paraphrasing and quoting for academic purposes

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Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

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This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.

What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:

• Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing
• Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing
• Give examples of several points of view on a subject
• Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with
• Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original
• Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own
• Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams , Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).

How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries

Practice summarizing the essay found here , using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:

• Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
• Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.
• Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
• Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.

There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.

APA Citation Guide (7th edition): Quotes vs Paraphrases

• Book Examples
• Article Examples
• Media Examples
• Internet Resources Examples
• Other Examples
• Quotes vs Paraphrases
• Reference Entry Components
• Paper Formatting

What's the Difference?

Quoting vs paraphrasing: what's the difference.

There are two ways to integrate sources into your assignment: quoting directly or paraphrasing.

Quoting  is copying a selection from someone else's work, phrasing it exactly as it was originally written. When quoting place quotation marks (" ") around the selected passage to show where the quote begins and where it ends. Make sure to include an in-text citation. 

Paraphrasing  is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must reword the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation. 

Quoting Example

There are two basic formats that can be used:

Parenthetical Style:

Narrative Style:

Quoting Tips

• Long Quotes
• Changing Quotes

What Is a Long Quotation?

A quotation of more than 40 words. 

Rules for Long Quotations

There are 4 rules that apply to long quotations that are different from regular quotations:

• The line before your long quotation, when you're introducing the quote, usually ends with a colon.
• The long quotation is indented half an inch from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
• There are no quotation marks around the quotation.
• The period at the end of the quotation comes before your in-text citation as opposed to after, as it does with regular quotations.

Example of a Long Quotation

At the end of Lord of the Flies the boys are struck with the realization of their behaviour:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding, 1960, p.186)

Changing Quotations

Sometimes you may want to make some modifications to the quote to fit your writing. Here are some APA rules when changing quotes:

Incorrect spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Add the word [sic] after the error in the quotation to let your reader know the error was in the original source and is not your error.

Omitting parts of a quotation

If you would like to exclude some words from a quotation, replace the words you are not including with an ellipsis - ...

Adding words to a quote

If you are adding words that are not part of the original quote, enclose the additional words in square brackets - [XYZ]

Secondary Source Quotes

What is a secondary source.

In scholarly work, a primary source reports original content; a secondary source refers to content first reported in another source.

• Cite secondary sources sparingly—for instance, when the original work is out of print, unavailable, or available only in a language that you do not understand.
• If possible, as a matter of good scholarly practice, find the primary source, read it, and cite it directly rather than citing a secondary source.

Rules for Secondary Source Citations

• In the reference list, provide an entry only for the secondary source that you used.
• In the text, identify the primary source and write “as cited in” the secondary source that you used. 
• If the year of publication of the primary source is known, also include it in the in-text citation.

Example of a Secondary Source Use

Quote & In-Text Citation

Reference List Entry

Paraphrases

Paraphrasing example.

When you write information from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion as follows:

If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation, instead include the year of publication following his/her name:

NOTE : Although not required, APA encourages including the page number when paraphrasing if it will help the reader locate the information in a long text and distinguish between the information that is coming from you and the source.

Paraphrasing Tips

• Long Paraphrases

Original Source

Homeless individuals commonly come from families who are riddled with problems and marital disharmony, and are alienated from their parents. They have often been physically and even sexually abused, have relocated frequently, and many of them may be asked to leave home or are actually thrown out, or alternatively are placed in group homes or in foster care. They often have no one to care for them and no one knows them intimately.

Source from: 

Rokach, A. (2005). The causes of loneliness in homeless youth. The Journal of Psychology, 139, 469-480. 

Example: Incorrect Paraphrasing

Example: correct paraphrasing.

If your paraphrase is longer than one sentence, provide an in-text citation for the source at the beginning of the paraphrase. As long as it's clear that the paraphrase continues to the following sentences, you don't have to include in-text citations for the following sentences.

If your paraphrase continues to another paragraph and/or you include paraphrases from other sources within the paragraph, repeat the in-text citations for each.

Additional Resource

• Paraphrasing (The Learning Portal)

Tip sheet on paraphrasing information

• << Previous: In-Text Citations
• Next: Reference Entry Components >>
• Last Updated: Jul 30, 2024 4:42 PM
• URL: https://simmons.libguides.com/apa

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• How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 1, 2023.

Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.

Paraphrasing is an alternative to  quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.

Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism .

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Table of contents

How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs. quoting, paraphrasing vs. summarizing, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing.

If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.

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Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.

Incorrect paraphrasing

You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for  synonyms .

Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).

This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:

• “Advancement and contamination” doesn’t really convey the same meaning as “development and pollution.”
• Sometimes the changes make the tone less academic: “home” for “habitat” and “sea creatures” for “marine animals.”
• Adding phrases like “inhabiting the vicinity of” and “puts pressure on” makes the text needlessly long-winded.
• Global warming is related to climate change, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.

Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism .

Correct paraphrasing

Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.

Here, we’ve:

• Only included the information that’s relevant to our argument (note that the paraphrase is shorter than the original)
• Introduced the information with the signal phrase “Scientists believe that …”
• Retained key terms like “development and pollution,” since changing them could alter the meaning
• Structured sentences in our own way instead of copying the structure of the original
• Started from a different point, presenting information in a different order

Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.

Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.

• Journal article
• Newspaper article
• Magazine article

Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.

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It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:

• Paraphrasing shows that you fully understand the meaning of a text
• Your own voice remains dominant throughout your paper
• Quotes reduce the readability of your text

But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:

• Giving a precise definition
• Saying something about the author’s language or style (e.g., in a literary analysis paper)
• Providing evidence in support of an argument
• Critiquing or analyzing a specific claim

A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.

When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing .

Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.

When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism .

This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.

Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.

To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
• Critical thinking

 Plagiarism

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Common knowledge

To paraphrase effectively, don’t just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:

• Reformulating the sentence (e.g., change active to passive , or start from a different point)
• Combining information from multiple sentences into one
• Leaving out information from the original that isn’t relevant to your point
• Using synonyms where they don’t distort the meaning

The main point is to ensure you don’t just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.

Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .

As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.

Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.

So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?

• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don’t properly credit the original author.
• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead.
• Paraphrasing  is not plagiarism if you put the author’s ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source .

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To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It’s appropriate to quote when:

• Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text
• You want to discuss the author’s language choices (e.g., in literary analysis )
• You’re presenting a precise definition
• You’re looking in depth at a specific claim

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Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2023, June 01). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-paraphrase/

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Quoting and Paraphrasing

Download this Handout PDF

College writing often involves integrating information from published sources into your own writing in order to add credibility and authority–this process is essential to research and the production of new knowledge.

However, when building on the work of others, you need to be careful not to plagiarize : “to steal and pass off (the ideas and words of another) as one’s own” or to “present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.”1 The University of Wisconsin–Madison takes this act of “intellectual burglary” very seriously and considers it to be a breach of academic integrity . Penalties are severe.

These materials will help you avoid plagiarism by teaching you how to properly integrate information from published sources into your own writing.

1. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1993), 888.

How to avoid plagiarism

When using sources in your papers, you can avoid plagiarism by knowing what must be documented.

Specific words and phrases

If you use an author’s specific word or words, you must place those words within quotation marks and you must credit the source.

Information and Ideas

Even if you use your own words, if you obtained the information or ideas you are presenting from a source, you must document the source.

Information : If a piece of information isn’t common knowledge (see below), you need to provide a source.

Ideas : An author’s ideas may include not only points made and conclusions drawn, but, for instance, a specific method or theory, the arrangement of material, or a list of steps in a process or characteristics of a medical condition. If a source provided any of these, you need to acknowledge the source.

Common Knowledge?

You do not need to cite a source for material considered common knowledge:

General common knowledge is factual information considered to be in the public domain, such as birth and death dates of well-known figures, and generally accepted dates of military, political, literary, and other historical events. In general, factual information contained in multiple standard reference works can usually be considered to be in the public domain.

Field-specific common knowledge is “common” only within a particular field or specialty. It may include facts, theories, or methods that are familiar to readers within that discipline. For instance, you may not need to cite a reference to Piaget’s developmental stages in a paper for an education class or give a source for your description of a commonly used method in a biology report—but you must be sure that this information is so widely known within that field that it will be shared by your readers.

If in doubt, be cautious and cite the source. And in the case of both general and field-specific common knowledge, if you use the exact words of the reference source, you must use quotation marks and credit the source.

Paraphrasing vs. Quoting — Explanation

Should i paraphrase or quote.

