Have you ever tried to rewrite something in your own words, but it still counts as plagiarism? That’s because it was not properly paraphrased.
Paraphrasing is a useful skill for every writer, as it helps us to use somebody else’s content in our work.
When done correctly, paraphrasing can enhance your writing by providing supporting arguments. However, when done incorrectly, it can lead to serious academic and professional consequences.
An author, William Zinsser, once said, “Writing is thinking on paper.” But if your thoughts closely resemble someone else’s words without proper acknowledgment, it’s not just poor writing—it’s plagiarism.
So, how can you tell if your paraphrasing passes the test? And what separates a well-paraphrased passage from one that crosses the line into plagiarism? Let’s break down the differences and clear up the confusion.
What is paraphrasing plagiarism?
Let me explain with an example: suppose you write a poem for your friend’s birthday and someone else copies it and uses it for their friend. I am sure you are not going to feel good about it.
Using another person’s content is said to be plagiarism. It’s not considered a good writing approach.
Now, let’s move on to clarify the concept of paraphrasing plagiarism. You may reword a sentence to paraphrase it, but the similarity in the structure and context can still fall under plagiarism, more specifically paraphrasing plagiarism.
Paraphrasing is not like direct plagiarism; it's different and a quick way to make your content pass the plagiarism test, but still, the content will not be unique.
Types of paraphrasing
Any type of plagiarism is bad for your content, but we are focusing on two main reasons for plagiarism.
- Proper paraphrasing
Our first situation will be when we properly rephrase the copied text before using it in our work. We change the words and the sentence structure while keeping the context.
It is the most commonly used by students, researchers, marketers, and any other professionals. The text is paraphrased in such a way that it looks distinct from the original text. Ideas are reinstated while preserving the original meaning and citing the source.
The exciting thing is that it can also be done by using a paraphrasing tool. You just have to give a prompt to paraphrase the text as per your demand.
For example:
Original Text:
“Global warming is causing glaciers to melt at an unprecedented rate, which leads to rising sea levels and threatens coastal cities around the world.”
Proper Paraphrasing:
Glaciers are melting faster than ever due to global warming, resulting in higher sea levels that endanger coastal regions across the globe.
2. Improper paraphrasing
Now, if the paraphrasing is not done properly and the result is quite similar to the original content, it is improper paraphrasing.
You may have changed the words, but the structure and flow of the sentences are still announcing their relation to the source.
So, you have to consider rephrasing it again. You can change the words, sentence structure, and citations as well.
Here are some examples to illustrate improper paraphrasing:
Original Text:
"The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is transforming industries across the globe, from healthcare to finance."
Improper Paraphrasing:
"The fast growth of AI is changing industries worldwide, from healthcare to banking."
A real-life example of paraphrasing plagiarism
Case of Fareed Zakaria
In 2012, Fareed Zakaria was suspended from his positions at Time magazine and CNN after it was discovered that a column he wrote for Time contained passages that were very similar to those in a New Yorker article by Jill Lepore. Zakaria's column on gun control had paraphrased Lepore's work without proper attribution.
Original text by Jill Lepore in the New Yorker:
"The killing of twenty children at Sandy Hook Elementary School has left their parents, their families, and their neighbors paralyzed with grief. But that paralysis has also become the story of the United States in the twenty-first century."
Zakaria's paraphrased text in time:
"The massacre of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School has paralyzed the small town of Newtown, Conn. But this shock of horror has been repeated many times over in recent years."
Top 7 paraphrasing techniques for effective writing
Paraphrasing is a technique worth using only if you perform it rightfully. Many school and college-level students use this technique for their daily assignments and presentations.
But as they don’t know the proper methods, they get caught by the teachers using tools to detect plagiarized content.
This tool detects the copied text efficiently and shows the answer in percentage. They use it as proof against the students.
Let’s have a look at some paraphrasing techniques that help you paraphrase the text correctly.
