paraphrase

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'paraphrase' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the re-wording or summarizing of someone else's writing or speech. For example, "My professor asked me to paraphrase the author's argument in my own words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To paraphrase one exec, we think cancer can be cured for £15 per annum.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Heston was clever enough to spot my stupidity, the paraphrase was left on the cutting floor room.

The Guardian

To paraphrase Crass and Billy Bragg – all big eggs Benedict fans, I'm sure – do not pay more than £6.99.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

To paraphrase Dorothy Parker, there's no such thing as a happy ending.

The Guardian - Film

To paraphrase the prophet of pop Elton John, there's a perpetual circle of life going on in EastEnders, where Stan breathed his last.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

That lesson, the one-time vice-presidential candidate said, was a paraphrase of lyrics by pop singer Taylor Swift: "You don't stop moving and baby you just shake it off".

The Guardian

To lose one potential match-winner, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, is unfortunate.

The Guardian - Sport

In the same way that (to paraphrase Joey from Friends) the television gave us something to point our furniture at, A Christmas Carol gave us something to point our winters at.

The Guardian - Books

Related: Marina Abramović Jay ZZ 'completely used me' Her latest work, to paraphrase the title of Hamilton's Swingeing London – a portrait of a media-dazzled handcuffed Mick Jagger – is Whingeing Marina.

The Guardian - Arts

But, to paraphrase an old vaudeville act, who is the real sick man?

The Guardian - Opinion

A very familiar paraphrase occurred when I tried to give Charlton Heston a note when he played the player king in Hamlet, I talked to him about the line "Anon he finds him striking too short at Greeks" which unfortunately I repeated "Anon he finds him striking at two short Greeks".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you "paraphrase", always cite the original source to avoid plagiarism. Even if you reword it, the idea still belongs to the original author.

Common error

Don't just replace a few words when you "paraphrase". Truly understand the concept and express it in your own unique way, or you risk unintentional plagiarism.

Linguistic Context

The word "paraphrase" functions primarily as a verb, indicating the action of rewording a text or statement. It can also function as a noun, referring to the restatement itself. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

29%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "paraphrase" is correctly employed as both a verb and a noun to represent the act of rewording or restating something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity and wide applicability. Its usage spans various fields, including news, formal business communications, and science, showing its versatility across diverse writing styles. When using "paraphrase", remember to cite original sources to avoid plagiarism and focus on truly re-expressing the idea in your own words rather than simply changing a few words. By understanding when and how to "paraphrase" effectively, you can improve your clarity and avoid plagiarism, making your writing more credible and original. The related phrases, such as "restate in other words" and "summarize", offer alternate ways to express the same fundamental concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

restate in other words

Focuses on changing the wording while maintaining the original meaning.

summarize

Implies condensing the original text to its main points.

reword

Highlights the act of changing the specific words used.

rephrase

Similar to reword, but can also imply a change in sentence structure.

express in different terms

Emphasizes the use of alternative vocabulary and phrasing.

put another way

Suggests offering an alternative explanation or perspective.

interpret

Involves explaining the meaning of something in one's own understanding.

translate

Signifies converting information from one language or form to another, keeping the meaning.

render

Can mean to express or perform something.

gloss

Means to provide an explanation or interpretation, often of a difficult or obscure text.

FAQs

How to use "paraphrase" in a sentence?

You can use "paraphrase" as a verb, meaning to reword something, as in "The student had to "paraphrase" the text in their own words". Or, you can use it as a noun, referring to the rewording itself, as in "The "paraphrase" was clearer than the original text".

What's the difference between "paraphrase" and summarize?

"Paraphrase" means to reword something while keeping the same length and level of detail. Summarizing, on the other hand, involves condensing the original text to its main points, making it shorter than the original. If you "summarize", you will make it shorter.

What can I say instead of "paraphrase"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "restate in other words", "reword", "rephrase", or "express in different terms".

When should I "paraphrase" instead of directly quoting?

You should "paraphrase" when the exact wording of the original source isn't crucial, but the idea is important. Direct quotes should be reserved for when the original author's specific words are essential to your point. If what really matters is the idea, then "paraphrase".