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• What is Paraphrasing? An Overview With Examples
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• James Prior
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• Updated February 23, 2024

What is paraphrasing? Or should I say what is the definition of paraphrasing? If you want to restate something using different words whilst retaining the same meaning, this is paraphrasing.

In this article, we cover what paraphrasing is, why it’s important, and when you should do it. Plus, some benefits and examples.

Table of Contents

Paraphrase Definition: What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is when you restate the information from a source using your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It involves expressing the ideas in a different way, often to clarify or simplify the content, without directly quoting the source.

When you paraphrase, you are not only borrowing, clarifying, or expanding on the information but also ensuring that you do all of these actions without plagiarizing the original content. It’s therefore definitely worth learning how to paraphrase if you want to improve your writing skills.

Why is Paraphrasing Important?

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill that allows you to convey information in your unique writing style while still giving credit to someone else’s ideas. It’s important for several reasons, and it serves various functions in both academic and professional writing.

Here are some key reasons why you should paraphrase:

• Paraphrasing allows you to present information from sources in your own words, reducing the risk of plagiarism. Proper in-text citation is still necessary, but paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding and interpretation of the material.
• When you paraphrase, you are required to comprehend the original content fully. You actively engage with the information, helping you better understand complex concepts and ideas. This process of restating the information in your own words showcases your understanding of the subject matter.
• By paraphrasing, you can clarify complex ideas or technical language and convey information in a clearer, shorter, and simpler form. This makes it more accessible to your audience and ensures they grasp the key points. This is particularly important when communicating with readers who may not be familiar with specialized terminology.
• Paraphrasing is valuable when synthesizing information from various sources. It enables you to blend ideas cohesively while maintaining a consistent writing style throughout your work.
• Paraphrasing allows you to inject your unique writing style and voice into the content. It helps you present information in a way that is more aligned with your personal expression and perspective.
• In certain situations where you need to meet specific length requirements for assignments or publications, paraphrasing allows you to convey information more concisely while still preserving the essential meaning.
• Paraphrasing helps maintain a smooth flow and cohesiveness in your writing. It allows you to integrate information seamlessly, avoiding abrupt shifts between your own ideas and those from external sources.
• Depending on your audience, you may need to adapt the language and level of technicality of the information you present. Paraphrasing allows you to tailor the content to suit the needs of your specific readership.

Incorporating paraphrasing into your writing not only showcases your understanding of the material but also enhances the overall quality and originality of your work.

When Should You Paraphrase?

Knowing when to paraphrase is an important skill, especially in academic writing and professional communication. Here are some situations in which you should consider paraphrasing:

• To Avoid Plagiarism:  Whenever you want to incorporate information from source material into your own work, but don’t want to use a direct quotation, paraphrasing is necessary to present the ideas in your own words while still acknowledging the original source.
• To Express Understanding:  Paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of a topic by rephrasing the information in a way that shows you have processed and comprehended the material.
• To Simplify Complex Information:  If you encounter complex or technical language that may be difficult for your audience to understand, paraphrasing can help you clarify and simplify the information to make it more accessible and digestible.
• To Integrate Multiple Sources:  When synthesizing information from multiple sources, paraphrasing allows you to blend the ideas cohesively while maintaining your own voice and perspective.
• To Maintain Consistency in Writing Style:  In academic writing or professional writing, paraphrasing can help you maintain a consistent writing style throughout your work. This helps to ensure that all sections flow smoothly and are coherent.
• To Meet Specific Requirements:  Some assignments or publications may have specific requirements. This could relate to the number of words or concern the use of direct quotations. In such cases, paraphrasing allows you to meet these requirements while still incorporating relevant information from your sources.

What Are the Benefits of Paraphrasing?

Rewriting information in a clearer, shorter, and simpler form is called paraphrasing, so one of the benefits of paraphrasing is already clear! However, it can also be a useful exercise for other reasons, which are outlined below:

Avoiding Plagiarism

One of the main benefits of paraphrasing is mastering the ability to present information from external sources in a way that is entirely your own. By restructuring the content and expressing it using your words, you create a distinct piece of writing that reflects your comprehension and interpretation of the original material. This not only showcases your academic or professional integrity but also safeguards against unintentional plagiarism.

Paraphrasing is a fundamental skill in academic and professional settings, where originality and proper attribution are highly valued. This is especially true when it comes to writing research papers, where you’ll often need to reference someone else’s ideas with appropriate citations.

When you paraphrase effectively, you communicate to your audience that you respect the intellectual property of others while contributing your unique insights. This ethical approach to information usage enhances your credibility as a writer or researcher and reinforces the integrity of your work.

Enhancing Understanding

When you engage in paraphrasing, you actively participate in the material you are working with. You are forced to consider the ideas presented in the source material. You need to discern the essential concepts, identify key phrases, and decide how best to convey the message in a way that resonates with you.

This active engagement not only aids in understanding the content but also encourages critical thinking as you evaluate and interpret the information from your own standpoint.

By expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words, you deepen your understanding of the content. This process requires you to dissect the original text, grasp its nuances, and then reconstruct it using your language and perspective. In this way, you go beyond mere memorization and truly internalize the information, fostering a more profound comprehension of the subject matter.

Tailoring Information for Your Audience

Paraphrasing empowers you to adapt the language and complexity of the information to suit the needs and understanding of your audience. As you rephrase the content, you have the flexibility to adjust the level of technicality, simplify complex terminology, or tailor the tone to make the information more accessible to your specific readership.

Consider your audience’s background, knowledge level, and interests. Paraphrasing allows you to bridge the gap between the original content and the understanding of your intended audience.

Whether you are communicating with experts in a particular field or a general audience, the ability to paraphrase ensures that the information is conveyed in a way that resonates with and is comprehensible to your readers. This skill not only facilitates effective communication but also demonstrates your awareness of the diverse needs of your audience.

Improves Writing Skills

Paraphrasing helps in the development and refinement of your writing skills. When you actively engage in the process of rephrasing someone else’s ideas, you hone your ability to express concepts in a clear, concise, and coherent manner.

This practice refines your language proficiency, encouraging you to explore different types of sentence structure, experiment with vocabulary, and ultimately develop a more sophisticated and nuanced writing style.

As you paraphrase, you gain a heightened awareness of grammar, syntax, and word choice. This translates into improved writing, helping you construct well-articulated sentences and paragraphs. Moreover, paraphrasing allows you to experiment with different writing tones and adapt your style to suit the context or purpose of your writing, fostering versatility and adaptability in your expression.

Saves Time and Energy

Paraphrasing can significantly reduce the time and energy spent on the writing process. Rather than grappling with the challenge of integrating lengthy direct quotations or struggling to find the perfect synonym, paraphrasing allows you to distill and convey information in a more streamlined way.

This becomes particularly advantageous when faced with strict deadlines. By mastering paraphrasing, you empower yourself to produce well-crafted, original content in a shorter timeframe, allowing you to meet deadlines without compromising the quality of your work.

Examples of Paraphrasing

Here are some examples of paraphrasing:

• Original:  “The advancements in technology have revolutionized the way we communicate with each other.”
• Paraphrased:  “Technological progress has transformed how we interact and communicate with one another.”
• Original:  “Deforestation poses a significant threat to global ecosystems and biodiversity.”
• Paraphrased:  “The impact of deforestation represents a substantial danger to ecosystems and the diversity of life on a global scale.”
• Original:  “Effective time management is essential for achieving productivity in both professional and personal spheres.”
• Paraphrased:  “Efficient management of time is crucial for attaining productivity in both professional and personal aspects of life.”
• Original:  “The restaurant offers a diverse selection of culinary choices, ranging from traditional dishes to modern fusion cuisine.”
• Paraphrased:  “The restaurant provides a variety of food options, including both traditional and modern fusion dishes.”
• Original:  “The novel explores the complexities of human relationships in a rapidly changing society.”
• Paraphrased:  “The book delves into the challenges of human connections in a fast-changing world.”
• Original:  “Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining optimal physical health and preventing various health issues.”
• Paraphrased:  “Exercising regularly is important for keeping your body healthy and avoiding health problems.”

In these examples, you can observe the use of different wording, sentence structure, and synonyms while preserving the core meaning of the original sentences. This is the essence of paraphrasing.

What Are the Differences Between Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing?

So, we’ve established that successful paraphrasing is a way of rewriting someone else’s words whilst retaining their meaning and still giving credit to the original author’s ideas. But how is this different from quoting and summarizing?

While paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing are all ways of incorporating information from source material into your own writing, there are key differences between them:

Paraphrasing

• Definition:  Paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else’s ideas or information in your own words while retaining the original meaning.
• Usage:  You use paraphrasing when you want to present the information in a way that suits your writing style or when you need to clarify complex ideas.
• Example:  Original: “The study found a significant correlation between sleep deprivation and decreased cognitive performance.” Paraphrased: “The research indicated a notable link between lack of sleep and a decline in cognitive function.”
• Definition:  Quoting involves directly using the exact words from a source and enclosing them in quotation marks.
• Usage:  You use quoting when the original wording is essential, either because of its precision or uniqueness, or when you want to highlight a specific phrase or concept.
• Example:  Original: “The author argues, ‘In the absence of clear guidelines, individual judgment becomes paramount in decision-making.'”

The use of quotation marks is vital when quoting.

Summarizing

• Definition:  Summarizing involves condensing the main ideas of a source or original passage in your own words, focusing on the most crucial points.
• Usage:  You use summarizing when you need to provide a concise overview of a longer piece of text or when you want to capture the key points without including all the details.
• Example:  Original: A lengthy article discussing various factors influencing climate change. Summary: “The article outlines key factors contributing to climate change, including human activities and natural processes.”

In summary, paraphrasing is about expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words, quoting involves directly using the original words, and summarizing is about condensing the main points of a source.

