Paraphrasing is the process of restating a text or passage in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Unlike quoting, which copies the exact wording, paraphrasing allows you to smoothly integrate sources into your writing. It demonstrates your comprehension of the material and maintains your unique voice.
In academic writing, paraphrasing is often preferred over quoting. This essential skill for writers, students, and researchers helps avoid plagiarism, clarify complex ideas, and demonstrate understanding of a topic.
Effective paraphrasing involves several key techniques and considerations:
- Read and understand the original text thoroughly
- Identify the main ideas and key points
- Use synonyms and alternate sentence structures
- Change the order of ideas, if appropriate
- Maintain the original meaning and context
- Cite the original source properly
How to paraphrase in six easy steps
Paraphrasing allows you to incorporate sources smoothly while demonstrating your understanding of the material. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to paraphrase effectively:
Step 1. Read and understand the original text thoroughly
Before attempting to paraphrase, carefully read the original text multiple times until you fully grasp its meaning. Pay attention to the main ideas, key points, and overall context.
Step 2. Identify the main ideas and key points
After comprehending the text, identify the central themes and essential information you want to convey in your paraphrase. Focus on these core concepts rather than minor details.
Step 3. Use synonyms and alternate sentence structures
When rephrasing the text, replace key words with synonyms and vary the sentence structure to distinguish your paraphrase from the original. This helps you avoid plagiarism and maintains your unique writing style.
Step 4. Change the order of ideas, if appropriate
If it makes sense within the context, consider rearranging the order of ideas presented in the original text. This will further differentiate your paraphrase and demonstrate your understanding of the material.
Step 5. Maintain the original meaning and context
While using different words and structures, ensure that your paraphrase accurately reflects the original text’s meaning and context. Do not introduce new ideas or interpretations not present in the source.
Step 6. Cite the original source properly
Always cite the original source when paraphrasing to give credit to the author and avoid plagiarism. Follow the appropriate citation style guide for your field or assignment.
How to paraphrase correctly
Paraphrasing is a valuable skill, but it must be done correctly to avoid plagiarism and accurately represent the original source. Consider the following example text:
Example: Source text
Hand hygiene is a crucial component of infection control in healthcare settings. Proper hand-washing techniques and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers can significantly reduce the transmission of pathogens and prevent hospital-acquired infections.
Incorrect paraphrasing
In an initial effort to paraphrase the text, you may be tempted to simply replace some words with their synonyms, keeping the structure intact.
Example: Incorrect paraphrasing
Hand hygiene is essential for preventing infections in healthcare facilities. Correct hand washing methods and alcohol-based hand sanitizers can substantially decrease the spread of pathogens and avoid infections acquired in hospitals.
This attempt at paraphrasing falls short because it relies too heavily on the original text, making only superficial changes:
- The sentence structure and order of information remain largely unchanged, with only a few word replacements.
- Some substitute phrases, like “essential aspect” for “crucial component,” do not significantly alter the meaning or phrasing.
- The chosen synonyms, such as “correct” for “proper” and “avoid” for “prevent,” are too similar to the original words to constitute meaningful changes.
- The paraphrase maintains a close resemblance to the original text, which could be construed as plagiarism.
Correct paraphrasing
Now, let’s examine a more appropriate and thorough approach to paraphrasing the given passage.
Example: Correct paraphrasing
In healthcare facilities, maintaining proper hand hygiene is vital for reducing the risk of infection transmission. By employing correct handwashing techniques and utilizing alcohol-based sanitizers, medical professionals can significantly lower the incidence of hospital-acquired infections caused by the spread of harmful microorganisms (Author, Year).
In this paraphrase, several strategies have been employed to effectively convey the original meaning while avoiding plagiarism:
- The main idea of hand hygiene’s importance in preventing infections is presented concisely, omitting less crucial details.
- The paraphrase begins with a clear topic sentence: “In healthcare facilities, maintaining proper hand hygiene is vital.” This introduces the key point in the writer’s own words.