In general, use direct quotations only if you have a good reason. Most of your paper should be in your own words. Also, it’s often conventional to quote more extensively from sources when you’re writing a humanities paper, and to summarize from sources when you’re writing in the social or natural sciences–but there are always exceptions.

In a literary analysis paper , for example, you”ll want to quote from the literary text rather than summarize, because part of your task in this kind of paper is to analyze the specific words and phrases an author uses.

In research papers , you should quote from a source

• to show that an authority supports your point
• to present a position or argument to critique or comment on
• to include especially moving or historically significant language
• to present a particularly well-stated passage whose meaning would be lost or changed if paraphrased or summarized

You should summarize or paraphrase when

• what you want from the source is the idea expressed, and not the specific language used to express it
• you can express in fewer words what the key point of a source is

How to paraphrase a source

General advice.

• When reading a passage, try first to understand it as a whole, rather than pausing to write down specific ideas or phrases.
• Be selective. Unless your assignment is to do a formal or “literal” paraphrase, you usually don?t need to paraphrase an entire passage; instead, choose and summarize the material that helps you make a point in your paper.
• Think of what “your own words” would be if you were telling someone who’s unfamiliar with your subject (your mother, your brother, a friend) what the original source said.
• Remember that you can use direct quotations of phrases from the original within your paraphrase, and that you don’t need to change or put quotation marks around shared language.

Methods of Paraphrasing

• Look away from the source then write. Read the text you want to paraphrase several times until you feel that you understand it and can use your own words to restate it to someone else. Then, look away from the original and rewrite the text in your own words.
• Take notes. Take abbreviated notes; set the notes aside; then paraphrase from the notes a day or so later, or when you draft.

If you find that you can’t do A or B, this may mean that you don’t understand the passage completely or that you need to use a more structured process until you have more experience in paraphrasing.

The method below is not only a way to create a paraphrase but also a way to understand a difficult text.

Paraphrasing difficult texts

Consider the following passage from Love and Toil (a book on motherhood in London from 1870 to 1918), in which the author, Ellen Ross, puts forth one of her major arguments:

• Love and Toil maintains that family survival was the mother’s main charge among the large majority of London?s population who were poor or working class; the emotional and intellectual nurture of her child or children and even their actual comfort were forced into the background. To mother was to work for and organize household subsistence. (p. 9)

Children of the poor at the turn of the century received little if any emotional or intellectual nurturing from their mothers, whose main charge was family survival. Working for and organizing household subsistence were what defined mothering. Next to this, even the children’s basic comfort was forced into the background (Ross, 1995).

According to Ross (1993), poor children at the turn of the century received little mothering in our sense of the term. Mothering was defined by economic status, and among the poor, a mother’s foremost responsibility was not to stimulate her children’s minds or foster their emotional growth but to provide food and shelter to meet the basic requirements for physical survival. Given the magnitude of this task, children were deprived of even the “actual comfort” (p. 9) we expect mothers to provide today.

You may need to go through this process several times to create a satisfactory paraphrase.

Successful vs. unsuccessful paraphrases

Paraphrasing is often defined as putting a passage from an author into “your own words.” But what are your own words? How different must your paraphrase be from the original?

The paragraphs below provide an example by showing a passage as it appears in the source, two paraphrases that follow the source too closely, and a legitimate paraphrase.

The student’s intention was to incorporate the material in the original passage into a section of a paper on the concept of “experts” that compared the functions of experts and nonexperts in several professions.

The Passage as It Appears in the Source

Critical care nurses function in a hierarchy of roles. In this open heart surgery unit, the nurse manager hires and fires the nursing personnel. The nurse manager does not directly care for patients but follows the progress of unusual or long-term patients. On each shift a nurse assumes the role of resource nurse. This person oversees the hour-by-hour functioning of the unit as a whole, such as considering expected admissions and discharges of patients, ascertaining that beds are available for patients in the operating room, and covering sick calls. Resource nurses also take a patient assignment. They are the most experienced of all the staff nurses. The nurse clinician has a separate job description and provides for quality of care by orienting new staff, developing unit policies, and providing direct support where needed, such as assisting in emergency situations. The clinical nurse specialist in this unit is mostly involved with formal teaching in orienting new staff. The nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist are the designated experts. They do not take patient assignments. The resource nurse is seen as both a caregiver and a resource to other caregivers. . . . Staff nurses have a hierarchy of seniority. . . . Staff nurses are assigned to patients to provide all their nursing care. (Chase, 1995, p. 156)

