Writing Skill: Paraphrasing
What is paraphrasing? Using your own words to repeat what someone said
Why do we paraphrase? Often our ideas are not enough. We need ideas from other sources--
articles, books, professors, and other people.
We use paraphrasing in speaking. → “So what you’re saying is…” “The professor
explained…”
We use paraphrasing in writing. → we repeat ideas that we saw in a book, article, etc.
In other words, we see information in a source, and we want to use that information
in our writing.
Often paraphrasing begins with a phrase like this:
● “According to the article, …"
● “The research study showed that…”
How to paraphrase?
Start with an original piece of language (what someone else wrote or said).
Step 1: Read it carefully until you understand the original words very well!
Step 2: Make changes and use your own words to express the same meaning as the original.
However, using your own words is not easy! Let’s learn some ways to paraphrase.
How to use your own words?
Most people try to change some words by using synonyms, but this method is not sufficient.
➤ Read this example:
Original sentence: The new designs of buildings use smaller spaces.
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Student’s paraphrase: The latest designs of edifices utilize littler areas.
Which sentence do you prefer? The first one, probably. The problem here is that using only
synonyms makes awkward, ugly sentences, and this is not paraphrasing.
Instead, you can use the “Grammar Toolbox” method of paraphrasing. It’s more complete
than using only synonyms. It can be helpful when paraphrasing just 1-2 sentences. Video here.
How to Paraphrase: The Grammar Toolbox Method
When your refrigerator is broken, you can get your toolbox to try to fix it.
How many tools do you use? It depends on the problem, but one tool is
probably not enough.
It’s the same with paraphrasing. Use a variety of tools for each
paraphrase. Which tools you use depends on the sentence, but a good
paraphrase usually uses two or more tools. A paraphrase must have
different words AND different sentence structure.
Tool #1: Synonyms
Change the words that have obvious, clear synonyms. Choose good synonyms carefully!
Original: The new designs of buildings use smaller spaces.
Paraphrase: The recent designs of buildings utilize smaller spaces.
Tool #2: Change the sentence to negative
Change at least one word to negative, but pay attention to other changes that will be necessary
for the sentence to have the same meaning. This works well in some cases but not in others.
Original: The new designs of buildings use smaller spaces.
Paraphrase: The new designs of buildings no longer use such large spaces.
Original: We were disappointed with the result.
Paraphrase: We were not happy with the result.
Tool #3: Change active and passive voice
Changing active and passive voice can have the same meaning if it’s done correctly, but we
have to be careful because sometimes the active voice is better, while other times, the passive
voice is better. It depends on the meaning and feeling of the sentence.
Original: The president vetoed the immigration bill. (active)
Paraphrase: The immigration bill was vetoed by the president. (passive)
Original: The results of the study were analyzed by the doctors. (passive)
Paraphrase: The doctors analyzed the results of the study. (active)
Tool #4: Change parts of speech
Original: Being happy is perhaps the most common goal among human beings.
Paraphrase: Happiness is perhaps the most common…
Tool #5: Combine phrases/clauses/sentences
Use connecting words to combine phrases, clauses, and/or sentences.
Original: The microwave was ordered last week. However, it was installed incorrectly.
Paraphrase: The microwave that was ordered last week was installed incorrectly.
or
Paraphrase: The microwave was ordered last week but was installed incorrectly.
Tool #6: Move parts of the sentence to change the sentence structure.
This is one of the easiest changes you can make, and it’s very effective!
Original: Risk factors for severe Covid include diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Paraphrase: Risk factors for severe Covid include obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Original: At the very beginning, Thi did not feel comfortable speaking English.
Paraphrase: Thi did not feel comfortable speaking English at the very beginning.
TIP: Don’t forget that a paraphrase must use different words and different sentence structure!
Paraphrasing Tip #2: Tell a Friend
Sometimes you will feel tired of using the Grammar
Toolbox method of paraphrasing, and you will need
another way to paraphrase. Try the Tell a Friend
method. This is especially useful when your English is
good enough to write clear sentences and when you
want to paraphrase longer passages, such as sentences
or paragraphs.
● Step #1: Read the original sentences a few times.
● Step #2: Think about the meaning until you understand it 100%.
● Step #3: Put the original away so that you’re not looking at it.
● Step #4: Pretend that you’re telling a friend, and say the idea. You should have a new
sentence that focuses on the most important idea and uses your own words & grammar.
