20 Paraphrase
Sarah Duffy
Put an author’s ideas into fresh and unique words but stay true to and respect their meaning. Ensure to give credit to the author.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why paraphrase
- How to paraphrase
- Why cite in a paraphrase
Recall what you know: Like summarizing, paraphrasing is an important skill for effective communication in many contexts. Do you know the similarities and differences between summary and paraphrase? Test your knowledge by dragging the descriptors into the appropriate columns.
Think about this: Think of times when you paraphrase in your day-to-day life—perhaps for professional or personal purposes. How important is it to ensure your paraphrase respects the original message’s meaning? Consider how this is a critical part of developing a paraphrase that has integrity and also supports your credibility as an effective communicator.
Why Paraphrase
When you take someone’s ideas and express them in your words while keeping the same approximate length, you are paraphrasing. You must ensure the meaning is consistent with the original source and avoid layering in your commentary or opinions so that the intention of the author is maintained.
When you paraphrase, you are doing more than just finding synonyms to replace individual words; instead, you create content that reflects and respects the original meaning of a source while using language and structure that feels fresh and unique. Like summarizing, this reflects a deep understanding of the original source’s meaning and consideration of the author’s viewpoint. Also, like summarizing, you can use paraphrasing in various contexts and situations: academic, professional, and personal. Some examples include clarifying misunderstandings, demonstrating active listening, and finding common ground with others.
In addition, paraphrasing is a tool for resolving conflict. This is explained in an article titled “Communicating in Conflict,” from the Vancouver Island University’s website:
Miscommunication happens when we assume we understand, but haven’t checked out that assumption. When we do, we may find that we are misinterpreting some of what was said, or missing some key element that is important to the other person. Paraphrasing not only checks for clarity and accuracy of understanding, but also lets the other person know they have been heard and understood. (Vancouver Island University, 2020, para. 5)
Definition, Please! What Is Paraphrasing?
In a 2018 study published in English for Specific Purposes, the authors discuss paraphrasing in this way:
There is no consensus on what constitutes a good paraphrase (Shi, 2012), though many would agree that paraphrasing is recasting the source text accurately with a credit to the original author. Such a definition … suggests that a paraphrase should be ‘exactly logically equivalent’ (Bhagat & Hovy, 2013, p. 471), but not containing the original vocabulary and sentence structure (e.g., Oshima & Hogue, 1999). (Shi, Fazel, & Kowkabi, 2018, p. 31)
Is Paraphrasing Easy?
No, paraphrasing is not easy! Since it relies on a deep understanding of the original message, you cannot rush paraphrasing, and, at times, it can feel like a tedious, difficult, perhaps even painful process. In the same study, the authors observe that “students, even advanced graduates, find it challenging to develop the intertextual skill of paraphrasing” (Shi, Fazel, & Kowkabi, 2018, p. 32).
How to Paraphrase
You’re ready to paraphrase when you’ve spent time with a source to ensure that you understand it fully. Paraphrasing involves
- grasping the core meaning and logic of the original source;
- using distinctive wording and sentence structure, showing respect for the author’s voice and viewpoint;
- citing; and
- omitting your evaluation or opinion.
In your academic work, you will often need to paraphrase when using and accurately representing the ideas of scholars and professionals in your field of study.
While you are developing the ability to paraphrase in your academic writing, you may find it useful to follow a step-by-step process:
STEP 1 – Understand the author’s message and logic.
STEP 2 – Use synonyms when possible to replace original words.
STEP 3 – Put it back together.
STEP 4 – Use new sentence structure and order.
STEP 5 – Review your paraphrase to ensure that it is true to the original meaning.
STEP 6 – Clearly give attribution, contextualize, and cite.
This example paraphrases the following line from “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009):
“It is impossible to talk about a single story without talking about power” (para. 22).
| STEP 1: Understand Adichie’s message and logic. | Adichie is referring to power as one of the elements that contribute to the over-simplification of others’ lives into a stereotypical narrative. |
| STEP 2: Use synonyms to replace Adichie’s words. | Impossible – difficult Talk – discuss Single – one or sole or simplified or stereotypical Story – narrative Without – with no or devoid of Talking – discussing About – regarding Power – influence or authority |
| STEP 3: Put it back together. | It is difficult to discuss a simplified or stereotypical narrative if it does not include a discussion of influence and authority. |
| STEP 4: Use new sentence structure and order. | Influence and authority cannot be omitted when discussing simplified and stereotyped narratives. |
| STEP 5: Review your paraphrase to ensure that it is true to the original meaning. | Yes, the paraphrase retains the original line’s meaning; the two versions are logically equivalent. |
| STEP 6: Clearly give attribution, contextualize, and cite. | Sample 1 – Parenthetical in-text citation (exclude author’s name and date of publication from lead-in): Many variables must be considered when discussing a ‘single story.’ For example, the author asserts that influence and authority cannot be omitted when discussing simplified and stereotyped narratives (Adichie, 2009, para. 22).Sample 2 – Narrative in-text citation (include author’s name and date of publication in lead-in): Many variables must be considered when discussing a ‘single story.’ In her TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009) asserts that influence and authority cannot be omitted when discussing simplified and stereotyped narratives (para. 22). |
More on Synonyms
Do all words have synonyms? No. Some words, phrases, and terms do not have readily available synonyms and, therefore, the original words are used in the paraphrase. This includes, but is not limited to, proper nouns (e.g. Canada, COVID-19, DNA, Centennial College) and technical terms (e.g. polymerase chain reaction, wifi, return on investment).