Each technique serves different purposes in writing and should be used based on your specific goals and the nature of the information you are incorporating. If you want to level up your writing skills you need to be able to do all three of these.

Conclusion (In Our Own Words)

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill with numerous benefits. It helps you understand complex ideas, refine your writing style, and demonstrate ethical information use. It also allows you to tailor information for different audiences and can save time in academic and professional writing.

So, if you want to incorporate information from external sources into your writing in a way that is clear, concise, and respectful of the original author’s work, it’s worth mastering the art of paraphrasing.

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• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Use Paraphrase

I. What is a Paraphrase?

A paraphrase (pronounced par – uh -freyz) is a restatement or rewording of a paragraph  or text,  in order to borrow, clarify, or expand on information without plagiarizing. Paraphrasing is an important tool to use when writing research papers, essays , and pieces of journalism.

II. Examples of Paraphrasing

For examples of paraphrasing, consider these possible re-wordings of the same statement:

She angered me with her inappropriate comments, rumor-spreading, and disrespectfulness at the formal dinner table.

She made me angry when she was rude at dinner.

This paraphrase is an example of a rewording which shortens and simplifies while maintaining the same meaning.

Her impoliteness, gossiping, and general lack of respect at dinner infuriated me.

This rephrasing maintains the same meaning but is rearranged in a creative way.

I was mad when she started spreading rumors, making inappropriate comments, and disrespecting other guests at our dinner.

Another paraphrase, this rewording properly and interestingly rearranges the information provided in the original sentence.

III. Types of Paraphrasing

A. change of parts of speech.

Parts of speech ranging from verbs and nouns to adjectives and adverbs are replaced with new parts of speech in this type of paraphrasing. Here is an example:

Original Sentence:

The boy quickly ran across the finish line, seizing yet another victory.

Paraphrase:

The quick boy seized yet another victory when he ran across the finish line.

In this example, many parts of speech are changed: the adverb quickly becomes the adjective quick, and the verb phrase with the gerund seizing becomes the verb seized.

B.  Change of Structure

This type of paraphrasing involves changing the sentence’s structure, sometimes creating a passive voice from an active voice and vice versa. The change in structure can be used to reflect the writer’s interpretation of the original quote. Here is an example of change of structure paraphrasing:

Puppies were adopted by numerous kind souls at the puppy drive.

Many kind souls adopted puppies during the puppy drive.

In this example, the object of the sentence (kind souls) becomes the subject with an active voice (adopted) rather than a passive voice (were adopted).

C. Reduction of Clauses

Reduction of clauses paraphrases reduce the number of clauses in a sentence, which can be interruptive or confusing, by incorporating the phrases into the sentence. Here is an example of reduction of clauses paraphrasing:

While I understand where you’re coming from, and truly respect your opinion, I wish you would express yourself more clearly, like Clara does.

I understand where you’re coming from and respect your opinion, but I wish you would be more like Clara and express yourself more clearly.

D. Synonym Replacement

Synonym replacement paraphrasing is one of the simplest forms of paraphrasing: replacing words with similar words, or synonyms. Here is an example:

The older citizens were honored with a parade for those once in the military.

Senior citizens were honored with a march for veterans.

In this example, many synonyms are used: older citizens are senior citizens, a parade becomes a march, and those once in the military refers to veterans.

IV. The Importance of Using Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is a way of referencing a source without directly quoting it or of further explaining a selected quote. Correct paraphrasing is important in that poor paraphrasing can result in accusations of plagiarism, or copying from a source without correctly citing it. Paraphrasing allows writers to examine the meaning of others’ work, creatively rephrase their statements, and craft information to suit an essay or composition’s goal or focus.

V. Paraphrase in Literature

Paraphrasing can be found in a variety of journalistic sources from newspapers to film documentaries to literary journals. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in literature:

Someone once wrote that musicians are touched on the shoulder by God, and I think it’s true. You can make other people happy with music, but you can make yourself happy too.

In John Berendt’s nonfiction novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , a character references what someone has once written by paraphrasing their message.

I’m going to paraphrase Thoreau here… rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness… give me truth.

In this example from the nonfiction novel Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer paraphrases Thoreau’s larger message of transcendence.

So far, Laurance’s critiques of new road-building schemes have been well received, but he expects that to change.

In Michelle Nijhuis’ article “What Roads Have Wrought,” William Laurance is paraphrased rather than quoted to express his general viewpoint.

VI. Paraphrase in Pop Culture

Paraphrasing is often found in pop culture when attempting to translate the language of older plays, poems, and stories, such as Shakespeare’s works. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in pop culture:

10 Things I Hate About You (1999):

Just a minor encounter with the shrew… the mewling, rampalian wretch herself.

In the modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew , many characters ’ lines paraphrase Shakespeare’s originals. Here is Shakespeare’s version:

A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.

A Different World: Romeo, Oh Romeo

First, the student reads Shakespeare’s original words:

Oh gentle Romeo. If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. Or if thou thinkest I’m too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, so thou wilt woo.

Then, she paraphrases to translate its meaning for modern ears:

It’s all about translation. Oh, sweet thang Romeo. If you think I’m all that, then step to me correctly. But if you think I’m a skeeze, I’ll be dissin’ and dismissin’, then you’ll be workin’ overtime getting’ me back.

VII. Related Terms

Like paraphrases, summaries are rewordings of original statements. Whereas paraphrases are precise and specific, summaries are brief and selective. Summaries report main points in a shortened version of the original, whereas paraphrases simply restate the original statement in a new way. Here is an example of summary versus paraphrase:

Original Statement:

At the party we had delicious red punch, a bunch of different appetizers, and a cookout. Since it was at the park, we played volleyball, went swimming, and sunbathed for fun.

At the party we enjoyed food and drink and various outdoor activities.

Here, the summary purposefully shortens the original statement while covering its major points.

At the party we drank some punch, ate a handful of appetizers, and had a cookout. The park allowed us to enjoy a number of enjoyable activities from volleyball to swimming to sunbathing.

As this example shows, the paraphrase rephrases the original statement and keeps more of its original content than the summary.

Translation

Although paraphrase sometimes translates difficult phrasing into more understandable phrasing, it is not literally considered translation. For something to be a translation, it must change writing in one language to another language. Here is an example of translation versus paraphrasing:

Original Phrase:

That’s life.

Translation into French:

C’est la vie.

That’s just how life goes sometimes.

Although we loosely may refer to paraphrase as translating ideas, technically it is not a tool of translation.

VIII. In Closing

Paraphrasing is an important tool for nonfiction writers, journalists, and essayists alike. It is a common proponent of news and reporting. Correct paraphrasing protects writers from plagiarism and allows them to creatively rephrase original works, incorporating them into their own compositions.

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[ par - uh -freyz ]

• a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.
• the act or process of restating or rewording.

verb (used with object)

to paraphrase a technical paper for lay readers.

Synonyms: explain , summarize

verb (used without object)

• to make a paraphrase or paraphrases.

/ ˈpærəˌfreɪz; ˌpærəˈfræstɪk /

• an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify
• the practice of making paraphrases
• to put (something) into other words; restate (something)
• A restatement of speech or writing that retains the basic meaning while changing the words. A paraphrase often clarifies the original statement by putting it into words that are more easily understood.

Derived Forms

• paraphrastic , adjective

Other Words From

• para·phrasa·ble adjective
• para·phraser noun
• mis·para·phrase verb misparaphrased misparaphrasing
• un·para·phrased adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paraphrase 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

When Obsessive Loser Duncan Stevens suggested examples for this contest — one of several Shakespeare-centered challenges he’s proposed — I told him that I wanted to stick to modern paraphrases, rather than taking him humorously out of context.

To paraphrase Peter Tosh, if Illinois were to legalize it, would you advertise it?

To paraphrase the renegade philosopher Hannibal, I love it when science comes together.

To paraphrase Fox Friends, don't get caught beating women on camera and you're safe to play in the NFL.

Barry Goldwater is not the sort of man you might expect Stephen F. Cohen to paraphrase.

To paraphrase the great John Oliver, listen up, fellow self-pitying nerd boys—we are not the victims here.

A man may weep and weep, to paraphrase Shakespeare, "and be a villain!"

The omissions are the most sensible that I have found in a paraphrase.

This is not paraphrase; it is sheer misapprehension of the Old English.

As the language in which it is written is not easily intelligible, I have added a paraphrase on the opposite pages.

Instead of "Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion," we have the paraphrase, "That maketh and transformeth all things."

More About Paraphrase

What does paraphrase mean.

A paraphrase is a restatement of a text in your own words while giving credit to the person who originated the thought. For example, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” You might paraphrase it in an essay by writing, “To paraphrase FDR, we have nothing to be afraid of, and we can’t let fear hold us back.”

To paraphrase means to restate something in your own words. You might paraphrase complicated information in order to make it easier for your audience to understand. You also might paraphrase something when you can’t remember or can’t verify the exact wording. It’s important to remember that you still need to credit the originator of the statement you’re paraphrasing .

Example: If you cannot remember the exact quote, you can paraphrase with precise detail.

Where does paraphrase come from?

The first records of the term paraphrase come from the mid-1500s. It ultimately comes from the Greek paráphrasis . Typically, the suffix para – means “side by side,” so a paraphrase is a “side by side phrase,” or “a phrase that means the same but looks or sounds different.”

Sometimes, people will paraphrase famous quotes, quotes from important figures, or quotes from research and change key parts of it or the overall wording to make the quote seem like it supports their claim when, in fact, it does not. For example, someone may paraphrase a quote from a research article but leave out certain details to make the research support their argument while the actual quote might not. When looking at an argument that uses a lot of paraphrases as evidence, it’s a good idea to find the original quotes to see if they truly support the argument.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to paraphrase ?

