Paraphrasing

Paraphrase when you want to:

• use an idea, finding or piece of information without reproducing the source's exact wording
• fit source material into your own explanation or line of reasoning
• demonstrate that you understand the source
• focus on the part of a source that is relevant to your purpose

A paraphrase usually deals with a specific idea or passage. A summary gives a shorter overview of the main ideas from a larger part of a source. If the exact wording is important, use a quotation instead.

See Quoting for guidance on choosing and presenting quotations.

An effective paraphrase:

• keeps the source's essential meaning
• uses your own wording and sentence structure
• selects and presents the information in a way that fits the point you are making
• includes a citation to the source

Changing a few words for synonyms is not enough. You need to understand the idea and express it independently. Technical or specialist terms can remain the same when there is no accurate alternative.

See Avoiding plagiarism for guidance on close copying and academic integrity

Try this five-step process:

1. Understand the source. Read the relevant section until you can explain the idea without relying on its wording.
2. Put the source aside. Write from your understanding rather than looking at the original sentence as you draft.
3. Write for your purpose. Select the relevant information and connect it to the point you are making.
4. Compare your version with the source. Check that you have kept the meaning, used your own expression, avoided adding an unsupported claim, and marked any retained exact words as a quotation.
5. Cite the source. Make clear where the idea or information came from. If you paraphrase a specific passage, your referencing style may require a page number, paragraph number or other pinpoint.

See Citing for citation guidance and the Referencing guide for the style guidance in Cite Them Right Online.

The following is a constructed example. The citation details are placeholders rather than a reference to a published source.

A paraphrase should have a clear purpose in your work. Do not insert it and expect the reader or audience to work out why it matters. You might use a paraphrase to:

• support or develop a point
• give an example or provide context
• compare different findings or positions
• identify a limitation or challenge an argument

Introduce the source material where needed, cite it, and explain how it relates to your point. Your own reasoning should remain clear.

See Integrating information from sources for more guidance on making evidence part of your argument.

AI tools can rewrite text, but the output may change the source's meaning, introduce errors or conceal that you have not understood it. Follow your assessment brief before using AI.

If AI use is permitted, compare any output with the original source, cite the original source, and acknowledge your use of AI where required. Do not use an AI-generated paraphrase in place of reading and understanding the source.

See Acknowledging AI use for the University's guidance.

Before using a paraphrase, check that:

• you understand the relevant part of the source
• the wording and sentence structure are genuinely your own
• you have kept the source's meaning and represented it accurately
• the information is relevant to your point
• you have cited the source
• you have included a page number, paragraph number or other pinpoint if your referencing style requires one
• any exact words you retained are clearly presented as a quotation
• if you used AI, you checked the output against the original and followed the acknowledgement requirements for your assessment

For help with exact wording, see Quoting.