Word-for-Word Plagiarism

Critical care nurses have a hierarchy of roles. The nurse manager hires and fires nurses. S/he does not directly care for patients but does follow unusual or long-term cases. On each shift a resource nurse attends to the functioning of the unit as a whole, such as making sure beds are available in the operating room , and also has a patient assignment . The nurse clinician orients new staff, develops policies, and provides support where needed . The clinical nurse specialist also orients new staff, mostly by formal teaching. The nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist , as the designated experts, do not take patient assignments . The resource nurse is not only a caregiver but a resource to the other caregivers . Within the staff nurses there is also a hierarchy of seniority . Their job is to give assigned patients all their nursing care .

Why this is plagiarism

Notice that the writer has not only “borrowed” Chase’s material (the results of her research) with no acknowledgment, but has also largely maintained the author’s method of expression and sentence structure. The phrases in red are directly copied from the source or changed only slightly in form.

Even if the student-writer had acknowledged Chase as the source of the content, the language of the passage would be considered plagiarized because no quotation marks indicate the phrases that come directly from Chase. And if quotation marks did appear around all these phrases, this paragraph would be so cluttered that it would be unreadable.

A Patchwork Paraphrase

Chase (1995) describes how nurses in a critical care unit function in a hierarchy that places designated experts at the top and the least senior staff nurses at the bottom. The experts — the nurse manager, nurse clinician, and clinical nurse specialist — are not involved directly in patient care. The staff nurses, in contrast, are assigned to patients and provide all their nursing care . Within the staff nurses is a hierarchy of seniority in which the most senior can become resource nurses: they are assigned a patient but also serve as a resource to other caregivers. The experts have administrative and teaching tasks such as selecting and orienting new staff, developing unit policies , and giving hands-on support where needed.

This paraphrase is a patchwork composed of pieces in the original author’s language (in red) and pieces in the student-writer’s words, all rearranged into a new pattern, but with none of the borrowed pieces in quotation marks. Thus, even though the writer acknowledges the source of the material, the underlined phrases are falsely presented as the student’s own.

A Legitimate Paraphrase

In her study of the roles of nurses in a critical care unit, Chase (1995) also found a hierarchy that distinguished the roles of experts and others. Just as the educational experts described above do not directly teach students, the experts in this unit do not directly attend to patients. That is the role of the staff nurses, who, like teachers, have their own “hierarchy of seniority” (p. 156). The roles of the experts include employing unit nurses and overseeing the care of special patients (nurse manager), teaching and otherwise integrating new personnel into the unit (clinical nurse specialist and nurse clinician), and policy-making (nurse clinician). In an intermediate position in the hierarchy is the resource nurse, a staff nurse with more experience than the others, who assumes direct care of patients as the other staff nurses do, but also takes on tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the entire facility.

Why this is a good paraphrase

The writer has documented Chase’s material and specific language (by direct reference to the author and by quotation marks around language taken directly from the source). Notice too that the writer has modified Chase’s language and structure and has added material to fit the new context and purpose — to present the distinctive functions of experts and nonexperts in several professions.

Shared Language

Perhaps you’ve noticed that a number of phrases from the original passage appear in the legitimate paraphrase: critical care, staff nurses, nurse manager, clinical nurse specialist, nurse clinician, resource nurse.

If all these phrases were in red, the paraphrase would look much like the “patchwork” example. The difference is that the phrases in the legitimate paraphrase are all precise, economical, and conventional designations that are part of the shared language within the nursing discipline (in the too-close paraphrases, they’re red only when used within a longer borrowed phrase).

In every discipline and in certain genres (such as the empirical research report), some phrases are so specialized or conventional that you can’t paraphrase them except by wordy and awkward circumlocutions that would be less familiar (and thus less readable) to the audience.

When you repeat such phrases, you’re not stealing the unique phrasing of an individual writer but using a common vocabulary shared by a community of scholars.

Some Examples of Shared Language You Don’t Need to Put in Quotation Marks

• Conventional designations: e.g., physician’s assistant, chronic low-back pain
• Preferred bias-free language: e.g., persons with disabilities
• Technical terms and phrases of a discipline or genre : e.g., reduplication, cognitive domain, material culture, sexual harassment

Chase, S. K. (1995). The social context of critical care clinical judgment. Heart and Lung, 24, 154-162.

