in-text citation.

The original passage:

Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers . 2nd ed., 1976, pp. 46-47.

A legitimate paraphrase:

In research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

An acceptable summary:

Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

A plagiarized version:

Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.

A note about plagiarism: This example has been classed as plagiarism, in part, because of its failure to deploy any citation. Plagiarism is a serious offense in the academic world. However, we acknowledge that plagiarism is a difficult term to define; that its definition may be contextually sensitive; and that not all instances of plagiarism are created equal—that is, there are varying “degrees of egregiousness” for different cases of plagiarism.

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Examples of Paraphrasing Without Plagiarizing

Paraphrasing involves taking a passage — either spoken or written — and rewording it. Writers often paraphrase sentences and paragraphs to deliver information in a more concise way, as you'll see in the examples below. When paraphrasing, it is important to keep the original meaning so that the facts remain intact. Basically, you are writing something in your own words that still expresses the original idea.

Paraphrasing is common when writing an essay or research paper. It allows you to explain important ideas in your own writing style and focus on the information that is most useful in making your point. Even when you put someone else's ideas into your own words, you must cite the source of your information. This gives credit to the original author for their ideas.

Paraphrasing is slightly different than summarizing . When you summarize a passage, you focus on restating only the main idea in your own words. Paraphrasing, on the other hand, aims to provide most of the information in a slightly condensed form. Summaries are much shorter than the original passage, while paraphrasing can be shorter, longer or the same length.

Sometimes you only need to paraphrase the information from one sentence. Here are some examples of paraphrasing individual sentences:

Paraphrasing a longer passage can take a little more effort, as you have to ensure it is different enough from the original to be classed as your own work.

Here is an example of paraphrasing a paragraph from “Family Values and Feudal Codes: The Social Politics of America’s Twenty-First Century Gangster.” Journal of Popular Culture 37.4 (2004) by Ingrid Field Walker, taken from Duke University Libraries .

Original passage:

In The Sopranos , the mob is besieged as much by inner infidelity as it is by the federal government. Early in the series, the greatest threat to Tony's Family is his own biological family. One of his closest associates turns witness for the FBI, his mother colludes with his uncle to contract a hit on Tony, and his kids click through Web sites that track the federal crackdown in Tony's gangland.

Paraphrased passage:

In the first season of The Sopranos , Tony Soprano’s mobster activities are more threatened by members of his biological family than by agents of the federal government. This familial betrayal is multi-pronged. Tony’s closest friend and associate is an FBI informant, his mother and uncle are conspiring to have him killed, and his children are surfing the Web for information about his activities.

The main point of this passage is that problems within the family are as bad as, if not worse than, problems caused by the federal government. Details about this betrayal include someone close turning informant, a hit being put out on Tony by family members, and Tony’s kids tracking his activities. As you can see, the main idea and important details are included in the paraphrased version, though the wording is quite different.

Here is a summary of some of the main changes made during the paraphrasing process:

There is a fine line between plagiarism and paraphrasing. If the wording, or even the sentence structure , of the paraphrased text is too close to the wording of the original content, it will look like you are trying to pass off someone else's words as your own. This is plagiarism, which is unethical and even illegal in some cases. The main ideas need to come through, but the wording has to be your own.

If you don't think you can paraphrase a sentence or passage and have the meaning come across as clearly, you can use the original author's exact words if you put them in quotation marks. You will also need to identify the source of the material by giving the author's name. For example:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

In this example, Dr. King's exact words are quoted, and he is given credit for them in the sentence.

If you choose to paraphrase information and put it into your own words instead, you will still need to give credit to the original author for ideas that are unique and not common knowledge. For example:

According to New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, the economy is doing well based on GDP and falling unemployment.

In this case, the writer put Paul Krugman's ideas into their own words, but still gave credit for them by naming him as the source. This is required when the ideas aren't considered general knowledge available to all. Because Krugman is an expert in economics, these ideas are his and should be cited as such.

On the other hand, common facts like historical dates and basic information do not need to be cited. For example, you would not need to find an encyclopedia article to back you up if you wrote that the Battle of Gettysburg ended on July 3, 1863, or that the earth revolves around the sun. These are well-known facts accepted by all and do not require sources.

When writing a report or a research paper, you'll need to master paraphrasing to present relevant information in a clear, concise way. Practice putting facts and figures into your own words, and be sure to cite sources in the format required by your instructor, and you'll have no trouble getting your point across without worrying about plagiarism.

Now you know how to successfully paraphrase, we can show you how to correctly cite your sources with some bibliography examples .

IMAGES

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Paraphrase: Definition and Useful Examples of Paraphrasing in English • 7ESL

VIDEO

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Effective Paraphrasing

COMMENTS

What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing means 'to state something written or spoken in different words, especially in a shorter and simpler form to make the meaning
Paraphrase: Definition and Examples
A paraphrase (pronounced par–uh-freyz) is a restatement or rewording of a paragraph or text, in order to borrow, clarify, or expand on information without
Paraphrase Definition & Meaning
The meaning of PARAPHRASE is a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form. How to use paraphrase in a
How to Paraphrase
Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving
PARAPHRASE
A paraphrase of something is the same thing written or spoken using different words, often in a simpler and shorter form that makes the original
How to Paraphrase (Without Plagiarizing a Thing)
A paraphrase (or paraphrasing) is a restatement of another piece of writing with new words or phrases while keeping the same meaning
Paraphrasing Examples & Steps
In this lesson, we learned that paraphrasing means using your own words to express somebody else's ideas. When paraphrasing, remember to keep
Paraphrasing Define With Examples & Tips For You
Cambridge dictionary defines it as "to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a simpler and
Paraphrase: Write It in Your Own Words
Paraphrasing is one way to use a text in your own writing without directly quoting source material. Anytime you are taking information from a source that is
Examples of Paraphrasing Without Plagiarizing
When paraphrasing, it is important to keep the original meaning so that the facts remain intact. Basically, you are writing something in your own words that