When Should You Paraphrase Information?

Paraphrasing should be used when you want information from a source but cannot use it verbatim. Here are some situations when you should consider paraphrasing:

1. To avoid plagiarism
   • Paraphrasing helps you avoid plagiarism by restating the information in your own words.
   • This is especially important in academic writing or when creating content.
2. To simplify complex information
   • Paraphrasing can help make complex information easier to understand for readers.
   • This is useful when writing technical documents or scientific research papers.
3. To add variety to your writing
   • Paraphrasing can also help add variety to your writing by using different words and sentence structures.

When to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize

While paraphrasing is a valuable tool for writers, it’s not always the best choice. Depending on the context, it may be more appropriate to quote or summarize the information instead. Here are some situations when you should consider using each technique:

When to Quote:

Quoting is the act of using the exact words of a source. You should consider quoting when:

• The original wording is particularly memorable or impactful.
• The source’s words are well-known or have been frequently cited.
• The source’s words are being used for analysis or critique.

However, it’s important to remember that overusing quotes can make your writing seem choppy and detract from your own voice.

When to Paraphrase:

Paraphrasing is restating information in your own words while keeping the original meaning. You should consider paraphrasing when:

• You need to convey the source’s ideas in a more precise or more concise way.
• You want to avoid using too many quotes.
• You need to avoid using the same phrasing as the original source.

Remember to give credit to the original source even when paraphrasing.

When to Summarize:

Summarizing is the act of giving a brief overview of the main points of a source. You should consider summarizing when:

• The source contains a lot of information and you want to condense it.
• You want to give your reader a quick overview of the source’s main points.
• You want to compare and contrast multiple sources.

It’s important to note that summarizing too much can leave out important details or nuances, so include the most essential information.

Here is a step-by-step guide to help you paraphrase information effectively:

1. Read the original text carefully
   • Before you start paraphrasing, make sure you understand the original text thoroughly.
   • Read it multiple times and highlight the key points.
2. Break down the text into smaller chunks
   • Identify the main ideas and break down the text into smaller chunks.
   • This will make it easier to analyze the information and rephrase it in your own words.
3. Analyze the information
   • Analyze the information and try to understand its meaning.
   • Think about how you can rephrase it in a way that is easier to understand for your audience.
4. Use synonyms and different sentence structures
   • Use synonyms to replace keywords and try to use different sentence structures to convey the same meaning.
   • This will help you avoid plagiarism and add variety to your writing.
5. Check for accuracy
   • Once you have paraphrased the information, check for accuracy.
   • Make sure you have captured the original meaning of the text and have not changed it in any way.

When using sources in your writing, it’s essential to understand how to properly use direct quotes. Direct quotations are the exact words of the original author and should be enclosed in quotation marks. Here are some guidelines for formatting direct quotations:

1. Use Quotation Marks:

• Enclose the direct quotation in quotation marks. This lets the reader know that the words are not your own.
• Example: According to Johnson (2010), “Direct quotations should always be enclosed in quotation marks” (p. 20).

2. Use In-Text Citations:

• Include an in-text citation after the quotation to give credit to the original author. I
• The in-text citation should include the author’s name and the page number where the quotation can be found.
• Example: According to Johnson (2010), “Direct quotations should always be enclosed in quotation marks” (p. 20).

3. Use Block Quotations for Longer Passages:

• If the direct quotation is longer than 40 words, use a block quotation.
• In a block quotation, start a new line and indent the entire quotation.
• Do not use quotation marks for block quotations.
• Example:Johnson (2010) writes:Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam id hendrerit risus, in eleifend lorem. Nulla facilisi. Fusce eget massa euismod, blandit ipsum a, suscipit elit. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Sed faucibus consectetur mi, nec tempor magna pellentesque non. Sed imperdiet elit id elit pulvinar, vel commodo purus luctus. (p. 20)

4. Use Ellipses and Square Brackets:

• When you need to omit or change part of a direct quotation, use ellipses and square brackets. In APA and MLA styles, the typical use of ellipsis and square brackets is 1-2.
• Ellipses are used to show that some words have been omitted from the original passage, and square brackets are used to show that you have added or changed some words.
• Example: According to Johnson (2010), “Direct quotations should always be enclosed in […] marks” (p. 20).