paraphrase
PAIR-uh-frayz
/ˈpærəfreɪz/
To restate a passage of text or spoken words using different words and structure, typically for clarity while preserving original meaning.
In academic writing, a valid paraphrase requires changing both sentence structure and vocabulary entirely, plus citing the original source.
The story behind the word. From Greek 'paraphrasis', meaning 'additional expression'. The Greek rhetoricians used paraphrasing as an exercise, teaching students to express classical poetry in prose to master sentence construction.
Word relationships
- rephrase: Rephrase means changing wording for clarity, while paraphrase specifically involves rendering another author's written text into new syntax.
- reword: Reword focuses on changing individual words, whereas paraphrase restructures the sentence conceptually.
- quote: Quoting repeats exact original wording inside quotation marks.
Commonly confused with
- plagiarism: Paraphrase uses original phrasing and cites sources properly; plagiarism steals original text or ideas without credit.
Word family
- paraphrase (noun): A restatement of text in another form.
- paraphrastic (adjective): In the nature of a paraphrase.
Collocations
- paraphrase accurately
- effective paraphrase
- paraphrase a passage
- paraphrase and cite
Idioms & expressions
- put it in your own words
Example sentences
- "To avoid plagiarizing, you should paraphrase the author's main argument in your own words and include a citation." Writing Workshop
- "The student provided an accurate paraphrase of the complex scientific journal article." Research Methodology
Memory hook
PARA (alongside) the original PHRASE — expressing the same idea alongside new words. Expressing alongside in new words
When not to use
Do not use when merely changing one or two words in a sentence; that is considered lazy plagiarism.
Fun facts
- Ancient Roman students studied rhetoric by paraphrasing famous speeches back-and-forth between Greek and Latin.
Related words
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