Omasõnadega

Omasõnadega is a Estonian term meaning “in one’s own words” and is used to describe restating information using different wording rather than reproducing the original text. The expression is common in education, writing, and everyday communication, where understanding and accurate interpretation are important.

In educational settings, omasõnadega is often requested to assess comprehension: a student explains a concept omasõnadega to show they understand it. It also supports vocabulary development and critical thinking, since the task requires rephrasing while keeping the original meaning. Guidelines typically emphasize preserving meaning, changing sentence structure and wording, and avoiding additions that alter the claim.

Paraphrasing versus quotation is a key distinction: omasõnadega refers to expressing ideas with new wording, whereas a direct quotation repeats the exact original words. Regardless of method, ideas attributed to others usually require citation to acknowledge the source and avoid plagiarism. When paraphrasing, it is important to stay faithful to the original claim and its nuances, and to cite where appropriate.

In professional writing, omasõnadega is used to summarize research, reports, or media material for clearer presentation. Effective paraphrasing condenses information, omits unnecessary details, and preserves core propositions, while avoiding misinterpretation or bias. Proper attribution remains essential, especially for ideas that are not common knowledge.

Examples:

Original: “Uuringud näitavad, et uni on oluline mälu jaoks.” Omasõnadega: “Uuringutulemused viitavad sellele, et piisav uni aitab mälu talletada.” Original: “Kliima soojenemine on peamiselt inimtegevusest tingitud.” Omasõnadega: “Inimese tegevus on peamine faktor kliima soojenemises.”