Paraphrase Definition | Simple Definition & Example

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Paraphrasing Tool

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Kayla has a master's degree in teaching English as a second language. She has taught university-level ESL and first-year composition courses and also has over 15 years of experience as an editor.

Kayla Hewitt

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A paraphrase is a restatement of a text or piece of speech, expressing the same ideas in different words. Paraphrasing is typically used to clarify the meaning, adapt the message for a different audience, or to show understanding of the source material.

Paraphrasing can also be used to avoid plagiarism as long as you provide a complete and correct citation to credit the original author(s). Guidelines for citing sources can vary (e.g., paraphrasing in APA looks different from paraphrasing in MLA), so make sure to consult the correct style guide.

Paraphrase definition and examples

A paraphrase is when you rewrite a written or spoken text in your own words while keeping the original meaning intact. It’s used to demonstrate understanding or to clarify or adapt the material.

Paraphrase example

Original Text	Paraphrase
Seals are marine mammals known for their sleek, streamlined bodies and flippers, which make them excellent swimmers. They inhabit various coastal regions around the world. Seals are carnivorous, feeding mainly on fish and squid. They are social animals, often seen basking in groups on beaches and ice floes.	Seals are mammals that live in the water. They are characterized by smooth bodies with flippers, which allow them to swim very well. Seals are found all over the world, mostly on shores and ice. Their diet mainly consists of other animals, such as squid and different types of fish. They usually move around in groups, as they are social animals.

You can use a paraphrasing tool to paraphrase your text for free. Always ensure the original meaning has been preserved. You should also add a citation to avoid paraphrasing plagiarism.

Paraphrase definition in literature

The scope and meaning of paraphrasing can vary slightly depending on the context. Paraphrasing literature involves rephrasing parts of a literary text without impacting the original meaning. This allows you to discuss the major themes or literary devices of a text without relying on direct quotations. However, depending on the type and length of the text, you may need to both summarize and paraphrase.

When paraphrasing literature as part of a literary analysis essay, it’s important to paraphrase correctly and accurately cite the paraphrase to avoid unintentional plagiarism.

Original Text	Paraphrase
There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars. At high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two motor-boats slit the waters of the Sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam. —The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald	Fitzgerald depicts Gatsby’s lifestyle as an ongoing and opulent celebration. However, the metaphor of the guests as months drawn to the allure of the spectacle suggests the superficial and fleeting attraction of this way of life.

Original Text

Paraphrase

There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars. At high tide in the afternoon I watched his guests diving from the tower of his raft or taking the sun on the hot sand of his beach while his two motor-boats slit the waters of the Sound, drawing aquaplanes over cataracts of foam.

—The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald depicts Gatsby’s lifestyle as an ongoing and opulent celebration. However, the metaphor of the guests as months drawn to the allure of the spectacle suggests the superficial and fleeting attraction of this way of life.

Paraphrase definition in writing

Paraphrasing in writing is the act of restating another writer’s words or ideas without changing the original meaning. Paraphrasing helps you to integrate other sources into your writing without using direct quotes and in a way that suits your writing style.

Paraphrasing in writing is different to paraphrasing in speech because it often involves giving proper attribution to the original source, especially if you are writing an academic essay. It’s important to know how to paraphrase correctly and to include an accurate citation that matches your institution’s preferred style guide (e.g., APA, MLA). If you’re not writing an academic essay, it is often sufficient to simply mention the author’s name.

Paraphrase example

Original Text	Paraphrase Example
Poems, as criticism always has assured us, must give pleasure. But—despite the insistence of whole traditions of poetry and of Romanticism in particular—poems are not given by pleasure, but by the unpleasure of a dangerous situation, the situation of anxiety of which the grief of influence forms so large a part. —The Anxiety of Influence by Harold Bloom	Harold Bloom argues that poetry emerges in part from the emotional struggle associated with poetic influence rather than from the experience of pleasure.

Original Text

Paraphrase Example

Poems, as criticism always has assured us, must give pleasure. But—despite the insistence of whole traditions of poetry and of Romanticism in particular—poems are not given by pleasure, but by the unpleasure of a dangerous situation, the situation of anxiety of which the grief of influence forms so large a part.

—The Anxiety of Influence by Harold Bloom

Harold Bloom argues that poetry emerges in part from the emotional struggle associated with poetic influence rather than from the experience of pleasure.

Paraphrase definition for kids

You paraphrase when you put something you have read or heard in your own words. For example, if you read a story that says “The muddy footprints proved that Milo’s imaginary friend was real,” you might paraphrase it as “it was clear that Milo’s imaginary friend existed because they had made a mess.” This paraphrasing example expresses the same information as the original quote, but it uses different words and a different sentence structure.

Paraphrasing can help you improve your reading and listening skills because it involves thinking about information and expressing it in your own way.

In this article

Paraphrase Definition

Paraphrase definition and examples

Paraphrase definition in literature

Paraphrase definition in writing

Paraphrase definition for kids

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the definition of paraphrase

What’s the best definition of the term paraphrase?

A paraphrase means the restatement of a written or spoken text in different words while keeping the original meaning intact in order to clarify or simplify the original content.

What is a paraphraser?

A paraphraser is a tool that rephrases a source text into different words while keeping the original meaning intact.

A good paraphraser, such as Paraphrasing Tool, does not only swap out words for synonyms, but also significantly alters the sentence structure.

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