• paraphrasable (adjective)
• paraphraser (noun)
• misparaphrase (verb)
• unparaphrased (adjective)

What are some synonyms for paraphrase ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with paraphrase ? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing paraphrase ?

How is paraphrase used in real life?

News, research, and academic writing often use paraphrasing to tell their stories.

To paraphrase: How long does it take to write a screenplay? Your whole life plus the time it takes to type it. — Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) November 8, 2015

FAQ: How many in-text citations do I need in a paragraph when I am paraphrasing (e.g., after every sentence or just once at the end)? A: The “Long Paraphrases” section of this #APAStyle page has practical guidelines and examples: https://t.co/eH9tg2nf4M — APA Style (@APA_Style) December 1, 2021

to paraphrase shigeru miyamoto, a delayed album is eventually good, but a rushed album is forever bad — xander (@mura_masa_) December 30, 2015

Try using paraphrase !

True or False?

To paraphrase someone is to quote their words precisely.

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How to paraphrase (including examples)

Jessica Malnik

Paraphrasing has gotten a bad reputation due to its association with plagiarism . However, when used correctly, paraphrasing has the potential to elevate your writing and give you a better understanding of the research.

In this post, we’ll discuss what paraphrasing is, why we do it, and 6 steps to walk you through the process. We’ll also share what not to do with paraphrasing, along with some examples.

Paraphrasing definition and rules

Paraphrasing is simply a way of summarizing someone else’s content in your own words. When you paraphrase, you keep the meaning or intent of the original work without copying it word for word. However, paraphrasing can quickly become a form of plagiarism if done incorrectly. This is why it’s crucial to follow the rules of paraphrasing.

When borrowing the ideas from someone else’s content, there’s one important rule to follow: you must correctly cite your source. This can be done in a number of ways depending on the style guide you use. 

Source citing is different for MLA and APA formatting and style guides. You’ll need to familiarize yourself with the citation formats for whichever one you follow. However, in some cases, simply hyperlinking the source will be sufficient.

Why do we paraphrase?

There are a number of reasons that professional writers and students alike choose to paraphrase content. Here are just a few of the common reasons that a writer would choose to paraphrase instead of including a quote or summarization.

Process information better 

One benefit of paraphrasing is that it helps you process the author’s ideas. When you have to rewrite the material in your own words, it makes you really think about the context and how it fits into your piece. If you want to really understand the material you’re citing, try rewriting it. If you were to quote the same information, you would miss out on the benefit of analyzing the source material.

For example, if you are writing a research paper all about Shakespeare’s influence on modern-day literature, you don’t want to just use a ton of direct quotes, instead by paraphrasing original passages, it can help you comprehend and analyze the material better.  

Improve your credibility with readers

You can also improve your credibility by association with the sources you decide to paraphrase. 

When you rewrite the material, you create a connection between your content and the knowledge from the source. 

Your audience will have a better understanding of the direction of your piece if you’re paraphrasing a reputable source with established authority on the subject.

Present data in an interesting way

If you’re referencing a data-heavy webpage or study, then paraphrasing is an engaging way to present the information in your own writing style. 

This allows you to tell a story with the source material instead of simply citing numbers or graphs.

Show that you understand the source

Another reason for paraphrasing that’s particularly important in academic writing is to demonstrate that you’ve read and comprehended the source material. 

For example, if all of you are doing is copying and pasting the original words of a textbook, you aren’t really learning anything new. When you summarize the material in your own words, it helps you to understand the material faster.  

How to paraphrase in 6 steps

Paraphrasing is simple when you break it down into a series of steps. 

Here are the 6 steps you can use to paraphrase your sources:

1. Choose a reputable source

First, you need to pick a credible source to paraphrase. A credible source will likely have ideas and concepts that are worth repeating. Be sure to research the author’s name and publisher’s credentials and endorsements (if applicable).

You’ll also want to check the date of the publication as well to make sure it’s current enough to include in your writing.

2. Read and re-read the source material

You want to be sure that you understand the context and information in the original source before you can begin to rework it into your own words. Read through it as many times as you need so you’re sure that you grasp the meaning.

3. Take some notes 

Once you have an understanding of the passage, you’ll want to jot down your initial thoughts. 

What are the key concepts in the source material? 

What are the most interesting parts? 

For this part, it helps to break up the content into different sections. This step will give you a sort of mini-outline before you proceed with rephrasing the material.

4. Write a rough draft

Write your version of the content without looking at the original source material. This part is important. 

With the source hidden, you’ll be less likely to pull phrasing and structure from the original. You are welcome to reference your notes, though. This will help you write the content in your own words without leaning on the source but still hit the key points you want to cover.

5. Compare and revise

Once you have your initial draft written, you should look at it side by side with the original source. Adjust as needed to ensure your version is written in a way that’s unique to your voice. 

This is a good time to break out a thesaurus if you notice you have used too many of the same words as the original source.

6. Cite your source

Whether you use MLA, APA, Chicago, or another style guide, now is the time to give proper credit to the original author or source. When posting content online, you may only need to hyperlink to the original source.

Keep in mind that the paraphrased text will not change depending on the citation style that you follow. It will just change how it’s cited.

What you shouldn’t do when paraphrasing

Now that you understand the process of paraphrasing and can follow the steps, it’s important that you know what to avoid. When paraphrasing, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Do NOT write while you’re still researching

You might be tempted to start writing during the research phase. However, this sets you up to miss information or restate the copy too closely to the source material. Be sure to do your research first, take notes, and then start writing the piece.

2. Do NOT skip the citations

When you pull a small amount of information from a paraphrased source, you may think you don’t need to cite it. However, any idea or copy that’s taken from another source is considered plagiarism if you don’t give it credit, even if it is only a little bit of information.

Paraphrasing examples

Here are some examples to help you understand what paraphrasing looks like when done correctly and incorrectly

Excerpt from LinkedIn’s Official Blog:

“When reaching out to connect with someone, share a personalized message telling the person why you would like to connect. If it’s someone you haven’t been in touch with in a while, mention a detail to jog that person’s memory for how you met, reinforce a mutual interest and kickstart a conversation.”

Here’s another example. This one is from the U.S. Department of Education:

“ The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit educational institutions and/or programs. However, the Department provides oversight over the postsecondary accreditation system through its review of all federally-recognized accrediting agencies. The Department holds accrediting agencies accountable by ensuring that they enforce their accreditation standards effectively. ”

Here’s one more example to show you how to paraphrase using a quote from Mark Twain as the source material:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.”

Paraphrasing can be a beneficial tool for any writer. It can give you credibility and a deeper understanding of the topic. However, to successfully use paraphrasing, you must be careful to properly cite your sources and effectively put the material into your own words each time.

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Paraphrasing Explained: Definition, Techniques, and Examples for Effective Writing

Table of contents

While researching for your article or essay, you might have encountered a sentence or a paragraph that's so intriguing that you thought you must include it in your content! But you can't use those exact words, right?

Well, paraphrasing is the way to do that. However, the idea is not to steal someone's content but to capitalize on it by drafting a much better version while adding your input and research.

You can always have your own piece written and make it more intuitive to your audience while using the original one as a reference.

'It's easier said than done'

'Although the idea sounds like a good one in theory, it will still be difficult to actually execute it.'

Both the above sentences have similar meanings, but they appear different. That's a classic example of paraphrasing.

But how do you paraphrase while keeping the essence of the original sentence intact and still not plagiarising?

That calls for some tips and tricks! And here, we have got you covered.

In this blog, we will explain what is paraphrasing, why you might need to paraphrase, how to paraphrase, and the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing.

Let's dive in.

Table Of Contents

What is paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing is the process of restructuring or tweaking a paragraph so that it represents the same meaning or idea from the original statement but with different sentence construction, choice of words, formats, or, possibly, tone or voice.

It means making the meaning clearer, especially in a shorter and simpler form, along with your thoughts/comments. In addition to borrowing, clarifying, or expanding on information and your comments, paraphrasing is doing all the above-stated actions without plagiarizing the information.

Why do people paraphrase?

There are several reasons why people paraphrase. Following are some of the reasons for paraphrasing.

• Paraphrasing helps avoid plagiarism.
• It also provides support for claims or adds credibility to the writing.
• It demonstrates your understanding and provides an alternative method to using indirect and direct quotes in your own words (referenced) infrequently.
• Paraphrasing in academic research helps utilize source material for writing essays, providing evidence that the essay is appropriately referenced.
• Paraphrasing in writing helps you ensure that you use sources to communicate something important to your readers.

What is paraphrasing plagiarism?

Plagiarism is stealing someone else’s ideas without acknowledgment. Plagiarism can come in several forms: global, verbatim, patchwork, paraphrase, and self-plagiarism. However, apart from global plagiarism, other types of plagiarism are often accidental.

Although paraphrasing is accepted , rephrasing sentences or paraphrasing someone else’s idea without citing or acknowledging is considered paraphrasing plagiarism. Even when translating someone else’s words, if the translated text from another language is not cited, this is also a type of paraphrasing plagiarism.

How to paraphrase?

When it comes to paraphrasing, you can either do it manually or use an AI-powered tool like Writesonic to rephrase your content. While we will guide you through both processes, here is how to paraphrase with Writesonic Content Rephraser.

Check out the steps below:

• Log in to Writesonic or sign up (if you haven't already done so!).
• Search for Content Rephrase and select the tool from the results.

• On the Content Rephrase v2 window, put the text in the Content box.
• Select the Words Length from the drop-down for the rephrased content.
• Select your Brand Voice / Tone of Voice from the list.
• Finally, hit the Generate button.

If you are not satisfied with the output received, simply click on the Regenerate button.

