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How to Paraphrase a Sentence Effectively: Techniques and Examples

Putting ideas into your own words while keeping their original meaning is what paraphrasing is all about. This article will help you understand paraphrasing, from its basic ideas to useful methods. We'll look at what is a paraphrase, explore different paraphrasing meaning and examples, and give you practical tips on how to paraphrase a sentence or even how to paraphrase a paragraph.

What is a Paraphrased Sentence?

A paraphrased sentence is when you take someone else's idea and say it in your own words, but keep the same meaning.

What Is an Example of Effective Paraphrasing?

Good paraphrasing is more than just changing a few words. You need to really understand the original text and be able to say that idea in a new way. Let's look at another example of paraphrasing meaning and examples:

Original: "Climate change poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, with many species at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and changing environmental conditions."

Paraphrase: "The Earth's plants and animals are in danger because of changing weather patterns. Many types of living things might disappear as the places they live are destroyed and their surroundings change."

This paraphrase keeps the main idea but uses different words and sentence structure. It shows what is an example of effective paraphrasing.

How to Paraphrase a Sentence

Now that we know what a paraphrase is, let's learn how to make one. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to paraphrase a sentence:

Understanding the Original Sentence

First, you need to fully understand the original sentence. Read it carefully, maybe more than once, to make sure you get its meaning. If there are words you don't know, look them up. Only when you really understand the sentence can you write it in your own words.

Using Paraphrasing Techniques

There are several ways you can paraphrase:

• Use similar words: Replace words with others that mean almost the same thing. For example, "big" could become "large" or "huge".
• Change word types: Turn nouns into verbs, adjectives into adverbs, and so on. For instance, "The dog's bark was loud" could become "The dog barked loudly".
• Change sentence order: Rearrange the ideas in the sentence. You might start with a different part or change a passive sentence to an active one.
• Join or split sentences: If you're working with longer text, you might join short sentences or split longer ones.

Remember, the goal is to rewrite the sentence in a way that sounds natural and keeps the original meaning.

Checking for Meaning Retention

After paraphrasing, it's important to make sure you've kept the original meaning. Compare your paraphrase to the original sentence. Have you included all the main points? Is the overall message the same? If not, change your paraphrase until it correctly shows the original idea.

Adding Proper Citations

Even when you paraphrase, you must say where the original idea came from. This gives credit to the original writer and lets readers check the information. How you cite depends on the style you're using (like APA, MLA, Chicago), but usually, you need to include the writer's name and when it was published.

How to Paraphrase a Paragraph

Paraphrasing a paragraph is similar to paraphrasing a sentence, but on a larger scale:

• Read the paragraph several times to fully understand its main ideas and supporting details. Then, try the "read-cover-recall" method: look away from the original text and write down the key points in your own words. This helps prevent accidentally copying.
• Try 'double paraphrasing'. First paraphrase the paragraph once, then paraphrase your paraphrase. This can help you move even further from the original wording while still keeping the main ideas.
• Try changing the focus of the text. For example, if the original paragraph talks about climate change from an environmental view, try rewriting it from an economic or social view while keeping the main information. This not only makes sure it's original but also shows a deeper understanding of the topic.

After you finish your paraphrase, compare it with the original to make sure you've included all key points and haven't accidentally copied any phrases. Improve your version as needed to make it clear and original.

Common Mistakes When Paraphrasing a Sentence

When learning how to paraphrase, it's important to know about common mistakes. Here are some to avoid:

• Not changing the sentence enough: Just changing a few words isn't enough. Your paraphrase should be very different from the original in both words and structure to avoid copying.
• Changing the meaning: While changing the words, be careful not to accidentally change the meaning of the sentence.
• Forgetting to cite: Remember, even when you paraphrase, you must say where the original idea came from to avoid paraphrasing plagiarism.
• Using too similar sentence structure: Even if you change all the words, keeping the exact same sentence structure can still be too close to the original.

To show these points, let's look at some paraphrasing plagiarism examples:

Original: "The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, was a period of great technological innovation."

Bad paraphrase: "The Industrial Revolution, which started in Britain in the late 1700s, was a time of big technological change."

This paraphrase is too close to the original, with only a few words changed. It could be seen as copying.

