endursagt

Endursagt is an Icelandic term used in writing to indicate that a statement from another source has been paraphrased or restated rather than quoted verbatim. It serves as a signal that the phrasing is not the original wording of the source, but a reformulation by the writer.

Etymology and form: Endursagt is formed from endur- meaning again or back, and sagt, the past participle of segja, “to say.” The word functions as a label attached to a paraphrase or summarized passage, typically paired with an attribution to the original source.

Usage and context: The term appears in scholarly, journalistic, and analytical texts in Icelandic to distinguish paraphrase from direct quotation. It is commonly used when the writer wants to convey the meaning of a source while avoiding or de-emphasizing exact wording. Endursagt passages are usually followed by a citation or reference to the source, and the restated content may be shorter or differently structured than the original.

Relation to other quotation practices: Endursagt contrasts with direct quotation, where the source’s exact words are presented, often with quotation marks. Paraphrase or indirect speech constructions may also be used, but endursagt specifically flags that the wording has been rephrased rather than copied. In academic style guides, paraphrasing norms—such as accuracy, fidelity to meaning, and proper attribution—apply equally to endursagt passages.

See also: Paraphrase, Indirect quotation, Direct quotation, Attribution.