paraphrases

Paraphrases are restatements of a text or passage in different words and often different sentence structure, while preserving the original meaning and essential details. They are used across writing, research, and language learning to clarify information, adapt for a different audience, or integrate source material smoothly into new text.

A good paraphrase accurately conveys the same ideas as the original without copying its wording. It should reflect the meaning, nuance, and scope of the source, avoid introducing new ideas, and not be so close in phrasing that it resembles the original. When in doubt, a citation or attribution should accompany the paraphrase.

Common techniques include substituting synonyms, changing sentence order, altering voice (active to passive or vice versa), and breaking long sentences into shorter ones or combining brief statements into a broader sentence. Example: Original: "Global temperatures have risen due to human activities." Paraphrase: "Human activities have caused an increase in global temperatures."

Paraphrasing is distinct from summarizing and from quoting. A summary condenses the material to its essential points, a quotation repeats the exact words with quotation marks, and a paraphrase reexpresses the content in other words. In academic or professional writing, paraphrasing should be accompanied by proper citation to credit the original author and avoid plagiarism. In practice, automated and human paraphrasing aim to maintain meaning and improve readability, while preserving or clarifying nuances of the source.