For a writer, paraphrasing is an essential art of writing where one can express someone else’s opinions or thoughts in their own voice without losing the essence. But very few of them know the actual process of how to paraphrase correctly. In this blog, our experts take special care to explain the entire process of correct paraphrasing. Read till the end and know how to do it more effectively. 

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is a way of rewriting a specific passage or a text paragraph that presents the same ideas as the original one but is written in your own words. Paraphrasing does not change the original meaning or remove valuable information, offering alternatives to use in writing. It permits writers to integrate sources/evidence into assignments.

What is the Purpose of Paraphrase?

With diverse benefits, paraphrasing comes in handy in several circumstances. There are six common purposes for which writers opt for paraphrase: 

Improve the word choice

Sometimes, you need to create unique texts from the original write-up that use your better words to communicate the meaning while preserving the essence of the content. 

Change the subject matter

Paraphrasing is handy when writers want to develop unique content by keeping the structure of the original text intact but with the change of subject in a diverse context. Writers make this kind of alteration only with paraphrasing.  

Avoid overusing quotes

Direct quotes from authors capture the essence perfectly. However, over-relying or frequently using quotations is like copying someone’s work. It’s always wise to maintain a balance between quotations & paraphrasing. It not only eradicates the plagiarism issue but also helps writers preserve the soul of the content.  

Shorten lengthy quotes

Paraphrasing is valuable, especially if you want to simplify your content & make quotations less lengthy to make your writing reader-friendly. While some become verbose, if your goal is to reach out to readers and engage them, then brevity through paraphrased writing is the best way to do it.

Avoid problematic language

Sometimes, the wording of a direct quote may not align with your content context. It could lead to grammatical errors, like an incorrect subject-verb agreement or similar mistakes. In other cases, writers often use insensitive words or outdated language. In these instances, paraphrasing is the best option to pen down good content. 

Dodge Chance of plagiarism

Recreating someone else’s content without modification is considered plagiarism. It has a significant impact, especially on students. If you wish to echo your opinion by referring to someone’s findings, then it’s better to paraphrase your content.

When To Paraphrase?

Above, our experts have explained what is and & the purpose of using it. In this paragraph, we will let you know when you can use paraphrasing. 

Firstly, Our experts recommend it if you consider rewriting like I did while explaining the definition. Let’s take a look at the original and paraphrased definitions.    

***Image- Definition comparison (Wiki v/s this blog’s paraphrase definition) 

I paraphrase my sentence through the TutorBin paraphrase generator. Here, I kept the original meaning intact, though I changed the wording to make it unique. 

Secondly, We have often noticed that students struggle to insert direct quotations in their essays. If you want to reflect your opinion without discarding the invaluable quotes for your paragraph, our essay rephraser can be handy. It’s fun to use, does not let your essay look copied, and is easy to access.   

The third reason is if you have lots of information in tables, charts, and diagrams that you are willing to mention in your essay, then you can consider your “paraphrase my essay” thought through paraphrasing tools.  

Other than these three times, using phara rephrase is also a viable option for those who want to support claims or incorporate evidence in their writing. 

5 Steps How To Paraphrase Correctly

Step 1: Read out the entire text & absorb the essence

The essence of absorbing information lies in reading. Reading the text and fully understanding the content essence is the first step of effective paraphrasing. The notes don’t have to be elaborate; they can be simple words or phrases that jog your memory about the significance of certain sections. Recall the essence of the content details you absorbed at the time of paraphrasing is the correct way of doing it. 

Step 2: Noting down the crucial pointers of the text

One of the significant steps to correctly paraphrase is to jot down a few pointers on a notecard to remember the important information. This habit of annotating helps you memorize the essence of the content and eradicates the chances of missing essential details. As per the experts, noting down ensures you express the message correctly while rendering the original version. You can present the write-up in a new form without disrupting the tone of its content.    

Step 3: Explain the content in the most simplified way 

It is seen that most of the time, writers mainly concentrate on splitting & deleting information while paraphrasing. Though it is not entirely correct, it helps you cut down the unnecessary parts easily. Writers must remember not to alter the core message intended to convey to the readers in the name of simplification. Writing specialists now recommend simplifying the original texts with precise information, including facts, figures, and data. The message should be well-structured and concise.

Step 4: Maintain an appropriate tone without copying 

Tone & voice are two essential elements that keep the content coherent, consistent & engaging. Be very particular about what you want to convey, whom you like to give the message to, and how to communicate it when using a paraphrase tool. Once you have clarity about these things and understand your audience, you can set the tone and voice of the writing. Moreover, you can maintain the uniqueness without copying directly from the original textual content.  

Step 5: Compare with original text & establish relevance

Lastly, text comparison to determine the content relevance is the 5th step to do the paraphrase correctly. Text comparison, as per experts, is a rhetorical pattern that analyzes two texts to get the full picture of their differences and similarities. While using a paraphrasing tool, writers must check out the characters, subject matter, main arguments & information in the content. In addition, experts recommend reviewing tone, structure, and perspective. These factors determine the relevance when you rewrite paragraphs with the original content.    