How to Quote a Source

Introducing a quotation.

One of your jobs as a writer is to guide your reader through your text. Don’t simply drop quotations into your paper and leave it to the reader to make connections.

Integrating a quotation into your text usually involves two elements:

• A signal that a quotation is coming–generally the author’s name and/or a reference to the work
• An assertion that indicates the relationship of the quotation to your text

Often both the signal and the assertion appear in a single introductory statement, as in the example below. Notice how a transitional phrase also serves to connect the quotation smoothly to the introductory statement.

Ross (1993), in her study of poor and working-class mothers in London from 1870-1918 [signal], makes it clear that economic status to a large extent determined the meaning of motherhood [assertion]. Among this population [connection], “To mother was to work for and organize household subsistence” (p. 9).

The signal can also come after the assertion, again with a connecting word or phrase:

Illness was rarely a routine matter in the nineteenth century [assertion]. As [connection] Ross observes [signal], “Maternal thinking about children’s health revolved around the possibility of a child’s maiming or death” (p. 166).

Formatting Quotations

Short direct prose.

Incorporate short direct prose quotations into the text of your paper and enclose them in double quotation marks:

According to Jonathan Clarke, “Professional diplomats often say that trying to think diplomatically about foreign policy is a waste of time.”

Longer prose quotations

Begin longer quotations (for instance, in the APA system, 40 words or more) on a new line and indent the entire quotation (i.e., put in block form), with no quotation marks at beginning or end, as in the quoted passage from our Successful vs. Unsucessful Paraphrases page.

Rules about the minimum length of block quotations, how many spaces to indent, and whether to single- or double-space extended quotations vary with different documentation systems; check the guidelines for the system you’re using.

Quotation of Up to 3 Lines of Poetry

Quotations of up to 3 lines of poetry should be integrated into your sentence. For example:

In Julius Caesar, Antony begins his famous speech with “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears; / I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him” (III.ii.75-76).

Notice that a slash (/) with a space on either side is used to separate lines.

Quotation of More than 3 Lines of Poetry

More than 3 lines of poetry should be indented. As with any extended (indented) quotation, do not use quotation marks unless you need to indicate a quotation within your quotation.

Punctuating with Quotation Marks

Parenthetical citations.

With short quotations, place citations outside of closing quotation marks, followed by sentence punctuation (period, question mark, comma, semi-colon, colon):

Menand (2002) characterizes language as “a social weapon” (p. 115).

With block quotations, check the guidelines for the documentation system you are using.

Commas and periods

Place inside closing quotation marks when no parenthetical citation follows:

Hertzberg (2002) notes that “treating the Constitution as imperfect is not new,” but because of Dahl’s credentials, his “apostasy merits attention” (p. 85).

Semicolons and colons

Place outside of closing quotation marks (or after a parenthetical citation).

Question marks and exclamation points

Place inside closing quotation marks if the quotation is a question/exclamation:

Menand (2001) acknowledges that H. W. Fowler’s Modern English Usage is “a classic of the language,” but he asks, “Is it a dead classic?” (p. 114).

[Note that a period still follows the closing parenthesis.]

Place outside of closing quotation marks if the entire sentence containing the quotation is a question or exclamation:

How many students actually read the guide to find out what is meant by “academic misconduct”?

Quotation within a quotation

Use single quotation marks for the embedded quotation:

According to Hertzberg (2002), Dahl gives the U. S. Constitution “bad marks in ‘democratic fairness’ and ‘encouraging consensus'” (p. 90).

[The phrases “democratic fairness” and “encouraging consensus” are already in quotation marks in Dahl’s sentence.]

Indicating Changes in Quotations

Quoting only a portion of the whole.

Use ellipsis points (. . .) to indicate an omission within a quotation–but not at the beginning or end unless it’s not obvious that you’re quoting only a portion of the whole.

Adding Clarification, Comment, or Correction

Within quotations, use square brackets [ ] (not parentheses) to add your own clarification, comment, or correction.

Use [sic] (meaning “so” or “thus”) to indicate that a mistake is in the source you’re quoting and is not your own.

Additional information

Information on summarizing and paraphrasing sources.

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). (2000). Retrieved January 7, 2002, from http://www.bartleby.com/61/ Bazerman, C. (1995). The informed writer: Using sources in the disciplines (5th ed). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Leki, I. (1995). Academic writing: Exploring processes and strategies (2nd ed.) New York: St. Martin?s Press, pp. 185-211.