1. Use synonyms for key terms
This is the first thing we do to paraphrase a sentence. Simply change some words with their synonyms that accurately reflect the context and tone of the original text.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary and writing skills.”
- Paraphrase: “Reading novels frequently can enhance your vocabulary and writing abilities.”
2. Change the sentence structure
Now, the next technique is to alter the structure of sentences by switching the order of ideas or clauses. This helps make your paraphrase more distinct from the original.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary and writing skills.”
- Paraphrase: “By consistently engaging in reading, you can enhance both your writing abilities and expand your vocabulary.”
3. Convert active voice to passive (and vice versa)
Professionals recommend not using passive voice too much. But we can turn a few active voice sentences into passive ones to change their structure. This makes content different and free from plagiarism.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary and writing skills.”
- Paraphrase: “Your vocabulary and writing skills can be improved by reading books regularly.”
4. Use different parts of speech
Variety in the content makes it more attractive, so you can convert nouns to verbs, adjectives to adverbs, or other parts of speech to create variation. This technique can help you avoid repetition of the original text's structure.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary and writing skills.”
- Paraphrase: “Regular reading of books leads to an improvement in vocabulary and writing skills.”
5. Break down long sentences
The most enjoyable technique in paraphrasing is to break down complex sentences into simpler, shorter sentences. This can help you paraphrase in a clearer, more digestible way.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary and writing skills, making it easier for you to express your thoughts clearly and effectively in both personal and professional settings.”
- Paraphrase: “Reading books on a regular basis can boost your vocabulary and enhance your writing skills. This improvement helps you express your thoughts more clearly and effectively, whether you are communicating in personal or professional situations.”
6. Combine ideas from multiple sentences
If the original text contains several short sentences, you have to try combining them into a single sentence. In this way, you create a new structure that is distinct from the original.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary. It also enhances your writing skills. This helps you communicate more effectively in various situations.”
- Paraphrase: “Regular reading of books not only enhances your vocabulary but also improves your writing skills, which ultimately boosts your ability to communicate effectively in different situations.”
7. Use contextual language
You have to adapt the language that fits the tone, style, and audience of your writing. Contextual language is considered the most effective language to engage readers.
Example:
- Original: “Reading books regularly can improve your vocabulary and writing skills.”
- Paraphrase: “Consistent reading can significantly enhance your communication skills, providing you with a more refined vocabulary and polished writing style that are essential in professional environments.”
Conclusion
Paraphrasing, no doubt, is a skill, but excessive use of this results in a lack of creativity. Sometimes it is equal to committing a crime.
Students highly indulge in the habit of copying and pasting the work of their fellows. It has bad effects on their academic results as well as on their reputation.
You can use this trick to save your time but with expertise. This technique also helps you when you are empty-minded. So, make sure to know about all the key things about paraphrasing and how you can avoid plagiarism while paraphrasing.
Keep practicing hard to be more efficient in paraphrasing. Practice makes you perfect, and one day you will be an expert in this technique.
Frequently asked questions
Is paraphrasing good for writing?
Of course, it is. It will make your arguments stronger, and diversified. Properly paraphrased content is legal to use and improves your writing skills.
How can I paraphrase correctly?
You can use synonyms to change the meanings, merge multiple ideas, and also the conversion of active and passive voice sentences. It should be enough to properly paraphrase a sentence. But if it still sounds similar, you should go for breaking it down into parts and use different parts of speech to make it distinct.
How is plagiarism detected in content?
There are tools available online that do that for you. You just have to copy your content and paste it into their input boxes. They will match it with all the data present online, and in case of any match, they will highlight it.
Other related blogs:
- What is mosaic plagiarism - 7 Tips to prevent during scientific writing
- Accidental Plagiarism: How It Happens And How To Avoid It
- What is Self Plagiarism: Is Recycling Your Own Work Plagiarism?
- Global plagiarism - 7 reasons why you should avoid it in academic writing
- Source-based Plagiarism - Why is it so bad for copywriter