QuickParaphrase

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is restating someone else’s idea in your own words and sentence structure, at about the same length and with the same meaning, while still crediting the source.

Paraphrase vs quote vs summary

All three let you use a source in your writing. The difference is how much of the original wording and length you keep. Switch between them in the example using the same passage.

WordingLengthCite?
QuoteIdentical, in quotation marksPart of originalYes
ParaphraseYour ownAbout the sameYes
SummaryYour ownMuch shorterYes
Source: The Great Barrier Reef, stretching more than 2,300 kilometres along the coast of Queensland, is the world’s largest coral reef system. Rising sea temperatures have caused repeated mass bleaching events since 1998, during which stressed corals expel the algae that give them colour and most of their food.

Running for over 2,300 km off Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef is the biggest coral reef system on Earth. Since 1998, warmer oceans have triggered several large bleaching episodes, in which overheated corals push out the algae that colour them and supply most of their nutrition.

Every idea kept, new wording and structure, roughly the same length. Still needs a citation. (46 words vs 48)

When paraphrasing becomes plagiarism

  • No citation. New words do not make the idea yours.
  • Patchwriting. Keeping the original sentence structure and swapping synonyms in.
  • Borrowed phrases. Distinctive strings of words carried over without quotation marks.
  • Changed meaning. A paraphrase that distorts the source misrepresents the author.

Why paraphrase at all?

Paraphrasing shows your reader, and your teacher, that you understood the source. It lets evidence fit your argument and tone instead of breaking your paragraph with long quotations. Many style guides, including APA, prefer paraphrasing to quoting for most sources.

How to do it well

Read, set the source aside, write from memory, compare, cite. The how to paraphrase guide walks through each step with an interactive overlap checker, and the paraphrasing tool can give you a first draft to revise.

Reef facts: Australian Government, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Frequently asked questions

What is paraphrasing in simple words?

Paraphrasing is saying what someone else said or wrote in your own words, keeping the same meaning and giving them credit.

What is the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing?

A paraphrase restates a specific passage in full detail at about the same length. A summary condenses a longer text down to its main points and is much shorter.

Is paraphrasing plagiarism?

Not if it is done properly and cited. It becomes plagiarism when you do not credit the source, or when the “paraphrase” keeps too much of the original wording or structure.

Why is paraphrasing important?

It shows you understood the source, lets you fit evidence into your own writing style and argument, and avoids overusing quotations.

More free writing tools