paraphrased

Paraphrasing is the act of restating someone else’s text in different words while preserving the original meaning. It is a common writing technique used to incorporate information from sources without quoting verbatim. A well-crafted paraphrase conveys the same ideas as the source but with new wording and sentence structure, avoiding a mere rearrangement of the original phrasing.

Paraphrase vs. quotation vs. summary: a quotation reproduces exact words with quotation marks; a summary presents the essential points in a condensed form; a paraphrase renders the ideas in a new form at some length, not necessarily shorter than the original. Paraphrase is often used to clarify complex ideas or fit them into the writer’s own voice, while maintaining accuracy.

Guidelines for effective paraphrasing include fully understanding the source, noting its key ideas, and then writing the idea anew from memory before consulting the original to check accuracy. After drafting, compare the paraphrase to the original to ensure the meaning is preserved and the wording is sufficiently changed. Always cite the source.

Techniques include changing sentence order, converting active voice to passive, using synonyms, and combining multiple sentences. Be cautious of patchwriting—rearranging words from the source without enough change in structure or vocabulary. In academic contexts, paraphrases require proper attribution and may be governed by specific citation styles.