Better paraphrase: "In the last part of the 1700s, Britain saw the start of a new time when many new technologies were created, called the Industrial Revolution."

This version keeps the meaning but presents it in a noticeably different way.

Paraphrasing isn't just about changing words — it's a skill that helps you express ideas in new ways. Now that you understand what paraphrasing means and how to do it well, you're on your way to becoming a better writer. Remember, practice helps you improve, so keep trying!

Sometimes, we all need a little help. Imagine having a tool that can help you paraphrase sentences or even whole paragraphs quickly. Aithor doesn't just change a few words here and there; it understands the context and helps you rewrite content in a way that's uniquely yours.

Head over to aithor.com , and you might be surprised at how much time and effort you can save!

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• Paraphrasing Skills

Paraphrasing skills involve the ability to restate information using different words while maintaining the original meaning, which is critical for strong comprehension and communication abilities. Mastering this skill boosts creativity and improves academic writing by reducing plagiarism risks and showcasing an understanding of the material. To excel at paraphrasing, practice identifying key ideas and expressing them in new, original sentences.

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How does paraphrasing differ from summarizing?

What is a key strategy in basic paraphrasing examples?

How does paraphrasing enhance comprehension and learning?

What technique involves changing sentence beginnings or structures?

What is the primary goal of paraphrasing?

Why is paraphrasing essential in academic writing?

Why is paraphrasing considered an important skill?

What role does paraphrasing play in preventing plagiarism?

What is an essential part of developing writing skills?

Which method is NOT mentioned for honing paraphrasing skills?

How is advanced paraphrasing different from basic paraphrasing?

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Definition of Paraphrasing in English

Understanding paraphrasing is essential for developing strong writing and communication skills. Paraphrasing involves rewording or restating text while retaining its original meaning. It requires comprehension of the source material and the ability to express it in a new form. This skill is valuable for academic writing , content creation, and everyday communication.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is crucial for demonstrating understanding and preventing plagiarism. When you paraphrase, you convey the same message as the source but in your own unique words. This requires not just changing words but also altering sentence structures and sometimes the order of ideas to ensure that the paraphrased version genuinely reflects your perspective.

Key aspects include:

• Maintaining the original meaning of the text.
• Introducing a different structure and vocabulary.
• Making the content distinct from the original.

Unlike summarizing, which condenses information by focusing on the main points, paraphrasing covers more details but in a new form.

Paraphrasing : Rewriting text in your own words while preserving the original meaning and ideas.

When paraphrasing, avoid simply swapping out words with synonyms. Aim to reinterpret the concept in your own voice.

Why is Paraphrasing an Important Skill

Paraphrasing is an invaluable skill for students and professionals alike. It enhances your understanding and helps you communicate ideas more effectively. Paraphrasing skills foster better comprehension, enable your unique voice in writing, and play a critical role in various academic and professional settings.

Enhancing Comprehension and Learning

Engaging with texts through paraphrasing requires you to process and understand the underlying concepts and ideas. This deepens your learning experience in the following ways:

• Improves retention of information due to active engagement with content.
• Allows for better integration of new knowledge with existing understanding.
• Encourages identification of key ideas and themes within the material.

Consider a passage about climate change. Instead of repeating 'Climate change affects weather patterns,' you might say, 'Shifts in global climate impact the regularity and intensity of weather events.'

Preventing Plagiarism

Paraphrasing is a fundamental technique to avoid plagiarism, which involves presenting someone else's work as your own. By rewriting material in your own words:

• You demonstrate a clear understanding of the source.
• You add personal insights into the existing material.
• You respect the intellectual property of original authors.

Always provide citations even when you paraphrase to acknowledge the original source of information.

Improving Writing Skills

Paraphrasing helps refine your writing abilities by encouraging the exploration of diverse vocabulary and sentence structures. This practice:

• Contributes to stylistic maturity, making writing more engaging.
• Enhances flexibility in adapting content for different audiences.
• Boosts confidence in expressing complex ideas in multiple ways.