Leki describes the basic method presented in C, pp. 4-5.

Spatt, B. (1999). Writing from sources (5th ed.) New York: St. Martin?s Press, pp. 98-119; 364-371.

Information about specific documentation systems

The Writing Center has handouts explaining how to use many of the standard documentation systems. You may look at our general Web page on Documentation Systems, or you may check out any of the following specific Web pages.

If you’re not sure which documentation system to use, ask the course instructor who assigned your paper.

• American Psychological Assoicaion (APA)
• Modern Language Association (MLA)
• Chicago/Turabian (A Footnote or Endnote System)
• American Political Science Association (APSA)
• Council of Science Editors (CBE)
• Numbered References

You may also consult the following guides:

• American Medical Association, Manual for Authors and Editors
• Council of Science Editors, CBE style Manual
• The Chicago Manual of Style
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

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Overview of Quoting, Paraphrasing & Summarizing

Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are all common techniques used in academic writing. This section will discuss each of these techniques and how to incorporate them effectively into your writing to help avoid academic misconduct, such as plagiarism. 

What are the differences between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing and when should you use each technique in your writing?

• Accessible version of overview of quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing table.

When to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize

Deciding when to quote, paraphrase, or summarize is ultimately up to you as a writer. However, good academic writing generally uses a combination of the three. Review the following examples to see which situations might be best for each writing technique. 

Paraphrasing Tutorial

Paraphrasing is when you use your own words to describe the words and ideas of others. Learning to paraphrase successfully is an important component in academic writing. This paraphrasing tutorial will take you through scenarios that will demonstrate good paraphrasing techniques. 

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9 Paraphrasing and Quoting Skills

Paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing is an everyday skill we all use to relay information from one source to another. We may retell a simple story we heard at work, relay information from one person to another in our household or recap a news story we heard on the television or radio. In doing so we are using paraphrasing techniques.

At university paraphrasing is a fundamental skill that is often expected to be demonstrated from the very first semester. It is a helpful skill because at university you are operating within a community of academic thinkers. You need to be able to address the ideas of others with integrity while also contributing your own original thoughts to the learning environment.

This chapter will enable you to identify and formalise the paraphrasing techniques you may already be familiar with, plus teach you some new skills.

In academic writing paraphrasing is a set of techniques used to express another person’s ideas in your own words. Therefore, each time material is paraphrased it must include an in-text citation and end of text reference (more about this in the referencing Chapter 10). To use someone else’s ideas without giving appropriate credit is call plagiarism and may incur academic penalties.

Watch a Youtube video by Scribbr “How to Paraphrase in 5 Easy Steps” . [1]

Paraphrasing Techniques

Start by reading the passage several times to gain understanding.

Note down key concepts as you read.

Write your own version of the passage, without looking at the original. This will test if the key concepts have been remembered yet you are capable of putting the ideas into your own words.

Compare the two texts (the original with your own) and edit any sections that may be too close to the original wording.

Cite the source of the original text to avoid plagiarism [see Chapter 10: Referencing].

Paraphrasing Tips

a.  Start at a different point in the original passage (re-order the material).

b.  Use synonyms .

c.  Change the sentence structure, e.g., active / passive voice (see Chapter 7: Sentence Basics).

d.  Break up long sentences or combine shorter ones.

• Review the example of a paraphrased paragraph on the video above. [2]

Paraphrasing Example

Original text.

Just seven kilometres from Brisbane’s city centre, UQ College is located in the beautiful grounds of The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus.

Considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the world, UQ campus is a vibrant mix of old sandstone buildings, modern architecture, parklands and lakes. It’s a city within a city, with everything you need to study, live and relax [3] .

Paraphrasing Notes

Key information: UQ College is located at The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus; it is close to the city centre of Brisbane; the campus is well-equipped.

Paraphrased Text

UQ College is only seven kilometres from Brisbane’s central district  at The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus and is well equipped with everything a student needs. It is both architecturally pleasing and has beautiful natural spaces in which to study and relax.