After examining the following original lines and paraphrases, consider “Is this an acceptable paraphrase?” Then, compare your assessment to the model for each paraphrase.
Original Line 1:
“Gender is a ubiquitous prison for the mind, reinforced everywhere, by everyone, and only rarely questioned” (Manjoo, 2019, para. 15).
Paraphrase 1:
Gender is an omnipresent jail for the psyche, strengthened universally, by all, and barely examined (para. 15).
Is this an acceptable paraphrase?
No, it is not acceptable.
It uses synonyms, and the meaning is retained. However, it does not use a unique sentence structure and order. In addition, although it includes a paragraph number, it does not give attribution, cite, and contextualize.
Original Line 2:
“Restaurants will need more support remaining viable until they are on a path to full recovery” (Restaurants Canada, 2020, para. 2).
Paraphrase 2:
In response to the pandemic, it is claimed that, pending a complete revival, eateries will require additional assistance to sustain their businesses (para. 2).
Is this an acceptable paraphrase?
It uses synonyms, and the meaning is retained. It also uses a unique sentence structure and order. However, although it includes a paragraph number, it does not give attribution, cite, and contextualize.
Original Line 3:
“Type A is considered to be the influenza virus type with the greatest impact on public health as it has caused more than a dozen documented pandemics since the 1700s, with the latest occurring in 2009” (Government of Canada, 2019, para. 3).
Paraphrase 3:
A report titled “Biosafety Directive for New and Emerging Influenza A Viruses” states that from 1700 to 2009, Influenza Type A produced greater than twelve global epidemics, and, as a result, it is deemed the influenza virus category with the most significant public health effects (Government of Canada, 2019, para. 3).
Is this an acceptable paraphrase?
Although some of the words remain consistent since they do not have readily available synonyms (e.g. Influenza Type A), the paraphrase uses synonyms where possible and retains the meaning. It also uses a unique sentence structure and order. Finally, it includes appropriate attribution, citation, and contextualization.
Why Cite in a Paraphrase
Although you use your own words in a paraphrase, do you need to cite? Yes, absolutely.
It is a common misconception that you do not need to cite paraphrased content. This is incorrect. You must cite when you use content that someone else created even if you paraphrase it effectively, and if you do not, it is considered plagiarism. This rule encompasses, but is not limited to,
- ideas;
- explanations;
- research;
- data and statistics;
- website content;
- blogs;
- social media posts;
- interviews;
- music and lyrics;
- videos;
- collaborations; and
- any content that is not common knowledge to the audience.
One guideline is that you should not use more than two words in a row without citing the source. Using APA-style rules, parenthetical or narrative in-text citations should include an author’s name and year of publication. A reference list entry should accompany them.
Do you need to include location information—typically a page or paragraph number—in an in-text citation for a paraphrase? Not necessarily. An APA Style Blog post titled “When and How to Include Page Numbers in APA Style Citations” clarifies when location information is necessary:
When you include a paraphrase in a paper, you are required to include only the author and date in the citation. You are encouraged (but not required) to also provide the page number (or other location information) for a paraphrased citation when it would help the reader locate the relevant passage in a long or complex text (such as when you use only a short part of a book). (Lee, 2015, para. 3)
Try It!
Directions:
- Review the criteria for an effective paraphrase:
- Synonyms are used where possible.
- New sentence structure and/or order is used.
- Original meaning is retained.
- Citation is included.
- Carefully read this line from “Forgiveness Story” by June Callwood (2007): “Apologies are iffy because they are often contrived or coerced” (para. 9).
- Decide whether each of the following paraphrases of Callwood’s words is acceptable or unacceptable. Use the criteria for an effective paraphrase to help you decide and state your rationale. Compare your responses to the model.
In this subtopic, you learned that
- paraphrasing is different from summarizing but has many similarities;
- a paraphrase should use distinct words and sentence order/structure;
- synonyms do not exist for all words; and
- a paraphrase is considered plagiarism if it is not correctly cited.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (n.d.). Avoiding plagiarism – paraphrasing. Academic integrity at MIT: A handbook for students.
https://integrity.mit.edu/handbook/academic-writing/avoiding-plagiarism-paraphrasing
Paraphrase. (n.d.). Excelsior College Online Writing Lab. https://owl.excelsior.edu/research/drafting-and-integrating/drafting-and-integrating-paraphrasing/
University College. (n.d.). Paraphrase and summary. https://www.uc.utoronto.ca/paraphrase
As illustrated in this example, it is not sufficient to just use synonyms to replace some words in the original. Just using synonyms would result in the sentence from step 3 above: It is difficult to discuss a simplified or stereotypical narrative if it does not include a discussion of influence and authority.
This is not an effective paraphrase since it is too close to the original. A paraphrase must use new sentence structure or order too, ensuring that it is fresh and unique while remaining true to the original line’s meaning.
Some words have multiple synonyms, so how do you choose the best one? This is where your understanding of the source’s meaning and context will come into play. In this example, synonyms for “single” include “sole” and “one.” However, given the context of the piece, the author is using the term “single” to refer to “stereotypical” or “oversimplified.” Given this, these words are better choices to replace “single.”