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6 Paraphrase Tips to Follow (and Avoid Plagiarism)

In this brief 3:42 video with closed captions, you will learn how to avoid Plagiarism by effectively paraphrasing your sources in writing.

Downloadable Notes:

Let's start with a definition. Paraphrasing involves rewording an original passage using different words or phrases to convey the same meaning. It's a crucial communication technique in research papers to avoid directly copying a source. Paraphrasing is all about using unique wording, something original that's different from the source. Why bother paraphrasing instead of directly quoting the primary or secondary source?

Paraphrasing offers several benefits, such as these six things:

Enhancing your word choice. Paraphrasing allows you to showcase your writing style and select your words or phrases while retaining the essence of the message.
Changing the subject matter. Paraphrasing is helpful when you like the phrasing of the original passage but want to adjust the subject to make it relevant.
Rewriting someone's text without altering the words amounts to Plagiarism; therefore, to avoid Plagiarism, you must express it in your own words if you wish to restate an idea or cite another person's research.
Avoid excessive use of quotes. Quotations are appropriate when the author's words are the most fitting, but using too many quotes amounts to simply copying someone else's work.
Steering clear of problematic language. Sometimes, the language of a direct quote aligns differently from what you're writing. This could be a mechanical error, such as a partial quote with incorrect subject-verb agreement or gender pronoun. It could also feature insensitive or outdated language.
Trimming lengthy quotes. Paraphrasing is valuable when condensing a long, lengthy quote to make it more manageable.

Paraphrasing is sometimes mistaken for summarizing. So, what's the difference?

Summarizing focuses on the big picture, such as an entire body of work or a complete chapter. Paraphrasing, however, deals with specific passages ranging from a few words to a few paragraphs, but not too lengthy.

Let's practice!