reword
LowNeutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
To express the same meaning using different words.
To revise or edit the wording of a text, statement, or question, often for clarity, diplomacy, or style.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A process-focused verb. It implies conscious effort to alter phrasing while preserving or refining the original message. Often used in contexts of revision, editing, or paraphrasing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The process is conceptual and lexical, not phonetic.
Connotations
Neutral in both; implies precision, clarification, or tact.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, used in similar contexts (editing, diplomacy, questionnaire design).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] rewording [Object] (e.g., She rewrote the email.)[Object] is/needs to be/has been reworded (e.g., The question needs to be reworded.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this verb.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rewording contracts, emails, or press releases for legal clarity or public relations.
Academic
Rewording research questions or paraphrasing sources to avoid plagiarism.
Everyday
Rewording a social media post to sound more polite.
Technical
Rewording software error messages or user instructions for better comprehension.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you reword that to make it sound less abrupt?
- The lawyer suggested rewording clause 4 for absolute clarity.
American English
- The teacher asked me to reword my thesis statement.
- We should reword the survey question to avoid bias.
adverb
British English
- This clause can be expressed more clearly, if somewhat rewordedly.
American English
- She presented the idea, albeit rewordedly, from my original draft.
adjective
British English
- The reworded proposal was finally accepted by the council.
American English
- Please submit the reworded paragraph by Friday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I will reword my email.
- The sentence was confusing, so the teacher helped me reword it.
- The contract had to be reworded to reflect the new agreement between the parties.
- The diplomat skilfully reworded the contentious paragraph, transforming a potential provocation into a statement of constructive intent.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-WORD. You are putting the idea into NEW WORDS.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A GARMENT (you are changing the clothing of the idea).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'retell' ('пересказать'), which is about narrative. 'Reword' is about the specific choice of words, not the content sequence.
- It is not a direct synonym for 'correct' or 'fix' ('исправить'), but for 're-express' ('переформулировать').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'reword' when you mean completely change the content (use 'rewrite').
- Spelling as 're-word' (hyphenated form is rare and outdated).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest in meaning to 'reword'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Paraphrase' often implies a longer piece of text and focuses on explaining the meaning in one's own words. 'Reword' is more general and can apply to a single sentence or phrase, focusing on changing the wording itself.
It is neutral but is most commonly used in contexts that involve careful writing, such as editing, law, or academia, giving it a formal feel in practice.
Yes, that is a common implication. The purpose of rewording is usually to improve clarity, precision, tone, or style.
Not directly. The action is 'rewording'. For a result, you would use 'reworded version' or 'rephrasing'.