Beyond academic applications, paraphrasing is vital in professional contexts. For example, in journalism or content creation, effectively translating technical jargon or complex data into reader-friendly language can significantly increase audience engagement and comprehension. Furthermore, paraphrasing in negotiations or meetings ensures clarity and mutual understanding, contributing to more successful outcomes.

How to Improve Paraphrasing Skills

Enhancing your paraphrasing skills is a crucial part of developing your writing prowess. It involves not only understanding text but also applying various strategies to express ideas in a new form. This skill is essential for both academic success and effective communication in various fields.

Learning Paraphrasing Skills Effectively

Effective learning of paraphrasing skills involves a systematic approach that combines practice and theoretical understanding. Here are some effective methods to hone paraphrasing:

• Comprehension - Before attempting to paraphrase, ensure you have a clear understanding of the original text.
• Note-taking - Write down key points and ideas in your own words during the reading process.
• Practice - Regularly practice paraphrasing different types of texts to improve agility and adaptability.

Original: The company has revolutionized the way we view and handle data storage. Paraphrased: The firm has completely changed our perception and management of data storage solutions.

Try reading a text, closing it, and then writing down the main ideas in your own words to practice effective paraphrasing.

Improving Paraphrasing Techniques

For refining paraphrasing techniques, a few focused strategies can lead to visible improvements:

• Synonym Use - Change key words with synonyms but ensure the context remains intact.
• Sentence Structure - Alter sentence patterns by starting sentences differently or combining short sentences.
• Conceptual Understanding - Grasp the underlying concept to allow for creative rephrasing.

Delving deeper into advanced paraphrasing involves looking beyond word substitution to enhance readability and engagement. Consider changing the voice (passive to active) or employing metaphorical language where applicable. This not only aids in paraphrasing but also in transforming a mundane description into something more vivid and illustrative, aiding reader connection and retention.

Make a habit of reading varied genres to expose yourself to different writing styles, which can stimulate creative paraphrasing ideas.

Paraphrasing Skills Examples

To master paraphrasing skills , examining examples can significantly enhance your understanding. Seeing how original passages are transformed can provide insight into effective techniques and strategies for rewording text while maintaining the core meaning.

Basic Paraphrasing Examples

Starting with basic examples can provide you with the foundation needed to develop your skills further.

• Original: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
• Paraphrased: The swift auburn fox leaps over the sleepy canine.

In the example above, synonyms for 'quick', 'brown', and 'lazy' are used, along with changes in the sentence's structure, which is key in distinguishing your paraphrasing work from the original.

Original: She enjoys reading books during her free time because it helps her relax. Paraphrased: Reading is her preferred leisure activity since it allows her to unwind.

Advanced Paraphrasing Examples

As you become more skilled, you can try paraphrasing more complex texts that require an in-depth understanding and reorganization of sentences.

• Original: The significance of biodiversity is paramount to the health of our ecosystems and the planet's future.
• Paraphrased: Biodiversity plays a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health and safeguarding our planet's future.

In this example, not only are synonyms used, but the sentence is also simplified without losing the core message, a crucial step when dealing with intricate texts.

Advanced paraphrasing goes beyond surface-level changes. It involves rethinking the passage's phrasing to embody a new perspective or narrative style. Consider how perspectives could be shifted: active to passive voice , chronological information rearranged, or incorporating metaphorical language. Explore altering the text's emphasis to make it engaging yet faithful to the original meaning.

Use paraphrasing exercises to identify multiple ways to convey a single idea, which can enhance both creativity and precision in your written communication.

Paraphrasing Skills - Key takeaways

• Definition of Paraphrasing in English: Paraphrasing is rewriting text in your own words while preserving its original meaning and ideas.
• Why is Paraphrasing an Important Skill: Paraphrasing enhances understanding, improves communication, prevents plagiarism, and contributes to writing skills .
• Key Aspects of Paraphrasing: Maintain original meaning, introduce new structure and vocabulary, make content distinct from the original.
• How to Improve Paraphrasing Skills: Use synonym changes wisely, alter sentence structure , and focus on conceptual understanding .
• Paraphrasing Skills Examples: Simple modifications in vocabulary and sentence structure can transform an original sentence, demonstrating effective paraphrasing techniques.

Flashcards in Paraphrasing Skills 12

Paraphrasing uses fewer words than summarizing.

