How to Paraphrase: Techniques to Avoid Plagiarism

Paraphrasing means restating someone else's idea in your own words and sentence structure while preserving the original meaning. It is one of the most important skills in academic writing because it allows you to incorporate evidence from your sources without relying on direct quotes. A well-written research paper uses paraphrasing far more than quoting — it demonstrates that you have understood and processed the material, not merely copied it.

However, paraphrasing is not the same as replacing a few words with synonyms. That approach — sometimes called "patchwriting" — is considered a form of plagiarism because the sentence structure and logic still belong to the original author. True paraphrasing requires you to fully digest the idea and express it in a new way, using your own voice and sentence patterns.

Paraphrasing is appropriate in most situations where you want to use information from a source. Direct quotes should be reserved for specific cases where the original wording is essential — for example, when the author coined a term, used a particularly memorable phrase, or when you plan to analyse the exact language they used.

• Paraphrase when you need the idea but not the exact wording — this is the default for most citations in academic writing
• Quote when the exact wording matters — definitions, famous phrases, or language you intend to analyse
• Quote when paraphrasing would distort the meaning — some complex arguments are best presented in the author's own words
• Paraphrase when you want to simplify a complex passage — restate it in clearer, more accessible language for your reader
• Paraphrase when integrating findings from multiple sources — synthesis requires putting ideas in your own words

This method helps you produce genuine paraphrases that are clearly distinct from the original text. It takes practice, but once you have the habit, it becomes second nature.

• Step 1: Read the original passage carefully until you understand the core idea — do not start writing until you can explain it without looking at the source
• Step 2: Set the source aside and write the idea from memory in your own words — use your natural vocabulary and sentence structure
• Step 3: Compare your version to the original to make sure you have not inadvertently copied phrases or sentence patterns — if any strings of three or more words match, rewrite those sections
• Step 4: Add the citation — a paraphrase always requires a citation because the underlying idea is not yours, even though the words are

"Sleep deprivation significantly impairs working memory, executive function, and sustained attention in healthy adults" (Walker, 2017, p. 158).

Sleep deprivation greatly impairs working memory, executive function, and sustained attention in adults (Walker, 2017). — Too close to the original; only synonyms were changed.

When adults do not get enough sleep, key cognitive abilities — including the ability to hold information in mind, make decisions, and maintain focus — decline substantially (Walker, 2017).

A paraphrase always requires a citation. The format of the citation depends on your style guide. In APA, include the author and year: (Walker, 2017). A page number is not required for paraphrases in APA, though it is encouraged if it would help the reader locate the relevant passage. In MLA, include the author and page number: (Walker 158). In Chicago Author-Date, include the author and year: (Walker 2017).

Place the citation immediately after the paraphrased material. If you paraphrase multiple sentences from the same source in the same paragraph, you generally need to cite the source at least once — most style guides recommend citing at the end of the paraphrased passage. If the paraphrase spans multiple paragraphs, cite the source in each paragraph.

• Synonym swapping — replacing individual words with synonyms while keeping the same sentence structure is patchwriting, not paraphrasing
• Copying sentence structure — even if you change every word, mirroring the original sentence structure is too close to the source
• Omitting the citation — using your own words does not make the idea yours; you still need to cite the source
• Changing the meaning — your paraphrase must faithfully represent the original idea; do not add, remove, or distort the author's argument
• Paraphrasing without understanding — if you cannot explain the idea without looking at the source, you have not understood it well enough to paraphrase it

Plagiarism detection tools like Turnitin are increasingly sophisticated at identifying patchwriting and structural similarity, not just identical text. The safest approach is always to read, understand, set aside, and rewrite — then compare your version to the original before submitting.