How Can We Dodge Incorrect Paraphrasing?

If you are not using a paraphrase generator, you might not know what the critical features paraphrasing tools have to ensure correctness. Paraphrasing without a tool is a multi-step process that takes several attempts to rewrite and create a new paragraph, even keeping the message and tone of the original content intact. Here, we have given some samples to shed light on poor paraphrasing and how you can dodge such incorrectness.         

***Image- Original & Incorrect Paraphrasing 

• The terms “advancement and contamination” differ from “development and pollution.” This message does not communicate the same meaning as the original text. 
• The tone of the writing has changed due to using different words like “habitat” for “home” or “marine animals” for “sea creatures” 
• Considerable usage of verbose is noticed.  
• The message changed a bit due to using global warming instead of climate change. These two words are related, though not the same. 

Looking closely at the sample above, the initial effort to rephrase might involve simply replacing a few words with their synonyms. This approach doesn’t alter the sentence structure or the sequence of details. Certain word selections used as synonyms are not the best fit for the rewritten text.

How to Know If You Are Doing Paraphrasing Correctly?

We have already discussed the incorrect or poor paraphrasing above, but we still need to highlight how to know that you have done the paragraph paraphrasing correctly. Here is a brief explanation with the same sample again to understand how to make it accurate, as per writing specialists. 

***Image of Original & Correct Paraphrasing 

• We incorporated only the data appropriate to our argument, resulting in a more concise version than the original.
• The information was introduced with the preamble, “According to scientists…”
• Key terms such as “development and pollution” have not been changed as there is a possibility to differ from the original meaning.
• We have reorganized the sentences, ensuring the content looks unique and not copied from the original structure.
• We approached from a distinct angle, rearranging the sequence of details.

Avoid Plagiarism When You Paraphrase

When rephrasing content through a paraphrase generator, being vigilant about unintentional copying or accidental plagiarism is essential. It can occur if the new wording, phrases, or sentences are identical to the original textual content. In this case, not giving proper credit to the sources used for writing can also lead to plagiarism. Many students, especially those not native to English, often opt for paraphrasing tools to help them with academic writing. While these can offer valuable writing insights, using them judiciously is crucial. This action ensures the authenticity of your work. Be sure that your content is original, and the references are appropriately cited. Consider using a plagiarism detection tool before you make the final version & submit it to your educational institution.

Difference Between Paraphrasing, Quotation, and Summarizing

A significant portion of your academic assignments are often based on the writings in your discipline. Quoting, rewording, and summarizing are distinct methods of integrating the contributions to submit impressive writings at your school and college. But often, students get misguided and start thinking that paraphrasing is the same process, just like summarizing and quotation. 

According to experienced writing specialists, there is a striking difference between paraphrasing, quotation, and summarizing, though these three processes ensure one thing: improve the quality of writing. While paraphrasing and quoting are crucial for showcasing precise details from sources, summarizing is suitable when conveying a broader idea or the main thrust of an entire article.

Paraphrase v/s Quoting 

Mostly, it’s better to paraphrase rather than use quotes because:

1. Paraphrasing demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of the source material.
2. It ensures your paper predominantly reflects your voice and perspective.
3. Direct quotations in the essay or other forms of content might disrupt the flow of your writing.

However, there are times when quoting is necessary, such as:

1. When providing an exact definition.
2. Discussing/analyzing the author’s specific wording or stylistic choices, especially in literary critiques.
3. Presenting evidence to back up a point you’re making.
4. Evaluating or dissecting a particular statement or assertion.

Paraphrase v/s Summarizing 

Paraphrasing involves rewording a specific section using your own terminology, often roughly the same length as the original or a bit shorter. On the other hand, summarizing involves condensing a lengthier piece of writing to its essential points. It communicates the message more concisely. As per writing experts, summarizing demands analytical skills that make your writing crisp and to the point, ensuring academic success at university. 

TutorBin Paraphrasing Tool-Excellent Option For Rewriting

Students may wonder why they should opt for the TutorBin paraphraser tool. What’s so special about this essay rephraser? Let our experts give you an insight into why a fair share of A graders from different colleges consider this tool a significant part of their writing process.  

• User-friendly interface and accessibility make rewriting a paragraph easier for students. 
• Instant paraphrased content within a few minutes of time. 
• Available in multiple languages for easy understanding 
• Synonyms and other valuable suggestions for writing improvement. 
• Integrated with a plagiarism check that ensures unique content every time. 
• Customized writing help on diverse topics and in different formats of content. 
• Facility to save your writing for further improvement & export facility.
• No hassle to download. Unlimited online access for free of cost. 

If you are willing to make your writing impressive, obtain our TutorBin paraphrase online tool and subscribe to our blog for such valuable updates.