Change the subject and meaning entirely.

It relies only on rote repetition of the source material.

Altering sentence structure alters patterns, boosting creativity.

To maintain the original wording while making minor changes.

It demonstrates understanding and prevents plagiarism.

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Paraphrasing Explained: Definition, Techniques, and Examples for Effective Writing

Table of contents

While researching for your article or essay, you might have encountered a sentence or a paragraph that's so intriguing that you thought you must include it in your content! But you can't use those exact words, right?

Well, paraphrasing is the way to do that. However, the idea is not to steal someone's content but to capitalize on it by drafting a much better version while adding your input and research.

You can always have your own piece written and make it more intuitive to your audience while using the original one as a reference.

'It's easier said than done'

'Although the idea sounds like a good one in theory, it will still be difficult to actually execute it.'

Both the above sentences have similar meanings, but they appear different. That's a classic example of paraphrasing.

But how do you paraphrase while keeping the essence of the original sentence intact and still not plagiarising?

That calls for some tips and tricks! And here, we have got you covered.

In this blog, we will explain what is paraphrasing, why you might need to paraphrase, how to paraphrase, and the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing.

Let's dive in.

Table Of Contents

What is paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing is the process of restructuring or tweaking a paragraph so that it represents the same meaning or idea from the original statement but with different sentence construction, choice of words, formats, or, possibly, tone or voice.

It means making the meaning clearer, especially in a shorter and simpler form, along with your thoughts/comments. In addition to borrowing, clarifying, or expanding on information and your comments, paraphrasing is doing all the above-stated actions without plagiarizing the information.

Why do people paraphrase?

There are several reasons why people paraphrase. Following are some of the reasons for paraphrasing.

• Paraphrasing helps avoid plagiarism.
• It also provides support for claims or adds credibility to the writing.
• It demonstrates your understanding and provides an alternative method to using indirect and direct quotes in your own words (referenced) infrequently.
• Paraphrasing in academic research helps utilize source material for writing essays, providing evidence that the essay is appropriately referenced.
• Paraphrasing in writing helps you ensure that you use sources to communicate something important to your readers.

What is paraphrasing plagiarism?

Plagiarism is stealing someone else’s ideas without acknowledgment. Plagiarism can come in several forms: global, verbatim, patchwork, paraphrase, and self-plagiarism. However, apart from global plagiarism, other types of plagiarism are often accidental.

Although paraphrasing is accepted , rephrasing sentences or paraphrasing someone else’s idea without citing or acknowledging is considered paraphrasing plagiarism. Even when translating someone else’s words, if the translated text from another language is not cited, this is also a type of paraphrasing plagiarism.

How to paraphrase?

When it comes to paraphrasing, you can either do it manually or use an AI-powered tool like Writesonic to rephrase your content. While we will guide you through both processes, here is how to paraphrase with Writesonic Content Rephraser.

Check out the steps below:

• Log in to Writesonic or sign up (if you haven't already done so!).
• Search for Content Rephrase and select the tool from the results.

• On the Content Rephrase v2 window, put the text in the Content box.
• Select the Words Length from the drop-down for the rephrased content.
• Select your Brand Voice / Tone of Voice from the list.
• Finally, hit the Generate button.

If you are not satisfied with the output received, simply click on the Regenerate button.

If you want, you can also paraphrase manually without using any tool.  Here is a guide on different techniques to paraphrase effectively,

What is the difference between summarizing and paraphrasing?

Summarizing is a concise statement that briefs the contents of the passage. On the other hand, paraphrasing is just rewriting sentences using your own words. In fact, there is more than one difference between summarizing and paraphrasing.

Check out the comparison chart to learn the differences between summarizing and paraphrasing, besides their definition.

Top 5 tips and tricks to follow while paraphrasing

Following are 5 digestible paraphrasing tips you can incorporate when paraphrasing your sentences.

Identify the important parts

You can't paraphrase until you understand the meaning! In fact, paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of the original material. Thus, read the original content until you get enough ideas to explain it in your own words.

Once you have the original concept, reduce it to the key points, and don't focus on the sentence structures at the start. Another way to rewrite or reword the source without losing your key points is to use a paraphrasing tool .

Change up the words

Change the words using synonyms while noting down the concepts or key points. However, if you face writer's block and can’t find the right words, which can make your content incompetent, use rewording tools .

AI rewording tools can come up with synonyms, organize your phrases, and enhance your sentence structure. Moreover, an AI wording tool ensures the content is unique, original, and plagiarism-free.

Make sure meaning is preserved

Although paraphrasing requires rewording and changing the words, ensure that the same meaning must be maintained along with the ideas. In addition to that, keep your word choices lucid and simple to convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original source.

One way to keep your writing consistent when paraphrasing is by using paraphrasing tools. The AI tool can alter the sentence structure while maintaining the original meaning.

Double-check for grammar and punctuation

When paraphrasing, double-check and compare the paraphrased copy with the original passage. Make adjustments to ensure it’s completely rewritten. Also, make sure that the grammar and punctuation are correct.

Double-checking your work for grammar and punctuation by reviewing it more than once improves its quality. Paragraph rewriters use AI for paraphrasing, which can tweak the tonality and narrative, ensure a grammar check, and make the content concise and conceivable.

Use an online paraphrasing tool like Writesonic

As stated previously in the article, using a paraphrasing tool is the fastest way to paraphrase your sources without plagiarizing them. One such creative AI writing tool that assists you with paraphrasing is Writesonic .

Writesonic is trained on billions of parameters. It refines the grammar, spelling, and style to generate original, paraphrased content. In addition to that, Writesonic generates unique and plagiarism-free content that resonates with the target audience with just one click.

With AI chatbots like ChatGPT by Open AI and ChatSonic by Writesonic taking away all the limelight, they can also be used effectively for paraphrasing text.

Different strategies for paraphrasing

Even though there are AI paraphrasing tools to make the work easier, the following are different strategies you can use to paraphrase your sentence.

Understanding the main ideas

One of the strategies for successful paraphrasing is understanding the source's main idea and writing style. When you understand the idea behind the sentence, it becomes easier to explain in your own words.

After taking note of the important nouns and verbs, see which synonyms might be appropriate to replace. You can use a synonym that expresses the same meaning for the key concepts or points in the original sentence.

Making connections

When you use synonyms, it is given that the structure may also need a little changing. So, instead of just swapping a single word, make appropriate changes around the words to make sense of the sentence. Here, your paraphrasing skills come into play.

Here is an example of paraphrasing: “ According to scientists, there is another method to achieve a pollution-free environment.”

The paraphrased content would say something like - “Scientists found an alternate way to attain a pollution-free environment.”

In the above sentence, the adjective ‘according to’ is swapped with the verb ‘found’ along with other necessary changes. These changes are made to maintain a harmonious connection between the words and to make the sentence sensible while retaining its meaning and avoiding plagiarism.

Focusing on syntax

The syntax is the arrangement of words in a specific order written in well-formed phrases or sentences. While paraphrasing is about restating or rewording, ensure to focus on the well-structured and grammatically correct sentences by making appropriate connections or paraphrases.

Benefits of paraphrasing

Paraphrasing has some benefits that you can reap in aspects of your writing skills and learning abilities.

Improves writing skills

Paraphrasing requires you to change the passages in your own words, which may help refurbish your writing skills. Rewriting or paraphrasing is essential in writing essays or research papers.

Paraphrasing allows you to express ideas or information with a fresh set of words to make the same thing sound more interesting or even simpler. You can see paraphrasing as an opportunity to enhance your writing skills without plagiarizing someone else’s work. This includes rewriting and expressing the ideas in your own voice.

Increases comprehension

Comprehension is understanding the written material and explaining what is read. At the same time, paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of the complex details from the source and your ability to explain the connections between main points. Therefore, it's obvious that you can comprehend a text better when you paraphrase it.

Moreover, it was found that paraphrasing for comprehension is an excellent tool for reinforcing reading skills. It can assist by identifying the main ideas, finding supporting details, and identifying the original author's voice.

So when you rewrite the sentence in your own words, you can double-check your comprehension. This helps improve your awareness and allows you to gain a better understanding of the content, and allows you to write better.

Enhances understanding

To paraphrase words or phrases, you must extract their meaning by reading the material again and again and fully understanding the context. This allows the reader to understand the original statement more clearly by adding more clarity to it. So, when you paraphrase the original phrase, you articulate your thoughts and ideas more clearly and come up with new insights and perspectives on the topic.

Saves time & energy

Creating content from scratch is difficult and requires much time and energy. It requires you to do proper research, which is both time and energy-consuming.

An easy solution to the painstaking process is paraphrasing your sentence with appropriate citations. This will allow you to create the content without spending much time on research and ideation, saving much of your time and energy.

Helps avoid plagiarism

Among all the benefits, the most favorable benefit of paraphrasing is that it helps you avoid the accusation of plagiarism. You are simply committing plagiarism (an offense as stated by the federal government) when you use the same idea and speech from the original text, word by word.

However, by rewording the original source, you can present the ideas in your own words and easily avoid plagiarism. What’s more, paraphrasing can save you in both accidental and deliberate cases of plagiarism.

Paraphrasing examples

Now that we have known all about paraphrasing, its reasons for use, and its benefits, let’s look at some examples of paraphrasing and how exactly you can paraphrase.

#1 Example of Paraphrasing

#2 example of paraphrasing, final words.

Once you grasp the concept of paraphrasing, it can be a powerful tool for writers. It provides several benefits in aspects of writing and learning skills. The correct way and right use of paraphrasing can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism.

However, note that successful and correct paraphrasing requires the use of multiple techniques each time. So, it is not sufficient to simply replace the keywords or the main concepts with synonyms.

One of the easiest ways to reword the original source is by using an AI writing tool. Writesonic is a well-known AI paraphrasing tool that can refine grammar, spelling, and style to generate original plagiarism-free AI content .

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How to Paraphrase (Without Plagiarizing a Thing)

How can you include another writer’s ideas in your work without plagiarizing?

Paraphrasing, or rewriting information in your own words, is an essential tool in a writer’s toolbox. It comes in handy when you want to demonstrate understanding, transform dense text into plain language, adjust the tone, or build on another person’s work.

But just because you’re not using the writer’s actual words, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to provide credit where it’s due. Proper attribution when paraphrasing is essential in order to avoid plagiarizing and potentially running into academic or legal trouble.

Knowing how to paraphrase without plagiarizing is a valuable skill to hone in order to craft blog posts, research papers, marketing copy, social media posts, and more. This guide explains how to paraphrase without compromising copyright laws or your integrity. Read on for paraphrasing rules, techniques, key strategies, and examples.

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What is paraphrasing, and why is it important to do correctly? Paraphrasing refers to restating another piece of writing in new words while retaining the original passage’s meaning. Unlike summarizing, in paraphrasing you include roughly the same amount of detail as the original work but adjust the language to demonstrate comprehension or make the text more understandable.

Paraphrasing is essential in academic writing as a way to use other people’s ideas in your own work. Mixing in paraphrasing alongside direct quotes works well and can help your paper flow more naturally. Paraphrasing is also widely used on social media and in marketing copy or other business writing contexts, where it helps pass on information to various audiences.

Use Grammarly’s free paraphrasing tool to quickly paraphrase text with the help of generative AI. Paste text into Grammarly to get options for how to paraphrase it instantly—then use our citations generator to automatically include proper attribution.

Paraphrasing examples

Ethical paraphrasing vs. plagiarism.

Plagiarism is passing off someone else’s ideas as your own. Some people think that changing a few words from the original is enough to avoid plagiarism, but that’s not true—test it with our free plagiarism checker to see for yourself.

Plagiarism isn’t just about words; it’s also about ideas.To avoid plagiarism completely, you must rewrite the idea(s) with new words and credit the source material with a citation.

When writing online in more casual contexts, you can provide proper attribution by linking to the original source and nodding to the author with phrases like “To paraphrase the work of . . .” or “As [writer’s name] shares in their work titled . . .” or “Research from [name] reveals . . .”

Academic and some business contexts require that you follow additional specific citation guidelines, such as APA , MLA , and Chicago -style citation formats.

Paraphrasing rules and proper paraphrasing citations

Change every word you can and adjust the sentence structure to paraphrase without plagiarizing. Some passages require you to use a few of the same words as the original. For example, if you’re paraphrasing a passage that uses the word photosynthesis , there’s really no other synonym to use. However, there are other paraphrasing techniques that can help, such as rearranging the sentence structure or changing a part of speech. We discuss these tools below, in the section on how to paraphrase without plagiarizing.

Cite your sources within your text. Citations in academic writing generally use parenthetical citations , which place the author’s surname, or last name, in parentheses after the passage, along with either the year of publication or the page number (or both), depending on which style you’re using. Parenthetical citations are placed at the end of the passage, before any conclusive punctuation like periods or commas.

You’re free to paraphrase from as many different sources as you need, as long as you cite each one individually. You can even use paraphrases from two different sources in the same sentence—as long as you cite each, like in this example:

The meteor shower was seen not only in New Zealand (Williamson, 2018) but also in parts of Eastern Australia (Marsh, 2018).

Include source information in your reference lists. In addition to the in-text citation, you also need the source’s full citation in a bibliography at the end of your research paper. The rules of what to include in a full citation and how to format the bibliography depend on the style. If you’re having trouble citing sources, you can always use Grammarly’s free citation generator to help.

Link and tag to provide attribution online. Paraphrasing work online, such as in blogs or social media posts, also requires attribution, even though it’s often harder to regulate. Most social networks have community guidelines in place to protect against plagiarism, and in some cases, intellectual property posted to social media is protected by copyright law. Providing attribution through links, tags, and mentions is best practice for building community and reaching a larger audience with your work.

When should you paraphrase versus quote?

While you use your own phrasing in paraphrasing, when you quote something, you transcribe someone else’s words exactly, placing the text in quotation marks so the reader knows they are someone else’s words. Both paraphrasing and direct quotes require citations.

Generally, you want to alternate between paraphrasing and direct quotes to avoid overusing either. Direct quotes work best when you’re dealing with controversial or striking statements or when you want the tone of the original work to shine.

Like quoting, paraphrasing has its advantages:

• It can help you improve word choice and tone. You can paraphrase to use terminology or tone consistent with the rest of your writing.
• It can allow you to broaden the subject matter. Apply an idea to a new topic through paraphrasing to showcase commonalities between seemingly separate arguments.
• Paraphrasing avoids inconsistencies and errors in writing. Placing a direct quote in your work may create problems with subject-verb agreement, pronoun agreement, etc., but with paraphrasing, you can adapt the language to avoid those mistakes.
• Paraphrasing updates antiquated language. Modernize old-fashioned language in a passage, such as using salesperson in place of salesman .

Steps to paraphrasing without plagiarizing

1 read the source articles thoroughly..

The first step in rewriting articles is to thoroughly understand the source material. Choose which passages you want to paraphrase. Look closely for points that support the topic you’re writing your own paper about.

2 Try rewriting passages by memory.

Rewriting from memory forces you to come up with new ways to say the same message. You can then go back to your notes and the source material to make sure that all of your information is accurate and add anything you forgot.

3 Thoroughly rewrite by changing language and sentence structure.

Use synonyms to 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.

Editing the sentence structure by rearranging the order of certain phrases and clauses or combining or breaking apart sentences is another strategy for paraphrasing. Be careful that doing so doesn’t cause you to overuse the passive voice. 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.

4 Check that your article rewording is different enough.

After writing a rough draft, review the original source to check that you changed enough. You want to avoid what’s called “patchwriting,” where the paraphrased text is too close to the original and the reader might recognize “patches” of it. This is also a good opportunity to verify that you have all the information correct.

The easiest way to ensure your work is original is to use Grammarly’s free plagiarism checker . If your article rewording can pass a plagiarism test, it’s good to move on.

5 Review your content for accuracy and proofread your prose.

Paraphrasing is a ripe opportunity for introducing errors and inaccuracies. Make sure you haven’t changed the meaning of the original work as you’ve adjusted its style and structure. Then use Grammarly to proofread your content for clarity, conciseness, and grammatical correctness.