If you want, you can also paraphrase manually without using any tool.  Here is a guide on different techniques to paraphrase effectively,

What is the difference between summarizing and paraphrasing?

Summarizing is a concise statement that briefs the contents of the passage. On the other hand, paraphrasing is just rewriting sentences using your own words. In fact, there is more than one difference between summarizing and paraphrasing.

Check out the comparison chart to learn the differences between summarizing and paraphrasing, besides their definition.

Top 5 tips and tricks to follow while paraphrasing

Following are 5 digestible paraphrasing tips you can incorporate when paraphrasing your sentences.

Identify the important parts

You can't paraphrase until you understand the meaning! In fact, paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of the original material. Thus, read the original content until you get enough ideas to explain it in your own words.

Once you have the original concept, reduce it to the key points, and don't focus on the sentence structures at the start. Another way to rewrite or reword the source without losing your key points is to use a paraphrasing tool .

Change up the words

Change the words using synonyms while noting down the concepts or key points. However, if you face writer's block and can’t find the right words, which can make your content incompetent, use rewording tools .

AI rewording tools can come up with synonyms, organize your phrases, and enhance your sentence structure. Moreover, an AI wording tool ensures the content is unique, original, and plagiarism-free.

Make sure meaning is preserved

Although paraphrasing requires rewording and changing the words, ensure that the same meaning must be maintained along with the ideas. In addition to that, keep your word choices lucid and simple to convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original source.

One way to keep your writing consistent when paraphrasing is by using paraphrasing tools. The AI tool can alter the sentence structure while maintaining the original meaning.

Double-check for grammar and punctuation

When paraphrasing, double-check and compare the paraphrased copy with the original passage. Make adjustments to ensure it’s completely rewritten. Also, make sure that the grammar and punctuation are correct.

Double-checking your work for grammar and punctuation by reviewing it more than once improves its quality. Paragraph rewriters use AI for paraphrasing, which can tweak the tonality and narrative, ensure a grammar check, and make the content concise and conceivable.

Use an online paraphrasing tool like Writesonic

As stated previously in the article, using a paraphrasing tool is the fastest way to paraphrase your sources without plagiarizing them. One such creative AI writing tool that assists you with paraphrasing is Writesonic .

Writesonic is trained on billions of parameters. It refines the grammar, spelling, and style to generate original, paraphrased content. In addition to that, Writesonic generates unique and plagiarism-free content that resonates with the target audience with just one click.

With AI chatbots like ChatGPT by Open AI and ChatSonic by Writesonic taking away all the limelight, they can also be used effectively for paraphrasing text.

Different strategies for paraphrasing

Even though there are AI paraphrasing tools to make the work easier, the following are different strategies you can use to paraphrase your sentence.

Understanding the main ideas

One of the strategies for successful paraphrasing is understanding the source's main idea and writing style. When you understand the idea behind the sentence, it becomes easier to explain in your own words.

After taking note of the important nouns and verbs, see which synonyms might be appropriate to replace. You can use a synonym that expresses the same meaning for the key concepts or points in the original sentence.

Making connections

When you use synonyms, it is given that the structure may also need a little changing. So, instead of just swapping a single word, make appropriate changes around the words to make sense of the sentence. Here, your paraphrasing skills come into play.

Here is an example of paraphrasing: “ According to scientists, there is another method to achieve a pollution-free environment.”

The paraphrased content would say something like - “Scientists found an alternate way to attain a pollution-free environment.”

In the above sentence, the adjective ‘according to’ is swapped with the verb ‘found’ along with other necessary changes. These changes are made to maintain a harmonious connection between the words and to make the sentence sensible while retaining its meaning and avoiding plagiarism.

Focusing on syntax

The syntax is the arrangement of words in a specific order written in well-formed phrases or sentences. While paraphrasing is about restating or rewording, ensure to focus on the well-structured and grammatically correct sentences by making appropriate connections or paraphrases.

Benefits of paraphrasing

Paraphrasing has some benefits that you can reap in aspects of your writing skills and learning abilities.

Improves writing skills

Paraphrasing requires you to change the passages in your own words, which may help refurbish your writing skills. Rewriting or paraphrasing is essential in writing essays or research papers.

Paraphrasing allows you to express ideas or information with a fresh set of words to make the same thing sound more interesting or even simpler. You can see paraphrasing as an opportunity to enhance your writing skills without plagiarizing someone else’s work. This includes rewriting and expressing the ideas in your own voice.

Increases comprehension

Comprehension is understanding the written material and explaining what is read. At the same time, paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of the complex details from the source and your ability to explain the connections between main points. Therefore, it's obvious that you can comprehend a text better when you paraphrase it.

Moreover, it was found that paraphrasing for comprehension is an excellent tool for reinforcing reading skills. It can assist by identifying the main ideas, finding supporting details, and identifying the original author's voice.

So when you rewrite the sentence in your own words, you can double-check your comprehension. This helps improve your awareness and allows you to gain a better understanding of the content, and allows you to write better.

Enhances understanding

To paraphrase words or phrases, you must extract their meaning by reading the material again and again and fully understanding the context. This allows the reader to understand the original statement more clearly by adding more clarity to it. So, when you paraphrase the original phrase, you articulate your thoughts and ideas more clearly and come up with new insights and perspectives on the topic.

Saves time & energy

Creating content from scratch is difficult and requires much time and energy. It requires you to do proper research, which is both time and energy-consuming.

An easy solution to the painstaking process is paraphrasing your sentence with appropriate citations. This will allow you to create the content without spending much time on research and ideation, saving much of your time and energy.

Helps avoid plagiarism

Among all the benefits, the most favorable benefit of paraphrasing is that it helps you avoid the accusation of plagiarism. You are simply committing plagiarism (an offense as stated by the federal government) when you use the same idea and speech from the original text, word by word.

However, by rewording the original source, you can present the ideas in your own words and easily avoid plagiarism. What’s more, paraphrasing can save you in both accidental and deliberate cases of plagiarism.

Paraphrasing examples

Now that we have known all about paraphrasing, its reasons for use, and its benefits, let’s look at some examples of paraphrasing and how exactly you can paraphrase.

#1 Example of Paraphrasing

#2 Example of Paraphrasing

Final Words

Once you grasp the concept of paraphrasing, it can be a powerful tool for writers. It provides several benefits in aspects of writing and learning skills. The correct way and right use of paraphrasing can protect writers from accusations of plagiarism.

However, note that successful and correct paraphrasing requires the use of multiple techniques each time. So, it is not sufficient to simply replace the keywords or the main concepts with synonyms.

One of the easiest ways to reword the original source is by using an AI writing tool. Writesonic is a well-known AI paraphrasing tool that can refine grammar, spelling, and style to generate original plagiarism-free AI content .

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• How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 1, 2023.

Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.

Paraphrasing is an alternative to  quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.

Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism .

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Table of contents

How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs. quoting, paraphrasing vs. summarizing, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing.

If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.

Incorrect paraphrasing

You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for  synonyms .

Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).

This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:

• “Advancement and contamination” doesn’t really convey the same meaning as “development and pollution.”
• Sometimes the changes make the tone less academic: “home” for “habitat” and “sea creatures” for “marine animals.”
• Adding phrases like “inhabiting the vicinity of” and “puts pressure on” makes the text needlessly long-winded.
• Global warming is related to climate change, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.

Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism .

Correct paraphrasing

Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.

Here, we’ve:

• Only included the information that’s relevant to our argument (note that the paraphrase is shorter than the original)
• Introduced the information with the signal phrase “Scientists believe that …”
• Retained key terms like “development and pollution,” since changing them could alter the meaning
• Structured sentences in our own way instead of copying the structure of the original
• Started from a different point, presenting information in a different order

Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.

Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.

• Journal article
• Newspaper article
• Magazine article

Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.

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It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:

• Paraphrasing shows that you fully understand the meaning of a text
• Your own voice remains dominant throughout your paper
• Quotes reduce the readability of your text

But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:

• Giving a precise definition
• Saying something about the author’s language or style (e.g., in a literary analysis paper)
• Providing evidence in support of an argument
• Critiquing or analyzing a specific claim

A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.

When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing .

Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.

When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism .

This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.

Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.

To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
• Critical thinking

 Plagiarism

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Common knowledge

To paraphrase effectively, don’t just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:

• Reformulating the sentence (e.g., change active to passive , or start from a different point)
• Combining information from multiple sentences into one
• Leaving out information from the original that isn’t relevant to your point
• Using synonyms where they don’t distort the meaning

The main point is to ensure you don’t just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.

Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .

As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.

Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.

So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?

• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don’t properly credit the original author.
• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead.
• Paraphrasing  is not plagiarism if you put the author’s ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source .

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To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It’s appropriate to quote when:

• Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text
• You want to discuss the author’s language choices (e.g., in literary analysis )
• You’re presenting a precise definition
• You’re looking in depth at a specific claim

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2023, June 01). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-paraphrase/

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Encyclopedia

Writing with artificial intelligence, chapter: paraphrasing.

January 18, 2020

Paraphrasing – How to Paraphrase with Clarity & Concision

What Is a Paraphrase? Paraphrase refers to the act of rephrasing a specific part of someone’s spoken or written words, especially in a way that might be shorter or simpler, while ensuring the original meaning remains intact. Paraphrase involves more than just changing individual words with synonyms, altering sentence structure, or reordering sentences. It requires ...

June 25, 2012

When to Paraphrase

Academic writing requires authors to connect information from outside sources to their own ideas in order to establish credibility and produce an effective argument.

Sometimes, the rules surrounding source integration and plagiarism may seem confusing, so many new writers err on the side of caution by using the simplest form of integration: direct quotation. However, using direct quotes is not always the best way to use a source. Paraphrasing or summarizing a text is sometimes a more effective means of supporting a writer’s argument than directly quoting. Taking into consideration the purpose of their own writing and the purpose of utilizing the outside source, authors should seek to vary the ways in which they work sources into their own writing.