- Essential terms like “hand hygiene,” “infection transmission,” and “hospital-acquired infections” are preserved, as they are central to the concept being discussed.
- The sentence structure has been rearranged. First, the importance of hand hygiene is mentioned, followed by the specific methods (handwashing and using sanitizers) and their impact on reducing infections.
- The information is presented in a different order compared to the original, with the relationship between the cause (proper hand hygiene) and effect (lowering infection rates) made explicit.
Examples of paraphrasing
Let’s look at a few more examples of effective paraphrasing below:
| Original Text | Paraphrase | Explanation |
| The nursing profession is evolving rapidly in response to changes in healthcare delivery, advances in technology, and the increasing complexity of patient care. Nurses are expected to possess a wide range of skills and knowledge to provide high-quality, patient-centered care in various settings. | As the healthcare landscape transforms, the role of nurses is undergoing significant changes. With the advent of new technologies and the growing intricacy of patient care, nurses must adapt and expand their skill sets to deliver excellent, individualized care across diverse environments (Author, Year). | – Main ideas are preserved, but the wording and sentence structure are altered. – The paraphrase maintains the original meaning while expressing it in the writer’s own style. – The order of information is slightly rearranged, but the overall message remains clear. – Proper citation is included. |
| Pain management is a critical aspect of patient care, and nurses play a vital role in assessing, monitoring, and treating pain. Effective pain management requires a multidisciplinary approach, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, as well as patient education and support. | Nurses are essential in ensuring patients receive adequate pain relief, as they are responsible for evaluating, tracking, and managing pain levels. Optimal pain control involves a collaborative effort, combining medication, alternative therapies, and patient empowerment through education and support (Author, Year). | – The main points about nurses’ role in pain management and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach are conveyed. – The wording and sentence structure are significantly different from the original. – The paraphrase is more concise than the original text, focusing on the key elements. – Proper citation is included. |
| Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful nurse-patient relationships. Nurses must possess strong interpersonal skills to build trust, provide emotional support, and facilitate patient engagement in their own care. Active listening, empathy, and clear, jargon-free language are key components of effective communication in nursing. | Building strong, trusting relationships with patients is crucial for nurses, and this relies heavily on effective communication. To foster patient involvement in their own care, nurses need excellent interpersonal skills, including active listening, empathy, and the ability to convey information clearly without relying on medical jargon (Author, Year). | – The importance of effective communication in nurse -patient relationships is maintained. The paraphrase emphasizes the connection between communication and patient involvement in their care. – The wording and sentence structure are distinct from the original text. – Key components of effective communication are mentioned, but in a different order and with altered phrasing. – Proper citation is included. |
How to cite a paraphrase
When paraphrasing, it is essential to cite the original source to give credit to the author and avoid plagiarism. The specific format for citing a paraphrase depends on the citation style you are using (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). However, the general principles remain the same.
In-Text Citations
In-text citations are brief references within the body of your text that direct readers to the full citation in the reference list or bibliography.
Narrative Citation
In a narrative citation, the author’s name is incorporated into the sentence, and the year of publication is placed in parentheses.
Example:
According to Smith (2019), effective hand hygiene practices are crucial in reducing the spread of hospital-acquired infections.
Parenthetical Citation
In a parenthetical citation, the author’s name and the year of publication are placed in parentheses at the end of the paraphrased text.
Example:
Effective hand hygiene practices are crucial in reducing the spread of hospital-acquired infections (Smith, 2019).
Reference List or Bibliography
The full citation for the paraphrased source should be included in the reference list or bibliography at the end of your paper. The format for the citation varies depending on the type of source (e.g., book, journal article, website) and the citation style you are using.
Example (APA 7th Edition):
Smith, J. (2019). The importance of hand hygiene in healthcare settings. *Journal of Nursing Practice*, 25(3), 120-128. https://doi.org/10.1234/jnp.2019.25.3.120
Consult the appropriate citation style guide for the specific formatting requirements of in-text citations and reference list entries. Consistently and accurately citing your sources demonstrates academic integrity and allows readers to locate the original materials if needed.
