Paraphrasing

"Be careful to avoid plagiarism!"

Paraphrasing:
To express what someone else has said or written using different words, especially in order to make it shorter or clearer.

"Paraphrasing and summarizing require that you fully digest an author's idea and interpretations and restate them in your own words. It is not enough simply to modify the original author's sentences slightly, to change a word here and there."

When you paraphrase information, you are really "translating" the author's English into your own English.

Whereas quoting means you use the exact words of the writer, paraphrasing means restating the words or ideas from a book or article in your own words. So you need to follow the rules of paraphrasing carefully in order to avoid being accused of plagiarism.

1.  Change word forms  

            When we look at a comparison between A and B ...

            When we compare A and B ...

The noun comparison is replaced with the verb compare.

            There are a variety of solutions to problem C.

            There are various solutions to problem C.

The noun variety is replaced with the adjective various.

2.  Replace words or phrases with synonyms

            X is not allowed.

            X is not permitted.

Permitted is a synonym for allowed.

            Project Y was almost completed.

            Project Y was nearly finished.

The phrase nearly finished is synonymous with almost completed.

3.  Change the grammar

            Trained scientists performed this research.

            This research was performed by trained scientists.

The active verb performed is replaced by the passive verb was performed by.

Note: Try to avoid replacing too many active verbs with passive verbs; active verbs are preferable because they are stronger than passive verbs.

      

            Several computer programs can be used to solve this problem.

            There are several computer programs that can be used to solve this problem.

A there + to be ... pattern is used in place of a subject + verb pattern.

            It's easy to use A.

            Using A is easy. (gerund form)

The gerund using is substitution for the infinitive to use.

            This A, which is one of the most powerful economic solutions, has ...

            This A, one of the most powerful economic solutions, has ...

An appositive (noun phrase) is used in place of a relative clause.

which is one of the most powerful economic solutions is a relative clause.

one of the most powerful economic solutions is an appositive.

             Study Y, which was conducted by sociologists in 2008, shows that ...

             Study Y, conducted by sociologists in 2008, shows that ...

A past participial phrase is used to reduce (shorten) a relative clause.

which was conducted by sociologists in 2008 is a relative clause.

conducted by sociologists in 2008 is a past participial phrase.

4.  Reverse negatives

             A is not as easy as ...

             A is harder than ...

A comparative phrase (harder than) is used in place of a not + as ... as ... phrase.

             It's not uncommon to see X ...

             It's common to see X ...

A double-negative phrase such as (not uncommon) is replaced by a word with a positive meaning (common).

             The least expensive B ...

             The cheapest B ...

The negative superlative phrase (least expensive) is replaced by a superlative word with the same meaning, cheapest.

5.  Change the word order

             For many years, people have believed A.

             People have believed A for many years.

The prepositional phrase for many years is moved from the beginning of the sentence to the end of it.

             After this problem has been solved, work on Z can continue.

             Work on Z can continue after this problem has been solved.

The adverbial clause after this problem has been solved is moved to the end of the sentence.

6.  Change sentence connectors

              Although there is a lot of evidence to support theory Y, not all scientists believe it.

              There is a lot of evidence to support theory Y; however, not all scientists believe it.

The transition word however is used in place of the adverb-clause marker although.

              There are some dangers involved in B; therefore, researchers must be very cautious.

              Because there are some dangers involved in B, researchers must be very cautious.

The adverb-clause marker because is used in place of the transition word therefore.