How to Paraphrase Without Plagiarizing: A Complete Guide
Paraphrasing is one of the most essential academic and professional writing skills. It involves restating someone else's ideas in your own words while preserving the original meaning. Done correctly, paraphrasing demonstrates comprehension and adds your voice to existing research.
What Is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing means rewriting a passage using different words and sentence structures while keeping the original meaning intact. Unlike quoting, which uses the exact words of the source, paraphrasing transforms the language while citing the source.
Step-by-Step Paraphrasing Technique
- Read the original passage multiple times until you fully understand it.
- Set the original aside and write the idea from memory in your own words.
- Compare your version with the original to ensure accuracy and sufficient difference.
- Add a citation to credit the original author.
Common Paraphrasing Mistakes
The biggest mistake is simply swapping a few words with synonyms (patchwork paraphrasing). Effective paraphrasing requires changing both vocabulary and sentence structure. Another common error is failing to cite the source—paraphrased ideas still need attribution.
Tools That Help
AI-powered paraphrasing tools can help you get started, but always review and refine the output. Use a plagiarism checker to verify your paraphrase is sufficiently original.
Examples of Good vs. Bad Paraphrasing
Original: "The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed the landscape of modern education."
Bad paraphrase: "The fast advancement of AI has fundamentally changed the landscape of current education." (Too close to original)
Good paraphrase: "AI's swift progress is reshaping how students learn and educators teach in today's classrooms." (New structure, same meaning)