Paraphrasing vs. Quoting
When incorporating sources into your writing, you can either paraphrase or quote the original text. Each method has its own purpose and benefits, and the choice between paraphrasing and quoting depends on factors such as the nature of the information, the length of the original text, and the desired impact on your writing.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing involves restating the original text in your own words while preserving the main ideas and meaning.
When to Paraphrase:
- When the original text is long, and you want to condense the information
- When the specific wording of the original text is not crucial to your argument
- When you want to maintain your own writing style and voice
- When you need to simplify complex ideas or technical language
Example:
- Original text: “Hand hygiene is a crucial component of infection control in healthcare settings” (Smith, 2019, p. 120).
- Paraphrase: Maintaining clean hands is essential for preventing the spread of infections in medical environments (Smith, 2019).
Quoting
Quoting involves using the exact words from the original source, enclosed in quotation marks.
When to Quote:
- When the original wording is particularly powerful, memorable, or concise
- When the author is a recognized authority on the subject
- When analyzing or critiquing specific language or phrasing
- When providing definitions or key terms
Example:
- Original text: “Hand hygiene is a crucial component of infection control in healthcare settings” (Smith, 2019, p. 120).
- Quotation: As Smith (2019) states, “Hand hygiene is a crucial component of infection control in healthcare settings” (p. 120).
Citing the original source is essential in both paraphrasing and quoting to give credit to the author and avoid plagiarism. The choice between paraphrasing and quoting depends on the specific context and purpose of your writing. In most cases, paraphrasing is preferred as it demonstrates your understanding of the material and allows for better integration of the source into your own writing style.
Paraphrasing vs. summarizing
While paraphrasing and summarizing both involve restating information from a source in your own words, they serve different purposes and vary in scope and detail.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing focuses on a specific section of the original text, such as a paragraph or a few sentences. It aims to convey the same meaning using different words and sentence structures. It is useful when discussing specific details or arguments.
Key aspects of paraphrasing:
- Covers a specific portion of the original text
- Maintains the same level of detail as the original
- Preserves the original meaning and context
- Uses different wording and sentence structure
Example:
- Original text: “Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful nurse-patient relationships. Nurses must possess strong interpersonal skills to build trust, provide emotional support, and facilitate patient engagement in their own care” (Johnson, 2018, p. 45).
- Paraphrase: Building strong, trusting relationships with patients is crucial for nurses, and this relies heavily on effective communication. To foster patient involvement in their own care, nurses need excellent interpersonal skills (Johnson, 2018).
Summarizing
Summarizing involves condensing a larger piece of text, such as an entire article or chapter, into a brief overview that captures the main ideas or key points. Summarizing is more appropriate when you want to provide an overview of a larger work or incorporate multiple sources into your writing.
Key aspects of summarizing:
- Covers a larger portion of the original text or the entire work
- Presents only the main ideas or key points
- Omits minor details, examples, and elaborations
- Significantly shorter than the original text
Example:
- Original text: A 10-page article discussing the importance of effective communication in nursing, including various strategies for building trust, providing emotional support, and encouraging patient engagement.
- Summary: Johnson’s (2018) article emphasizes the critical role of effective communication in fostering successful nurse-patient relationships. The author highlights the importance of interpersonal skills, such as active listening and empathy, in building trust and promoting patient engagement in their own care.
Avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase
When paraphrasing, it’s crucial to be mindful of potential plagiarism pitfalls. Accidental plagiarism can occur if your paraphrase too closely resembles the original text, with identical phrases or entire sentences that should be enclosed in quotation marks. Additionally, failing to properly cite the source can also lead to plagiarism.
While paraphrasing tools are popular among students, particularly non-native speakers who may struggle with academic writing, it’s important to use these tools judiciously and maintain academic integrity. These tools can provide inspiration, but they should be used sparingly.
To ensure proper paraphrasing and citation of all sources, consider running a plagiarism check before submitting your work. However, it’s essential to personally read and understand the source material and attempt to paraphrase on your own first.