March 20, 2010

Double-Entry Response Format

The double-entry format is a useful technique to help you extend your thinking about a source or to critique an rhetor’s text. One very effective technique for avoiding note-bound prose is to respond to powerful quotations in what  Ann Berthoff calls the double-entry notebook form. The double-entry form shows the direct quotation on the left ...

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Definition of paraphrase

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of paraphrase  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Did you know?

When we paraphrase, we provide a version that can exist beside the original (rather than replace it). We paraphrase all the time. When you tell a friend what someone else has said, you're almost always paraphrasing, since you're not repeating the exact words. If you go to hear a talk, you might paraphrase the speaker's main points afterward for your friends. And when writing a paper on a short story, you might start off your essay with a paraphrase of the plot. Paraphrasing is especially useful when dealing with poetry, since poetic language is often difficult and poems may have meanings that are hard to pin down.

• restatement
• translating
• translation

Examples of paraphrase in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paraphrase.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Noun and Verb

Middle French, from Latin paraphrasis , from Greek, from paraphrazein to paraphrase, from para- + phrazein to point out

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Dictionary Entries Near paraphrase

paraphrasis

Cite this Entry

“Paraphrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paraphrase. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of paraphrase.

Kids Definition of paraphrase  (Entry 2 of 2)

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Paraphrase Theatre - An Overview

1 para·phrase    \ˈper-ə-ˌfrāz,ˈpa-rə-\ noun  – A restatement of the meaning of a text or passage using other words, phrases and language.

verb   –  To communicate eternal truths in fresh and faithful ways.

Paraphrase Theatre is the result of Jonathan Swenson’s life-long quest to combine his Christian faith with his love of drama and the arts. Through innovative drama, teaching, preaching and group interaction, Jonathan strives to share Biblical stories and truth in fresh and relevant ways.

