reword it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reword it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to express something in different words or to paraphrase a statement. Example: "If you don't mind, could you reword it to make it clearer for everyone?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Reword it.

The New York Times

"I hate to say this — and feel free to reword it any way — but it was, honestly, at the time, real hatred," Petke said.

The New York Times - Sports

When I get the typed script back I cogitate again and then reword it, and I might get another version typed".

The Guardian

"I didn't know how else to say it; I tried to reword it three or four times," Mills said later in his office, still gripping the bat, lightly swinging it at his desk chair.

The New York Times - Sports

Every weekend during the two lecture seasons (fall and spring), I pull out last week's speech and reword it: go over it line by line, searching out anachronisms; insert fresh material, add or subtract a proposition, decide which contentions to analyze at colleges, which at business meetings or civic associations.

The New Yorker

Isn't this feature at risk of being a bit annoying — a la Microsoft's old Clippy Word assistant, which was perpetually noticing you were writing a letter and trying to reword it?

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Several times, when a question starts to ramble, she dives in and crisply rewords it for me before answering.

The Guardian

Because of the novelist's ban on any reproduction of her correspondence, O'Brien could not quote the letter verbatim, so she reworded it.

The New Yorker

Trudging tomboyishly around the city's edgelands to spit out her frustration in rap form, one night an uninvited listener shows up: Maxine (Jisca Calvanda), an illegal but irrepressible immigrant from the DRC – or, as Lenny rewords it, the rez-de-chaussée (ground floor).

The Guardian - Film

Play freely with the problem statement, rewording it several times.

WikiHow

For example, "I play chess every chance I get, as it is my goal to travel the country as a full-time competitor," could be geared for resume writing by rewording it as, "I enjoy the chess club because it stimulates my creative problem solving skills and opens my mind to new ways of thinking outside the box".

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing feedback, use "reword it" to encourage others to clarify their writing while maintaining the original intent.

Common error

If the issue is not just wording but also content, suggest a "revision" or "rewrite" instead of just asking to "reword it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reword it" functions primarily as an imperative verb phrase, directing someone to modify the wording of something. It is used to request a change in expression without necessarily altering the core meaning. As shown in Ludwig, it suggests a desire for clarification or a different phrasing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reword it" is a grammatically sound and usable imperative phrase, primarily used to request that someone rephrase something for increased clarity or improved style. While not extremely common, as suggested by Ludwig, it finds its place in news, wikis, and scientific writing and is suitable for neutral registers. Remember, use "reword it" when minor adjustments are needed, and consider alternatives like "rephrase it" or "rewrite it" when more significant changes are required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rephrase it

Suggests expressing the same idea in different words for clarity or emphasis.

rewrite it

Implies a more substantial change to the wording, possibly involving restructuring.

restate it

Focuses on presenting the information again, potentially in a simpler way.

put it differently

Highlights a change in expression without necessarily altering the core meaning.

recast it

Suggests a complete change in form or structure.

express it differently

Emphasizes a change in the manner of conveying information.

say it another way

Offers a simple and direct alternative for varying expression.

phrase it in another way

Suggests modifying the wording of a specific phrase.

reformulate it

Suggests a more formal and structured change in wording.

alter the wording

Highlights the modification of specific terms and wording

FAQs

How can I use "reword it" in a sentence?

You can use "reword it" when you want someone to express something in different words. For example, you might say, "Could you "reword it" to be more precise?"

What is a good alternative to saying "reword it"?

Alternatives to "reword it" include "rephrase it", "rewrite it", or "restate it". The best choice depends on the context and the degree of change you want.

Is it better to "reword it" or "rewrite it"?

"Reword it" suggests minor changes to improve clarity or style, while ""rewrite it"" implies a more significant revision, potentially altering the structure and content.

When should I ask someone to "reword it" instead of "explain it again"?

Use "reword it" when the explanation is already there but needs to be clearer or more concise. If the explanation is missing or incomplete, asking them to "explain it again" is more appropriate.