The five-step method
- 1. Understand: read the passage until you can explain it to a friend without looking.
- 2. Note key terms: technical terms (for example "photosynthetic efficiency" or "heteroskedasticity") do not need replacing.
- 3. Close the source and write: explain the idea in your own words and sentence structure.
- 4. Compare: check accuracy, and check you have not kept the original's sentence pattern.
- 5. Cite: a paraphrase still needs a citation.
An example
Original: "Students who receive timely formative feedback demonstrate significantly greater improvement in subsequent assignments than those who receive only summative grades."
Weak (patchwriting): Students that get timely formative feedback show much greater improvement in later assignments than students who only get summative grades.
Good paraphrase: Feedback given during a course, rather than only a final grade, appears to help students do noticeably better on their next pieces of work (Author, Year).
Paraphrase, summarise or quote?
- Quote when the exact wording matters (definitions, legal text, a striking phrase).
- Paraphrase when you need one specific point in detail.
- Summarise when you need the main idea of a whole paper, usually in one or two sentences.
- Synthesise in literature reviews: combine several sources in one sentence to show a pattern or debate.
Our editors review your own paraphrases for accuracy, clarity and correct citation, and flag places where wording is still too close to the source.
More: editing FAQ · lowering similarity honestly
This guide is general information. Always follow your own university's current regulations and your supervisor's advice.