Paraphrasing is one of the most important skills in academic writing. It allows you to incorporate sources while demonstrating your understanding. But effective paraphrasing is harder than it looks — it's not just swapping synonyms.
Technique 1: Change the Sentence Structure
The most effective way to paraphrase is to restructure the sentence completely rather than just replacing words.
Original:
The study found that students who used citation managers scored significantly higher on research papers (Smith, 2023).
Structure change (active to passive):
Students who utilized citation management tools achieved significantly higher scores on research papers, according to Smith (2023).
Structure change (restructured completely):
According to Smith (2023), there is a significant positive relationship between citation manager use and research paper performance.
Technique 2: Change the Word Class
Transform words from one part of speech to another while keeping the meaning.
| Original Word | Transformed |
|---|
| Analyzed (verb) | conducted an analysis (noun) |
| Demonstrated (verb) | was demonstrative of (adjective) |
| Significant (adjective) | was of significance (noun) |
| Improved (verb) | led to an improvement (noun) |
Technique 3: Use Synonyms Strategically
Replace words with synonyms, but be careful:
- Don't change field-specific terminology — use standard terms for your discipline
- Avoid thesaurus overuse — "utilized" instead of "used" doesn't make it a paraphrase
- Use synonyms primarily for non-technical words (very, important, shows)
Synonym substitution example:
| Original | Synonym |
|---|
| Important | Critical, essential, significant, key |
| Show | Indicate, demonstrate, reveal, suggest |
| Many | Numerous, multiple, various, several |
| Increase | Rise, growth, enhancement, elevation |
| Effect | Impact, influence, outcome, consequence |
Technique 4: Combine or Split Sentences
Original (two sentences):
Social media use has been linked to decreased academic performance. This relationship is moderated by self-regulation skills.
Combined:
Research suggests that social media use is negatively associated with academic performance, although this relationship is moderated by students' self-regulation skills.
Technique 5: Change the Order of Information
Present the same information but in a different logical order.
Original: "The experiment measured reaction times in 200 participants aged 18–25 using a computerized test."
Reordered: "Using a computerized test, the experiment measured reaction times in 200 participants whose ages ranged from 18 to 25."
Common Paraphrasing Mistakes
- Patchwork paraphrasing: Changing only a few words while keeping the original sentence structure — this is still plagiarism
- Changing meaning: Inaccurate paraphrasing that alters the source author's intended meaning
- Forgetting to cite: Even a perfect paraphrase needs a citation
- Over-paraphrasing: Making simple ideas overly complex — clarity should always come first
Tools for Paraphrasing
- QuillBot — Popular paraphrasing tool with Academic mode. Good for initial rewrites
- Wordtune — Generates multiple rewrite options for selected text
- LanguageTool — Paraphrase feature in the premium version
- ProWritingAid — Rephrasing suggestions as part of its editing reports
- Manual revision — Always the most reliable method
Good Paraphrasing Practices
- Read the original, then close it before writing your version
- Check your version against the original — did you preserve the meaning?
- Always check that you changed both vocabulary and sentence structure
- Include a citation even for paraphrased content
- Practice regularly — paraphrasing is a skill that improves with deliberate practice