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Term Collaborative Sets Study Sessions Flashcard Pages About FlashcardMachine Support Form Privacy Policy Terms of Use Getting Started Apple App Store Google Play Amazon Apps Advanced Paraphrasing Tool Elevate your writing with our free and ai-powered paraphraser. instantly correct or rephrase your sentences in different tones., paraphrasing tool, please rewrite my sentence, what is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is the art of rewriting text into other words. This includes using synonyms, restructuring phrases, and connecting ideas in different ways. A state-of-the-art paraphraser provides automatic and simple-to-use rephrasing of complete sentences. Why Should I Paraphrase My Sentences? By paraphrasing existing sentences, you can elevate your writing and achieve different goals as a writer. That’s why rephrasing is helpful in plenty of cases: rewriting citations, strengthening the message of your text, and rewording your ideas while improving style. 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Current Issue Author Guidelines Call for Papers Advertising Information Go to Theatre Journal Volume 33, Number 3, November 2023 What's Up Next Volume 33, Number 1, March 2023 Volume 33, Number 2, July 2023 Volume 32, Number 3, November 2022 Volume 32; Number 2, July 2022 Volume 32; Number 1, March 2022 Volume 31, Number 3, November 2021 Volume 31, Number 2, July 2021 Volume 31, Number 1, March 2021 Volume 30, Number 3, November 2020 Volume 30, Issue 2, July 2020 Volume 30, Number 1, March 2020 Volume 29, Number 3, November 2019 Volume 29, Number 2, July 2019 Volume 29, Number 1, March 2019 Volume 28 Number 3, November 2018 New Online Editor: Margherita Laera THEATRE TOPICS CFP: Special Issue on Graduate Education Shining a Light on Latinx Theatre: A Podcast with Editor Gwendolyn Alker The Wikiturgy Project Continues New Theatre Topics Co-Editor: Noe Montez Come see us at ATHE Theatre Topics Theatre Topics Volume 27 Number 3 Best Practices for Selecting a Translated Script: A Dramaturg’s Manifesto Translators often refer to their work as a labor of love, but too often we, as theatre educators, practitioners, and audiences, are blind to the intensive labor inherent in the translation of a script. Each source text, or the text in the language of its first conception, contains a world built from the various lexical elements that emerge from an author’s individual language and culture. A translator is responsible for transforming the source text into a target text, rendering this world into a different language for a different culture, all while maintaining the essence of the source text. Translations make up nearly 70 percent of the texts of my own theatre history courses, and they regularly appear on stages at high schools, universities, and community and professional theatres. When selecting a translation for academic purposes or production, being able to identify the labor of the translator is integral to the success of any project. Educators are often restricted to using curriculum-approved anthologies, where translations are preselected for reasons that are not always apparent. It is essential to be aware that because the plays included in anthologies are typically staples of the canon, there are multiple translations available for most, if not all, of the source texts. As directors and dramaturgs we do not have the legal luxury of cutting and pasting several translations together to create a single, desirable text for the stage, and very often a translation is chosen because of the renown of the translator. Are you more likely to pack a theatre with a production of Mother Courage and Her Children translated by Tony Kushner, or by someone else whose name does not even appear on the title page? Our audiences expect a certain product in this instance, when the labor is visible because of the translator’s reputation. But what, if anything, do we expect when that same labor is invisible? As educators and practitioners we must know how to make the labor of the “unknown” translator as visible as that of the known translator in order to select a script that will serve our project’s best interests. Through my work with Carol Maier, professor emeritus of translation at Kent State University, during a 2015 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute titled “What Is Gained in Translation?” I have developed a process for educators and dramaturgs that outlines the best practices for selecting a translated text. Used in conjunction with standard dramaturgical research, these guidelines can help to make the translator’s labor more visible and facilitate the translated script-selection process for the classroom and the stage. The following set of best practices outlines a process that is rigorous, perhaps more rigorous than those who are seeking a translated script are willing or able to undertake. But we must keep in mind how comprehensive the process should be, so that if one must forgo an exhaustive investigation due to time or resource constraints, these best practices can still be at the forefront of consciousness during the process. Acknowledge Your Expectations Our first responsibility in selecting a translated script is to be aware of our own expectations where translation is concerned. These expectations can affect how we approach target texts, as Maier clarifies: “This is not to suggest that one’s preferences be set aside, but it is to suggest that they be held in abeyance as options are reviewed” (2010, 12). For instance, I may use Eric Bentley’s translation of Mother Courage in a theatre history class because of his facility with the German language and attention to the historical and linguistic conventions of the source text. However, I may be more inclined to use Kushner’s version if I am directing Mother Courage , because of its contemporary feel and rhythm. I may be hesitant to consider his translation of Mother Courage in a theatre history class, because Kushner has admitted in interviews that his German is “not good” and the translation process was more artistic than literal (Kalb). Understanding what you expect from a translation in any given situation is the first step in making an informed final decision. I incorporate “acknowledge your expectations” into my dramaturgy students’ daily practice, but the next two directives from Maier are at the heart of a student project designed to reveal the labor inherent in translation, and to acquaint students with the work we must do as dramaturgs when selecting a translated script. The ultimate goal of the project, which can be tailored for intermediate to advanced students, is to choose a single translation that they will recommend for a given production. They create a website that details their elimination process, from an initial broad selection of translations to a final rationale for the selected script. As a case study for the project, I created a sample website that begins to demonstrate the process of script selection for a production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters . Examples from my website (http://translatordfile.weebly.com) will follow in this note from the field to illustrate Maier’s concepts and their application to playtexts. Consider the  Purpose It is easy to label a target text as a “bad translation” or “good translation,” but if we are aware of our expectations and also consider the purpose of any given target text, as Maier recommends, we are more likely to see the value of target texts that we may have previously rejected. Maier reminds us to “[r]emember that no translation occurs in a vacuum” (2010, 14). My dramaturgy students must strive to understand why playwrights created their texts in the first place. Why was the play relevant to that era’s audiences, and why is it relevant to our audiences now? One can imagine similarly framed questions on the lips of a translator: Why do we need this translated text now? Why is it relevant to these readers? The number of reasons why a source text is translated is as great as the number of working translators: a Pulitzer Prize–winner is quickly translated into multiple European languages to boost exposure; a classic receives a translation every thirty years to keep it fresh and contemporary; a target text emerges to enrich the literature of a dying language; a translator falls in love with an obscure source text and translates it for her own satisfaction. Considering the purpose of a target text allows for a more generous consideration of its inherent qualities, and then we are better able to discern how appropriate it would be for our own project. On the sample website for the Three Sisters project, I first made an admittedly not-exhaustive list of possible target texts and the purpose of each translation. Among the texts listed are Julius West’s 1915 translation found on Project Gutenberg, Constance Garnett’s 1916 translation, Curt Columbus’s 2005 translation for Strawdog Theatre Company in Chicago, and Laurence Senelick’s academic translation from 2007. Because the goal of the project is for students to select a single script for a particular production, they can begin to eliminate particular translations based on the needs of that production. Depending on the skill level of the students, they can create these conditions themselves or the instructor can set parameters. In the sample website I determined the limitations of my investigation by deciding that as part of my elimination rationale, I would only consider translations from the last twenty-five years and rule out any target texts found in the public domain, so as to focus on a translator of significant renown for marketing purposes. In the end the three translations I used for the website were those by Paul Schmidt (1992), a noted translator of Russian and a playwright who collaborated with the Wooster Group and premiered the translation under the title  Brace Up! ; Senelick, a respected academic voice of Chekhov translation; and Sarah Ruhl (2009), a feminist playwright who collaborated with a Russian translator in a six-month commission of the play for Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Once your selection is limited, the real work begins. “Figure the  Translator” Maier (2015) stresses the importance of “figuring the translator” in much the same way that a dramaturg would research a playwright. My beginning dramaturgy students complete outside research that provides an in-depth understanding of how history and culture affected how and why the playwright wrote that play at that given moment in time. Students are encouraged to read other plays by the same author and find personal correspondence and autobiographical content by the playwright, such as in journals or critical manifestos. They must also find reviews of the play, as well as essays and criticism to understand how other people’s experience of the piece differed from that of its creator. By understanding the playwright’s intentions for the play within its original historical context and the response of the audience during that time period, students can make more informed decisions about why that play is relevant to audiences now. The act of translating is a complex dance among cultural idioms, allusions, and historical vocabulary. Edward T. Hall’s iconic “cultural iceberg” metaphor from his book Beyond Culture , which compares the visible parts of culture as the top 10 percent of an iceberg and the invisible parts as the submerged 90 percent, illustrates the challenge a translator faces when bringing a source text to a new culture and language. Even a literal, verbatim transfer from one language to another involves decisions on syntax and words and phrases that are difficult to translate. Translating literature and poetry requires style, finesse, rhythm, and rhyme. The text world of lexical elements changes with each translation, because in addition to the playwright there is now a translator whose culture, language, and historical experience are layered on top of the source text. For example, consider how the text could change if an English-language translator is British, Irish, or an American from the South or Midwest, from the twentieth or twenty-first century. This is why when selecting a translation for the classroom or the stage, we must recognize the role of the translator as equal in importance to that of the playwright. “Figuring the translator” involves engaging with other writing by the translator, examining critical responses to the target text, and analyzing major lexical differences across target texts. Maier suggests consulting the following resources to discover how the translator describes her work: •    Paratexts (foreword, afterword, notes, glossary) •    Critical essays •    Criticism about other translators •    Personal correspondence •    Editor correspondence in defense of their work •    Interviews •    Creative pieces (poetry, short stories, plays, and so on) •    Blogs, websites, and podcasts (2015, n.p.) Examining these documents allows us to paint a picture of what the translator herself thinks about translation, either philosophically or specifically relating to the target text being explored. Schmidt’s introduction to The Plays of Anton Chekhov readily outlines his purpose for the target text and his views on translation. He asserts that his is an American translation, so as to distinguish it from early British translations that he felt were too stilted on the American stage (5). He situates himself as a unique translator by being an actor/playwright/Russian scholar, and criticizes other translations of Chekhov: those of native Russian speakers are too “formal and unidiomatic,” while playwrights don’t speak Russian and subordinate Chekhov’s “style and nuance” to their own (6). For Schmidt, the task of the translator of Chekhov is to write a play in English that will produce, when staged, an effect such as the original may be said to have had on a Russian audience. I have to try to re-create in American English a voice that resounds within the American language            the way Chekhov’s voice resounds within Russian. . . Above all, whatever language I speak as a              translator must be a language the audience can recognize as theirs . (ibid.; emphasis in original) Senelick disagrees with Schmidt on a fundamental level. Of his own translation he says, I have not tried to pretend that Chekhov is anything other than Russian. Although I have converted weights and measures into Western equivalents, so that an audience can more easily gauge distances and density, I have left currency, beverages, and in particular, names in their Russian forms. . . . If one is to turn Pavel into Paul and Yelena into Helen, then one must go the whole hog and refer to Uncle Jack instead of Uncle Vanya and, to be consistent, Ivanov as Mr. Johnson . (2; emphasis in original) Senelick uses his undeniable proficiency with the Russian language and takes a decidedly analytical approach to translation, paying special attention to Chekhov’s linguistic style: lexical repetitions, syntax, etymology, and allusions. Ruhl’s notes at the beginning of her commissioned translation openly admit to being both “terrified and happy” that she spoke no Russian (2). She discusses the many resources she mined within a six-month period in order to complete the project, including help from her Russian sister- in-law, a Russian scholar/playwright/director, four separate translations, and a childhood teacher and Chekhov scholar. Ruhl’s sensibility aligns with Schmidt’s, in that she was not interested in subordinating Chekhov’s style in favor of her own: It became clear to me that getting to the root of the original Russian was what I wanted, rather than putting my own authorial stamp on the text. I wanted to get as far away from a “stamp” as possible. . . . I came to this translation with no agenda, no desire to bend Chekhov to my will in any way, but instead, to learn from him. It is, then, a very faithful translation, phrase by phrase, stage direction by stage direction, comma by comma. (1, 3) Both Ruhl’s and Schmidt’s projects were intended for performance from the beginning, while Senelick’s was meant for an annotated, academic volume. Their philosophies on translation differ accordingly, and one can begin to see how considering the purpose of a target text and “figuring the translator” can be tightly bound together. Once we have analyzed the translator’s intention, we must focus on examining critical responses to the target text. Documents, such as those