6 Add the citations.

Last but not least, be sure to include the citation. Make sure you’re using the correct citation format for your style, whether APA, MLA, or Chicago. If you’re paraphrasing an article, most of the time you will use a parenthetical citation after the passage.

Paraphrasing best practices

1 target key information only..

One advantage of paraphrasing over quoting is that you can amplify certain ideas to support your point rather than include everything. Highlight relevant aspects of your source material to help outline your own work and target the most important information.

2 Break down complex sentences.

Another advantage of paraphrasing is that you can make complex ideas and jargon easier to understand for a wider audience. Trade long, complicated sentences for shorter, simpler points. Similarly, you can combine sentences or ideas that are less important to your central point by summarizing aspects of the source material.

3 Use narrative citations and transition phrasing.

N arrative citations explicitly tell the reader you’re referencing another writer’s work and help provide attribution in your content. The following transitional phrases are examples of ways you can let your reader know you’re about to paraphrase an existing work. Narrative citations have the added benefit of helping you to rewrite key findings by recasting the sentence structure with a new subject.

• Research shows that . . .
• A recent study found that . . .
• According to [author]’s analysis . . .
• Thanks to [source], we now know that . . .

You still need to reword the rest of the sentence, but using one of these openings further separates your paraphrase from the original and helps you avoid plagiarizing.

Keep in mind that if you mention the author’s name, the date of publication, or the page number within the text, you can omit that information from the parenthetical citation.

4 Focus on meaning, not just vocabulary.

Paraphrasing is more than just swapping out words for their synonyms; you need to completely rewrite a sentence in your own style. Pay close attention to what the original author is trying to say as a whole, rather than focusing on the individual words. You may be able to restate the idea in a clearer or more concise way. Similarly, changing entire phrases or clauses may improve clarity more than just changing individual words.

5 Avoid patchwriting.

Patchwriting is when someone tries to paraphrase but doesn’t change enough, leaving obvious patches of the original in the new version. Even when paraphrasing gets difficult, you still have to alter the original text completely so that your version is distinct enough to differentiate itself. If you’re stuck and don’t know what else to change, you can use Grammarly’s generative AI assistance to help inspire your rewrite.

6 Always cite, even when citations are optional.

In informal writing, such as on the internet, as well as in speech, citations are usually less regulated. However, it’s still best to mention where you got your ideas from, even if it’s just as a courtesy. Remember that plagiarism isn’t only about the words; it’s about the ideas. Avoid passing off someone else’s ideas as your own at all costs.

Common paraphrasing mistakes

Writers risk plagiarism and clarity when they commit the following common paraphrasing mistakes:

• Changing only individual words and not full phrasing
• Altering original meanings accidentally
• Forgetting to add citations afterward
• Citing but rewriting too close to source text

Paraphrasing FAQs

When should i paraphrase versus directly quote source material in my paper.

Your paper should include a balance of both paraphrases and direct quotes. Paraphrases work best when the original wording is flawed, outdated, or inconsistent with the rest of your writing. Direct quotes work best when you want to include a striking statement, distance yourself from an opinion, or let the tone of the original work shine.

Do I have to change every single word when paraphrasing?

No, you don’t have to change every word, although that would be best if it’s possible. Not all words have synonyms, especially scientific words, so you may need to copy some words from the original passage. In this scenario, you should change the paraphrase in other ways, such as by rearranging the sentence structure, adding/removing parts, or changing the part of speech for certain words.

Can I paraphrase information from multiple sources together?

Yes, one advantage of paraphrasing is that you can combine ideas from different sources or different sections of the same source into the same sentence. However, you still need to cite each new source or location, so you may end up having two or more citations in the same sentence.

Is paraphrasing the same thing as summarizing?

Unlike summarizing, paraphrasing generally uses the same level of detail as the original work. Summarizing shortens longer work by highlighting only the key points.

What percentage of my paper should be paraphrased from external sources?

The percentage of your paper that paraphrases external sources depends on the policies at your academic institution or the purpose of your paper. If you’re paraphrasing to demonstrate an understanding of source material, your work will heavily rely on the external source. If the task is to present new ideas, most of your paper should be analysis and original writing. Navigate responsible AI use with Grammarly’s  AI checker , trained to identify AI-generated text.