Paraphrasing
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Martin ZegarraParaphrasing
Uploaded by
Martin ZegarraLesson Title: Paraphrasing in Academic Writing
1. What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing means expressing the same idea in your own words and sentence structure
without changing the original meaning.
We use paraphrasing to:
● Show understanding of a source
● Avoid plagiarism
● Make writing smoother and more original
2. How to Paraphrase (Steps):
1. Read and understand the original sentence fully.
2. Find synonyms for key words (where appropriate).
3. Change the sentence structure.
4. Keep the original meaning.
3. Example
Original sentence:
“Technology has significantly changed the way people communicate in the 21st century.”
Paraphrased version:
“In today’s world, the way people interact has been greatly influenced by modern
technology.”
Note: The words and structure are different, but the meaning is the same.
4. Quick Practice (Optional for Class Use)
Original:
“Regular exercise is important because it helps reduce stress and improves mental health.”
Possible answer:
“Exercising often is useful since it lowers stress levels and supports better mental well-
being.”
Factors You Can Change in Paraphrasing:
1. Word Choice (Synonyms):
○ Use synonyms for nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Example: “important” → “essential”, “reduce” → “decrease”
2. Word Form (Change Parts of Speech):
○ Change nouns to verbs, verbs to adjectives, etc.
Example: “pollution is a problem” → “polluted air causes problems”
3. Sentence Structure:
○ Change the sentence type or order.
Example: “People believe that technology helps learning.” → “It is
believed that learning is supported by technology.”
4. Voice (Active ↔ Passive):
○ Switch between active and passive voice.
Example: “Scientists discovered the cure.” → “The cure was
discovered by scientists.”
5. Clause Combination / Separation:
○ Combine simple sentences into one, or split a complex sentence
into two.
Example: “The weather was cold. We stayed inside.” → “Because
the weather was cold, we stayed inside.”
6. Change Word Order:
○ Rearrange the order of phrases or clauses.
Example: “In recent years, many cities have grown.” → “Many cities
have grown in recent years.”
7. Use Different Grammatical Structures:
○ Use gerunds, infinitives, modals, or conditionals differently.
Example: “It is necessary to reduce waste.” → “Reducing waste is
essential.”
8. Use Definitions or Explanations:
○ Replace a word with its definition or a longer explanation.
Example: “photosynthesis” → “the process plants use to make food
from sunlight”
