What Is Paraphrasing and Why It Matters

The Art of Saying It Differently

Paraphrasing is restating someone else's ideas in your own words while preserving the original meaning. It's a fundamental academic and professional skill.

Why Paraphrase?

• Demonstrates understanding: You can't paraphrase what you don't understand


• Maintains your voice: Your paper reads as a cohesive argument, not a patchwork of quotes


• Integrates sources smoothly: Paraphrased content flows better than frequent block quotes


• Shows critical thinking: You're processing and reinterpreting information

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing vs. Quoting

Paraphrasing restates a specific passage in your own words (similar length). Summarizing condenses a larger work into key points (much shorter). Quoting uses the exact original words in quotation marks.

All three require citations. The skill is knowing when to use each.