2.How to paraphrase in five steps

1. -Read the passage several times to fully understand the meaning
2. -Note down key concepts
3. -Write your version of the text without looking at the original
4. -Compare your paraphrased text with the original passage and make minor adjustments to phrases that remain too similar
5. -Cite the source where you found the idea

3.Paraphrasing example

Original passage

Paraphrased version

• The text is rewritten in your own words
• The meaning of the text did not change
• The source is cited correctly according to APA in-text citation rules

4.Paraphrasing tips

The five steps to paraphrasing may seem straightforward, but writing an idea in a different way than the published version can be difficult. These are four tricks you can apply to help you do so.

1. Start your first sentence at a different point from that of the original source
2. Use synonyms (words that mean the same thing)
3. Change the sentence structure (e.g. from active to passive voice)
4. Break the information into separate sentences

We have applied these four tips to the example below.

Original quote:

Paraphrased version:

4.1-Start your first sentence at a different point from that of the original source

In the example, you can see that we started by introducing the context (the hearing) followed by the last part of the original sentence: the expectations of creators, regulators and users. In fact, the key pieces of information are mentioned in a completely different order.

4.2-Use as many synonyms as possible

Synonyms are words or phrases that mean the same thing. Our example uses several synonyms:

• “exposed a critical turning point” → “made it apparent”
• “outpaces” → “rapidly eclipsed”
• “power” → “immense influence”

If you’re struggling to think of synonyms, a thesaurus can be a useful tool. However, don’t overdo it! It’s perfectly acceptable and often necessary to use some of the same words as the original text. In this example, it would be unnecessarily confusing to use synonyms for words like “technology”.

4.3-Change the sentence structure

For example, if the sentence was originally in the active voice, change it to passive. The active voice is when a sentence is led by the subject (the thing doing the action). When the object (the thing receiving the action) leads the sentence, that sentence is written in the passive voice.

• “technology outpaces what users, regulators or even its creators expected” → “the expectations of creators, regulators and users have been rapidly eclipsed by technology“

In this example, technology is the subject; the expectations of creators, regulators and users are the object. The original quote was written in the active voice, while the paraphrase uses the passive voice.

4.4-Break the information into separate sentences

Although paraphrasing will usually result in a word count roughly the same as an original quote, you may be able to play with the number of sentences to make the text different.

In this example, one long sentence was broken into two. The opposite could also be the case, i.e. if the original quote is comprised of two sentences, you may be able to combine the information into one.

5.How to cite a paraphrase?

Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. No matter what citation style you use, you always paraphrase in the same way. The only thing that is different is the in-text citation.

6.Paraphrasing vs. quoting

If you complete thorough research and take notes on the sources you read, you will naturally end up paraphrasing most of the important information you find rather than using direct quotes. It is wise to limit the number of direct quotes in your paper because:

• Paraphrasing shows that you clearly understand the meaning of a text
• Your own voice will remain dominant throughout your paper
• Quotes reduce the readability of your text

Quotes are appropriate when:

• Giving a precise definition
• Saying something about the author’s language or style
• Providing evidence in support of an argument
• Critiquing or analyzing a specific claim

7.Paraphrasing vs. summarizing

A paraphrase is a rewriting of a specific passage from someone else, so it will be approximately the same length as the source’s original quote.

When you completely or partially describe the outcome of a more substantial part of the research, it is called a summary.

There is a distinct difference between paraphrasing and summarizing. However, in general (as is the case in many universities), both are often referred to as paraphrasing.

Why summarize?
While paraphrasing and quoting are ideal if you wish to focus on one section of a research article, summarizing is a useful tool if you find the entire source relevant and interesting.