What paraphrasing is, and what it is not
To paraphrase is to express the same idea in your own words and sentence structure. A good paraphrase is about as long as the original and keeps every important point. It differs from two related techniques:
- Summarizing shortens a text to its main points.
- Quoting copies the exact words inside quotation marks, with credit.
Use a paraphrase when the idea matters more than the exact wording, when the original is too technical for your reader, or when you want to fit a source smoothly into your own writing.
Paraphrasing and plagiarism
Changing the words does not make an idea yours. In academic work, journalism and professional reports, you still need to cite the source of a paraphrased idea. Paraphrasing your own earlier writing, or text you have rights to, is fine without a citation in most settings. If you are a student, check your institution's rules on AI tools before you use one.
How to paraphrase well by hand
- Read until you understand. You cannot restate what you have not grasped.
- Put the source away and write from memory. This forces new wording.
- Change the structure, not just the words. Start from a different point, or turn a passive sentence into an active one.
- Keep technical terms. Words like "mortgage" or "API" often have no true synonym, and swapping them can change the meaning.
- Compare with the original. Check that nothing was lost or added.
Which mode to choose
Standard balances new wording and accuracy. Fluent smooths awkward drafts. Formal suits reports and applications. Simple helps you explain complex material to a general audience. Shorter trims while keeping the key points. Creative varies the phrasing the most, which suits marketing copy more than technical text.