Definition · Plain-language
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means restating another person’s ideas in your own words and sentence structure while preserving the original meaning — and crucially, still crediting the source.
The step most authors miss
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What good paraphrasing actually changes
Effective paraphrasing rewrites both the wording and the underlying sentence structure, not just a handful of words swapped for synonyms. Replacing a few terms while keeping the original syntax produces "patchwriting" — a recognised form of poor or unethical paraphrasing that most universities treat as plagiarism. The reliable method is to read the passage, set it aside, and restate the idea from memory in your natural voice, then check it against the original to confirm you have preserved the meaning without copying the phrasing. The result should read as your own prose, attributable to the original author through a citation.
Paraphrasing, quoting and summarising
These three are the standard ways of integrating sources, and they serve different purposes. Quoting reproduces an author’s exact words within quotation marks and is reserved for precise or memorable phrasing. Summarising compresses a long passage, chapter or whole work into a brief overview of its key points. Paraphrasing restates a specific passage at roughly the same length but in fresh wording, and is generally preferred in academic writing because it shows comprehension and keeps your own voice dominant. All three require a citation; the citation is what separates legitimate use from plagiarism.
Why citation is non-negotiable
A paraphrase carries someone else’s intellectual contribution, so it must be attributed even though no words are quoted directly. Style bodies such as the APA and MLA require an in-text citation for paraphrased material exactly as they do for quotations. Omitting that citation presents another person’s idea as your own, which is the core definition of plagiarism — an academic-integrity breach. Citing accurately protects you, credits the original scholar, and lets readers trace the idea back to its evidence base, which is the foundation of trustworthy scholarship.
Key facts
At a glance
- Definition: restating another’s ideas in your own words and structure, with a citation
- Contrast: quoting reproduces exact words; summarising condenses main points
- Citation: always required — paraphrasing without a citation is plagiarism
- Bad form: "patchwriting" — swapping a few synonyms but keeping the structure
- Best method: read, set aside, restate from memory, then check against the source
- Purpose: shows comprehension and keeps your own voice while crediting the author
Common misconceptions
What people often get wrong
Often heard: If I put an idea in my own words, I no longer need to cite the source.
Actually: You still must cite it. Paraphrasing changes the wording, not the ownership of the idea; an uncited paraphrase presents another person’s contribution as your own and is plagiarism.
Often heard: Paraphrasing just means swapping several words for synonyms.
Actually: That is "patchwriting" and is treated as plagiarism by most institutions. Genuine paraphrasing changes both the vocabulary and the sentence structure while preserving the original meaning.
Often heard: Paraphrasing and summarising are the same thing.
Actually: They differ. A paraphrase restates a specific passage at similar length in new words, whereas a summary condenses a longer work to its main points. Both require a citation.
