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How to Properly Paraphrase
By Administration | July 2, 2007
Paraphrasing is a great way to relay information from one source to the next without having to memorize the message word for word. You paraphrase every day whether you are aware of it or not- it’s the minds way to making messages understandable. However, when it comes to formal or business communication you need to be sure that you do it properly when you put your thoughts down onto paper. This avoids any possible legal complications that could result from improper paraphrasing.
What is Paraphrasing?
This is when you reword another person’s statement or argument. When paraphrasing academically it is required to be about the same length as the original, but outside of academic pursuits there are no specific requirements like that.
An Example
Your boss looked quite angry with you. “I know that you’re very busy and that you need to take time to yourself, but that doesn’t mean that you should put the needs of this company second! If you keep slipping up I’m going to have to take administrative measures to correct the problem.”
After she was done talking, you looked at her and said “So, if I keep making mistakes I’m going to get fired?”
Properly citing any materials or authors referenced avoids accountability being placed on you. Essentially, it keeps you out of trouble (look, I paraphrased right there).
How to Paraphrase a Written Document
A few guidelines to follow when paraphrasing another person’s text:
- Change everything. This means sentence structure as well as the wording. This avoids any plagiarism issues that may arise.
- Always give the original author credit. This is done via a source citation or a bibliography.
- If you directly quote someone be sure to use quotation marks and an introduction statement.
- Example: According to Mr. Martel, you should always “………”
- Example: According to Mr. Martel, you should always “………”
- Make sure to format the paraphrase according to the style that you are required to do so. If you are writing an essay that needs to be formatted to MLA style, for example, you need to make sure that you’ve cited the original author or speaker correctly. A quick search online should net you the information you’re looking for.
Always be sure to give the original author credit. I cannot stress this enough. Failure to do so could create a copyright violation, and I doubt that the original author (or their lawyers) would appreciate you taking credit for his work.
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