listed above, written by individuals other than the translator are essential for understanding the efficacy of the target text. Additionally, production reviews, particularly from different time periods, places, and organizations, chronicle the response to the text across time, space, and a range of artistic sensibilities. Consult Reviews, Review Essays, and Criticism Many of these documents must be taken with a grain of salt, particularly production reviews, where many other factors can affect how critics receive a translation. For example, Sam Thielman reviewed a production of Senelick’s translation in a joint production between The Classical Theater of Harlem and Harlem Stage in 2009. Thielman found the production flawed, writing that “[l]arge swaths of the production become a tug-of-war between academic Laurence Senelick’s unspeakable translation (benignant? really?) and fine actors like Reg E. Cathey and Amanda Mason Warren” (n.p.). Ruhl, however, specifically thanked Senelick and his “careful scholarship” in the notes for her translation (5), and her production at Berkeley Rep in 2011 received a positive review from Robert Hurwitt in the San Francisco Chronicle . Hurwitt was careful to specify that Ruhl worked from a literal translation, and called the new version “crisp” and “breezy.” He commented that the production brought the play to life “as if it were taking place today. And 110 years ago. . . . The language straddles the century, sounding colloquial but rarely out of place” (n.p.). The notoriety of Schmidt’s translation due to its connection with the Wooster Group has led to a wealth of scholarly criticism and interviews with his artistic collaborators. Elizabeth LeCompte spoke about how his translation helped her as a director: “It’s an idealized vision of soap opera—very conversational, it can have great depth and at the same time, be very shallow. It’s like one of those silhouette pictures where you can see several images at the same time. It has tremendous ambiguity and the ability to mutate right before your eyes, and you say, ‘Oh, my God, I never heard that before’” (qtd. in Mee 146). Insights like this can be hard to come by if a translation is obscure or new, but that should not deter us from examining and holding it up to other, tried-and-true translations. The most laborious task in “figuring the translator,” and the translated script-selection process in general, is analyzing major lexical differences across target texts. Professionals who are adept at script analysis will have an easier time with this, but students will need to train a careful eye before they become proficient. In this stage we should “attend to the formal features” (Maier 2010, 13) of the text, especially noting unfamiliar word usage, such as slang, turns of phrase, words in other languages, or forms of address. A dramaturgical glossary, which defines and illustrates unfamiliar terms and allusions, is an important comparative tool at this stage. We must also scrutinize places where translators have made distinctly different decisions in terms of vocabulary. In the Thre e Sister s case-study website there is a section devoted to “Major Lexical Differences,” which contains excerpts to compare these vocabulary choices. In one example, Natasha confronts Olga and disparages Anfisa, the aged nurse. Each target text reveals a different characterization of Natasha, based on the lexical decisions made by the author. Schmidt’s Natasha is the most mild, telling Olga that they must “come to some agreement,” that she does not want that “stupid old woman” in the house, and that Olga shouldn’t “argue” with her (58). Senelick paints a picture of Natasha at the other end of the spectrum. She tells Olga they’ve got to “thrash it out,” that she does not want to see that “thieving old crow, that nasty old hag . . . that witch” in the house, and that Olga shouldn’t “provoke” her (927). Ruhl manages to create an arc for Natasha, who calmly suggests that she and Olga “come to an understanding,” then rises to a point of hysteria by calling Anfisa “that old bag, that old thief . . . that witch,” before warning Olga not to make her “mad” (82). When we do this work on several translations and compare them, we reveal the differences across target texts, and the personal philosophies and labor of each translator become apparent. This is perhaps the most important step, when we must make difficult decisions about choosing a translation for the stage, but there are additional benefits for both the stage and classroom, particularly if you are able to use more than one target text for your purposes. Choose One, Use Many (If Not All) Onstage we are legally limited to one translation, but that should not stop us from consulting multiple texts throughout the process. Maier urges us to “read well” (2010, 12) and explore every available translation of a source text. In the classroom it is possible to examine several target texts, and “[t]o limit oneself to one version when more than one version is available is to deprive oneself (or one’s students) of the pleasure of awakening to the strangeness of language that is often revealed strikingly by variations, even small ones, among multiple versions of a given text” (16). Along with this, Maier warns that “[n]o choice should be considered final” (17), and that educators should strive to remain aware of new translations in the field. It is only by consulting all available texts that we can shatter the myth of the definitive translation, which does a disservice to the art of translating and the practice of considering the purpose of any given target text. But she adds, “[t]his is not to say that all versions are equally accomplished. On the contrary, . . . some translations are superior to others. Disparate versions, however, are often likely to result from divergent readings rather than from inaccuracy, and readings in translation will be enriched by exposure to those plural readings” (18). The accumulation of the target texts creates a palimpsest that brings extended meaning to the source text. When educators, students, directors, and dramaturgs do not speak the source language, as is often the case, this accumulation of translator voices, informed by their own languages, cultures, experiences, and personal connections to the text, is a valuable resource. Present Provocatively We can increase the visibility of the translator through deliberate recognition of translated texts, and this mission begins with educators. If we follow the practices outlined in this note from the field, then we must set our students on the same path. Introduce the target text, name the translator in addition to the playwright, and prompt students to consider, as you did, what their expectations are for a translated text: •    Have you read a translation before? •    Have you done any translating or interpreting yourself? •    Do you have a preconceived notion about the role translation plays in the transmission of a work, perhaps compromising its credibility? •    What do you know about the translator’s background, and does that affect your responsive- ness to the work? (Maier 2010, 17.) I dedicate at least one day in each of my classes to considering work in translation. We read “Choosing and Introducing a Translation” by Maier, compare excerpts from famous translated plays, engage in a translation activity, and discuss a chapter from Mohammad Ghanoonparvar’s Translating the Garden , a scholarly, stream-of-consciousness account of the author’s experience translating a short story from Persian to English. Educating students and ourselves to be aware that the labor of translation has occurred is a foundational building block to ensure thorough script analysis, fruitful inquiry, and successful script selection. We must acknowledge our own expectations of a target text and consider the purpose of each translation we experience. We must “figure the translator” as we would the playwright by reading well and widely and analyzing each text carefully to compare major lexical differences. And we must expose ourselves to an entire range of target texts, reject the limiting myth of a definitive translation, and ensure a pluralist and overt investigation into the art of translation. The art of theatre is the art of collaboration, and going forward we must recognize the labor of one of our most important, and most overlooked, contributors: the translator. Works Cited Chekhov, Anton. Three Sisters . Trans. Paul Schmidt. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1992. Print. ———. Three Sisters . The Complete Plays of Anton Chekhov. Trans. Laurence Senelick. New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. Print. ———. Three Sisters . Chekhov’s Three Sisters and Woolf’s Orlando : Two Renderings for the Stage. Trans. Sarah Ruhl. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. Print. Ghanoonparvar, Mohammad R. Translating the Garden . Austin: U of Texas P, 2002. Print. Hall, Edward T. Beyond Culture . New York: Anchor Books, 1976. Print. Hurwitt, Robert. “‘Three Sisters’ Review: Chekhov’s Hope, Heartbreak.” San Francisco Chronicle . 15 Apr. 2011. Web. 28 July 2016. Kalb, Jonathan. “Tony Kushner on Mother Courage .” Fall 2006. Web. 22 July 2016. Maier, Carol. “Choosing and Introducing a Translation.” Literature in Translation: Teaching Issues and Reading Practices . Ed. Carole Maier and Françoise Massardier-Kenney. Kent, OH: Kent State UP, 2010. Print. ———. “Figuring the Translator’s Voice: How Do Translators Describe What They Do?” Lecture at NEH Summer Institute’s “What Is Gained in Translation?” Kent, Ohio, 11 June 2015. Unpublished. Mee, Susie. “Chekhov’s Three Sisters and the Wooster Group’s Brace Up! ” TDR: The Drama Review 36.4 (1992): 143–53. Print. Ruhl, Sarah, trans. “Author’s Notes.” Chekhov’s Three Sisters and Woolf’s Orlando : Two Renderings for the Stage. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 2013. Print. Schmidt, Paul, trans. “Introduction.” The Plays of Anton Chekhov: A New Translation by Paul Schmidt. New York: Harper Perennial, 1998. Print. Senelick, Laurence, trans. “A Note on the Translation.” The Complete Plays of Anton Chekhov . New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. Print. Thielman, Sam. “Review: ‘Three Sisters.’” Variety.com . 18 Feb. 2009. Web. 28 July 2016. History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Games & Quizzes On This Day One Good Fact New Articles Lifestyles & Social Issues Philosophy & Religion Politics, Law & Government World History Health & Medicine Browse Biographies Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates Environment Fossils & Geologic Time Entertainment & Pop Culture Sports & Recreation Visual Arts Demystified Image Galleries Infographics Top Questions Britannica Kids Saving Earth Space Next 50 Student Center Introduction General considerations Mimesis in theatre Theatre as social expression The theatrical hierarchy The role of the audience The effect of theatre structure The influence of writing and scholarship Work, leisure, and theatre The role of subsidy Academic theatre The search for an audience Theatre as expression Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. World History Encyclopedia - Ancient Greek Theatre LOUIS Pressbooks - Exploring the Arts - An Introduction to the Theater and Its Elements Victoria and Albert Museum - Theatre History Humanities LibreTexts - Origins of Theater and Theater of the Absurd theater - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11) theater - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Table Of Contents The art of the theatre is essentially one of make-believe, or mimesis . In this respect it differs from music , which seldom attempts to imitate “real” sounds—except in so-called program music , such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture , which suggests the sounds of a battle. In this respect the art of narrative in literature is much closer to that of the theatre. In a story, considerable attention must be paid to plausibility. Even if the story is not intended to be believed as having actually happened, plausibility is essential if the story is to hold the auditor’s attention. The principal factor in plausibility is not precise correspondence with known facts but inner consistency in the story itself. Drama also requires plausibility, but in drama it must be conveyed not by a narrator but by the actors ’ ability to make the audience “believe in” their speech, movement, thoughts, and feelings. This plausibility is based on the connection between the impression made by the actors and the preconceptions of the auditors. If the character Hamlet is to be plausible, the actor must make an audience believe that Hamlet could conceivably be as he is presented. This does not mean that the actor must make the audience believe that he (or she) literally is Hamlet, merely that he is plausibly and consistently making-believe to be Hamlet. The aim of a performance is not to persuade spectators that a palpable fiction is fact, that they are “really” there, out on those bitterly cold battlements of Hamlet’s castle at Elsinore. Indeed, they are far freer to appreciate the play and to think about it if they are not “really” present. Knowing all the time that it is a figment, they are willing to enter into the make-believe, to be transported, if it is sufficiently convincing. Yet they know that, however thrilling or pleasurable the rapture, it may be shattered at any moment by some ineptitude or mistake on the stage or by a coughing neighbour in the audience. That is the basic rule, or convention, of the make-believe of the theatre. The actor breaks the basic rule of the game if he forgets his words, or laughs at private jokes, or is simply incompetent, or is unsuited to his part. No modern audience can accept a vulgar, lumpish, elderly Hamlet, because Hamlet is a young prince whose lines are consistently thoughtful and witty. Yet it is not necessary that the actor playing Hamlet should “really” be all these things; he need only give the impression of being princely, witty, elegant, and young enough to sustain the credulity of the people sharing the make-believe. That credulity can extend a considerable way; the actress Sarah Bernhardt played Hamlet several times in her old age . Thus, in every performance there must be realism in some degree. At certain epochs and in certain kinds of plays, the aim has been to be as realistic as possible. But even the most realistic production (e.g., Anton Chekhov ’s play The Cherry Orchard as first produced by Konstantin Stanislavsky at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1904) made immense concessions to theatrical artifice . Conversation in real life often leads nowhere; it is full of inconclusive, meaningless, boring passages. It does not necessarily attempt, as every word in Chekhov’s play must, to fit into a story, to be part of the expression of a theme, or to introduce and reveal a group of characters. (Read Lee Strasberg’s 1959 Britannica essay on Stanislavsky.) Though most commercial, light comedies continue to be written and acted realistically, realistic theatre fell out of fashion in the first half of the 20th century in response to a host of avant-garde theatrical experiments and the advent of motion pictures . Just as realistic painting declined when photographs began to achieve similar effects mechanically, so did staging that attempted to reproduce the actual world in every detail lose artistic status when such effects became commonplace in films. Even before the introduction of motion pictures, the theatre was moving toward extravagantly nonrealistic theatrical effects, from the puppet-inspired theatre of Alfred Jarry , author of Ubu roi (1896; “King Ubu”), to the Symbolist dramas of Maurice Maeterlinck , the concept of the Übermarionette (“Superior Puppet”) developed by Edward Gordon Craig , and theatrical Surrealism . The most unrealistic productions, however, inevitably retained certain realistic features; the actors still had to be human, no matter how fantastic the script and settings might be. Have a thesis expert improve your writing Check your thesis for plagiarism in 10 minutes, generate your apa citations for free. Knowledge Base Working with sources How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples Published on 8 April 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on 15 May 2023. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning. Paraphrasing is an alternative to  quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to paraphrase instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center. Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism . Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text Be assured that you'll submit flawless writing. Upload your document to correct all your mistakes. Table of contents How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs quoting, paraphrasing vs summarising, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing. If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below. The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students. Correct my document today Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails. Incorrect paraphrasing You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for  synonyms . Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022). This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor: ‘Advancement and contamination’ doesn’t really convey the same meaning as ‘development and pollution’. Sometimes the changes make the tone less academic: ‘home’ for ‘habitat’ and ‘sea creatures’ for ‘marine animals’. Adding phrases like ‘inhabiting the vicinity of’ and ‘puts pressure on’ makes the text needlessly long-winded. Global warming is related to climate change, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing. Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism . Correct paraphrasing Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text. Here, we’ve: Only included the information that’s relevant to our argument (note that the paraphrase is shorter than the original) Retained key terms like ‘development and pollution’, since changing them could alter the meaning Structured sentences in our own way instead of copying the structure of the original Started from a different point, presenting information in a different order Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing. Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action. Journal article Newspaper article Magazine article Source text Paraphrase ‘The current research extends the previous work by revealing that to moral dilemmas could elicit a FLE [foreign-language effect] in highly proficient bilinguals. … Here, it has been demonstrated that hearing a foreign language can even influence moral decision making, and namely promote more utilitarian-type decisions’ ( , p. 874). The research of Brouwer (2019, p. 874) suggests that the foreign-language effect can occur even among highly proficient bilinguals, influencing their moral decision making, when auditory (rather than written) prompting is given. Source text Paraphrase ‘The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed to ban chrysotile asbestos, the most common form of the toxic mineral still used in the United States. … Chlorine manufacturers and companies that make vehicle braking systems and sheet gaskets still import chrysotile asbestos and use it to manufacture new products. ‘The proposed rule would ban all manufacturing, processing, importation and commercial distribution of six categories of products containing chrysotile asbestos, which agency officials said would cover all of its current uses in the United States’ ( ). Chrysotile asbestos, which is used to manufacture chlorine, sheet gaskets, and braking systems, may soon be banned by the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed ban would prevent it from being imported into, manufactured in, or processed in the United States (Phillips, 2022). Source text Paraphrase ‘The concept of secrecy might evoke an image of two people in conversation, with one person actively concealing from the other. Yet, such concealment is actually uncommon. It is far more common to ruminate on our secrets. It is our tendency to mind-wander to our secrets that seems most harmful to well-being. Simply thinking about a secret can make us feel inauthentic. Having a secret return to mind, time and time again, can be tiring. When we think of a secret, it can make us feel isolated and alone’ ( ). Research suggests that, while keeping secrets from others is indeed stressful, this may have little to do with the act of hiding information itself. Rather, the act of ruminating on one’s secrets is what leads to feelings of fatigue, inauthenticity, and isolation (Slepian, 2019). Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow. (Brouwer, 2019, p. 874) (1, p. 874) (Brouwer, 2019, p. 874) Generate accurate citations with Scribbr It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because: Paraphrasing shows that you fully understand the meaning of a text Your own voice remains dominant throughout your paper Quotes reduce the readability of your text But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when: Giving a precise definition Saying something about the author’s language or style (e.g., in a literary analysis paper) Providing evidence in support of an argument Critiquing or analysing a specific claim A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter. When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarising . Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarising is more appropriate. When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism . Students frequently use paraphrasing tools , which can be especially helpful for non-native speakers who might have trouble with academic writing. While these can be useful for a little extra inspiration, use them sparingly while maintaining academic integrity. This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source. To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. To paraphrase effectively, don’t just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try: Reformulating the sentence (e.g., change active to passive , or start from a different point) Combining information from multiple sentences into one Leaving out information from the original that isn’t relevant to your point Using synonyms where they don’t distort the meaning The main point is to ensure you don’t just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words. Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own. However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly reference the source . This means including an in-text referencing and a full reference , formatted according to your required citation style (e.g., Harvard , Vancouver ). As well as referencing your source, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words. Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism? Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don’t properly credit the original author. Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead. Paraphrasing  is not plagiarism if you put the author’s ideas completely into your own words and properly reference the source . To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly. It’s appropriate to quote when: Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text You want to discuss the author’s language choices (e.g., in literary analysis ) You’re presenting a precise definition You’re looking in depth at a specific claim Cite this Scribbr article If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator. Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2023, May 15). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 21 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/working-sources/paraphrasing/ Is this article helpful? Courtney Gahan Other students also liked, harvard in-text citation | a complete guide & examples, how to avoid plagiarism | tips on citing sources, apa referencing (7th ed.) quick guide | in-text citations & references. Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Meaning of paraphrase in English Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio din something into someone drill someone in something drill something into someone drum something into someone indoctrinate rake over something reassertion recapitulate regurgitate reiteration I would take issue with your paraphrase of my position . She does not follow Shakespeare's text but has devised her own paraphrase of it. Allow me to end my first speech with my own paraphrase of the statement . paraphrase | Intermediate English Examples of paraphrase, translations of paraphrase. Get a quick, free translation! Word of the Day be on the side of the angels to be doing something good or kind Trial, judge, and jury: talking about what happens when a criminal is caught Learn more with +Plus Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}} Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English English–Dutch Dutch–English English–French French–English English–German German–English English–Indonesian Indonesian–English English–Italian Italian–English English–Japanese Japanese–English English–Norwegian Norwegian–English English–Polish Polish–English English–Portuguese Portuguese–English English–Spanish Spanish–English English–Swedish Swedish–English Dictionary +Plus Word Lists English    Verb Noun Intermediate    Verb Translations All translations To add paraphrase to a word list please sign up or log in. Add paraphrase to one of your lists below, or create a new one. {{message}} Something went wrong. There was a problem sending your report. 266 COMMENTS What is Paraphrasing? An Overview With Examples Example 6. Original: "Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining optimal physical health and preventing various health issues.". Paraphrased: "Exercising regularly is important for keeping your body healthy and avoiding health problems.". In these examples, you can observe the use of different wording, sentence structure, and synonyms ... Paraphrasing Tool (Ad-Free and No Sign-up Required) AI Paraphrasing Tool. Your words matter, and our paraphrasing tool is designed to ensure you use the right ones. With unlimited Custom modes and 9 predefined modes, Paraphraser lets you rephrase text countless ways. Our product will improve your fluency while also ensuring you have the appropriate vocabulary, tone, and style for any occasion. Paraphrase: Definition and Examples A paraphrase (pronounced par - uh -freyz) is a restatement or rewording of a paragraph or text, in order to borrow, clarify, or expand on information without plagiarizing. Paraphrasing is an important tool to use when writing research papers, essays, and pieces of journalism. II. Examples of Paraphrasing. For examples of paraphrasing ... Guide to Literary Terms Paraphrase Paraphrasing is often used to clarify complex concepts, summarize information, or provide a different perspective on the original text. Paraphrase comes from the Greek word paraphrazein , from ... PARAPHRASE Definition & Meaning Paraphrase definition: a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.. See examples of PARAPHRASE used in a sentence. How to paraphrase (including examples) Paraphrasing is simple when you break it down into a series of steps. Here are the 6 steps you can use to paraphrase your sources: 1. Choose a reputable source. First, you need to pick a credible source to paraphrase. A credible source will likely have ideas and concepts that are worth repeating. Paraphrasing: What is Paraphrasing, Techniques and Examples Paraphrasing requires you to change the passages in your own words, which may help refurbish your writing skills. Rewriting or paraphrasing is essential in writing essays or research papers. Paraphrasing allows you to express ideas or information with a fresh set of words to make the same thing sound more interesting or even simpler. How to Paraphrase Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning. Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone's exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it's usually better to integrate sources by ... Paraphrase Definition, Meaning, Conventions Paraphrase refers to the act of rephrasing a specific part of someone's spoken or written words, especially in a way that might be shorter or simpler, while ensuring the original meaning remains intact. Paraphrase involves more than just changing individual words with synonyms, altering sentence structure, or reordering sentences. It requires ... Free AI Paraphrasing Tool Ahrefs' Paraphrasing Tool uses a language model that learns patterns, grammar, and vocabulary from large amounts of text data - then uses that knowledge to generate human-like text based on a given prompt or input. The generated text combines both the model's learned information and its understanding of the input. Paraphrasing Definition & Meaning The meaning of PARAPHRASE is a restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form. How to use paraphrase in a sentence. Did you know? ... Share the Definition of paraphrase on Twitter Twitter. Kids Definition. paraphrase. 1 of 2 noun. para· phrase ˈpar-ə-ˌfrāz Paraphrase Theatre Paraphrase Theatre is the result of Jonathan Swenson's life-long quest to combine his Christian faith with his love of drama and the arts. Through innovative drama, teaching, preaching and group interaction, Jonathan strives to share Biblical stories and truth in fresh and relevant ways. Jonathan is available to come to your church, theater ... THEATER FRESHMAN Flashcards the last speech in an act or play, usually humorous or clever. Term. taking the stage. Definition. giving an actor the freedom to move over the entire stage area, usually during a lengthy speech. Term. up or upstage. Definition. the area of the stage away from the audience, toward the rear of the stage. AI Paraphrasing Tool What Is Paraphrasing? Paraphrasing is the art of rewriting text into other words. This includes using synonyms, restructuring phrases, and connecting ideas in different ways. A state-of-the-art paraphraser provides automatic and simple-to-use rephrasing of complete sentences. Best Practices for Selecting a Translated Script: A ... I have developed a process for educators and dramaturgs that outlines the best practices for selecting a translated text. Used in conjunction with standard dramaturgical research, these guidelines can help to make the translator's labor more visible and facilitate the translated script-selection process for the classroom and the stage. Theatre Theatre - Performance, Expression, Art: The art of the theatre is essentially one of make-believe, or mimesis. In this respect it differs from music, which seldom attempts to imitate "real" sounds—except in so-called program music, such as Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which suggests the sounds of a battle. In this respect the art of narrative in literature is much closer ... Substitution (theatre) Substitution (theatre) In acting, substitution is the understanding of elements in the life of one's character by comparing them to elements in one's own life. For example, if an actor is portraying a character who is being blackmailed, they could think back to some embarrassing or private fact about their own life, and mentally superimpose ... Writing about Literature Paraphrase resembles translation. Indeed, the paraphrase of Yeats is essentially a "translation" of poetry into prose, and the paraphrases of Austen and of Dillon are "translations" of one kind of prose (formal nineteenth-century British prose, the equally formal but quite different prose of a twentieth-century literary critic) into another kind (colloquial twentieth-century American prose). Theater or Theatre—Which Spelling Should I Use? Catherine Traffis. Grammar. Whether you use the spelling theatre or theater will depend on where you hail from. In American English, the spelling is theater; in Britain and the rest of the English-speaking world, theatre is used. The spelling you choose— theater vs. theatre —should align with your audience's preference. PARAPHRASE PARAPHRASE definition: 1. to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a…. Learn more. How to Paraphrase Paraphrasing means putting someone else's ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning. Paraphrasing is an alternative to quoting (copying someone's exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it's usually better to paraphrase instead of ... PARAPHRASE PARAPHRASE meaning: 1. to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a…. Learn more. 1.2: Why Theatre? Commercial Theatre is an example of professional theatre. In this case, the producers' goal when developing a commercial show is to make a profit. This doesn't mean that the quality of the purely artistic side of the production suffers, but it simply puts more emphasis on the economic side of the equation. Market research and marketing ... assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis