paraphrase
B2-C1Formal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
to express the meaning of something using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.
The act or product of rewording text while preserving the original meaning; used in academic writing to demonstrate understanding without direct quotation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a restatement that is often simpler or longer than the original. Carries a neutral-to-scholarly tone. Not synonymous with 'summary' which condenses content.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. Slightly more common in UK academic contexts regarding citation practices.
Connotations
In both varieties, implies careful, ethical handling of source material. In US pedagogy, often taught explicitly as a skill to avoid plagiarism.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in academic/professional registers. Slight edge in UK corpus data for humanities subjects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
paraphrase + NP (object)paraphrase + NP + as + clausebe paraphrased + by + NP/gerundVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to paraphrase loosely (to give a rough, not exact, restatement)”
- “as someone once paraphrased (used to introduce a loose reference)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when summarising reports or client feedback in one's own words for a memo.
Academic
Critical skill for demonstrating comprehension and integrating sources without plagiarism.
Everyday
Less common. Used when explaining something complex in simpler terms to someone.
Technical
Used in linguistics (e.g., 'paraphrase relationship') and natural language processing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- His essay contained a neat paraphrase of Keynes' theory.
- The provided paraphrase clarified the obscure paragraph.
American English
- She wrote a paraphrase of the abstract for her notes.
- Is this a direct quote or your paraphrase?
verb
British English
- Could you paraphrase that legal jargon for the layperson?
- The student was asked to paraphrase the sonnet in modern English.
American English
- She paraphrased the contract's key points for the team.
- To avoid plagiarism, always paraphrase and cite your sources.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The teacher told us to paraphrase the sentence.
- I will try to paraphrase what he said.
- Academic writers must learn to paraphrase complex sources effectively.
- Her paraphrase of the policy document made it accessible to all employees.
- The critic's adept paraphrase captured the nuance of the original polemic while adapting its tone for a contemporary audience.
- Linguists study paraphrase relations to understand semantic equivalence between syntactic structures.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PARAchute (PARA) that helps a PHRASE land safely in different words.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A GARMENT (to re-clothe an idea).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'перефразировать' for overly loose or interpretative summaries; English 'paraphrase' expects closer meaning fidelity.
- Do not confuse with 'пересказ' (retelling), which is more narrative.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'to summarise briefly' (a paraphrase can be longer).
- Confusing it with 'plagiarise' (paraphrasing, when cited, is ethical).
- Incorrect stress: /pærəˈfreɪz/ is rare/non-standard.
Practice
Quiz
What is the PRIMARY purpose of a paraphrase in academic writing?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Effective paraphrasing involves changing the sentence structure and wording while fully understanding and conveying the original idea, not just swapping words.
Yes. Paraphrasing does not remove the need for citation. You must still credit the original author of the idea.
Yes. A paraphrase often is longer, as it may explain or unpack a dense original statement.
A paraphrase usually deals with a specific passage or idea in similar detail. A summary condenses a larger body of work, capturing only the main points.
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