Techniques Used in the Above Paraphrase:

• It began at a different point – rearranged the information
• It used synonyms . For example, “Brisbane’s city centre” = Brisbane’s central district.
• Instead of listing categories, it grouped things together. For example, “a vibrant mix of old sandstone buildings, modern architecture” = architecturally pleasing; “parklands and lakes” = natural spaces.
• It kept key facts. For example, “UQ College”, “seven kilometres from Brisbane” and “The University of Queensland St Lucia Campus”.
• It alters the sentence structure and now there are two sentences instead of three.
• It maintains the original meaning.

Practise paraphrasing the following text. Follow the steps above and identify which techniques you are using. Maintain the original meaning of the text.

In your chosen courses you will engage in practical tasks that relate to real-world uses of your academic skills and knowledge. Your teachers will encourage you to develop your own learning style and help you to achieve your study goals.

Classrooms and laboratories are equipped with the latest technologies and equipment and our courses cover a variety of topics and use a mix of course materials, including textbooks, video, audio and digital content [4] .

In short, a quote in Academic Writing means to repeat words that someone else has said or written. It is represented within a body of text using double quotation marks. A quote is verbatim . As soon as you deviate from the original words, it is no longer a direct quote and can be misinterpreted as poor paraphrasing.

Use quotes sparingly in Academic Writing. The following is a useful guide to when it may be appropriate to quote material rather than paraphrase, though paraphrasing is considered better academic practice.

• If you are analysing an author’s position/claim/argument and want to state it clearly before addressing it.
• The language of the passage is instrumental to its meaning, for example, poetry, creative writing, technical or medical language.
• You are completing an in-depth analysis of a text, for example, studying literature and analysing Shakespeare’s plays.
• You wish to add weight or credibility to your own argument by enlisting the words of an expert for support. Use this very sparingly.

The following information, plus more, is available through the UQ Library Style Guide for APA 7th style referencing [5] . There are many different referencing styles, so always confirm with your lecturer/tutor which style is being used for your course. It can vary from course to course across programs.

A direct quotation reproduces word-for-word material taken directly from another author’s work, or from your own previously published work. You cannot resubmit work from a previous assessment submitted via Turnitin. This will raise a red flag as plagiarism and may lead to an academic misconduct enquiry.

If the quotation is  fewer than 40 words , incorporate it into your paragraph and enclose it in double quotation marks. Place the in-text reference before the full stop.

David Copperfield starts with “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show” (Dickens, 1869, p. 1).

If the quotation  comprises 40 or more words , include it in an indented, freestanding block of text, without quotation marks. At the end of a block quotation, cite the quoted source and the page number in parentheses, after the final punctuation mark.

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, I record that I was born (as I have been informed and believe) on a Friday, at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously. (Dickens, 1896, p. 1)

In the following Chapter 10 you will learn about referencing paraphrases and quotes in your own academic writing.

• Scribbr. (2019, October 31). How to paraphrase in 5 easy steps [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiM0x0ApVL8&t=235s ↵
• All Paraphrasing techniques and tips are taken from the cited Sribbr Youtube video, for continuity of content. ↵
• https://www.uqcollege.edu.au/about-campus ↵
• https://www.uqcollege.edu.au/programs-tpp ↵
• https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/apa7/direct-quotes ↵

the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own

a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another in the same language, e.g. happy, joyful

in exactly the same words as were used originally

Academic Writing Skills Copyright © 2021 by Patricia Williamson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Academic Writing: Summarising, paraphrasing and quoting

• Academic Writing
• Planning your writing
• Structuring your assignment
• Critical Thinking & Writing
• Building an argument
• Reflective Writing
• Summarising, paraphrasing and quoting

Summarising, Paraphrasing and Quotations

Academic writing requires that you use literature sources in your work to demonstrate the extent of your reading (breadth and depth), your knowledge, understanding and critical thinking. Literature can be used to provide evidence to support arguments and can demonstrate your awareness of the research-base that underpins your subject specialism.

There are three ways to introduce the work of others into your assignments: summarising, paraphrasing and quotations.

When, Why & How to Use

• Summarising
• Paraphrasing

Definition: Using your own words to provide a statement (‘summary’) of the main themes, key points, or overarching ideas of a complete text, such as a book, chapter from a book, or academic article.

When to use:

• Useful for providing an overview or background to a topic
• Useful for describing your knowledge and understanding from a single source
• Useful for expressing your combined knowledge and understanding from several sources (synthesis of sources)

Why to use:

• Demonstrates your understanding of your reading
• Demonstrates your ability to identify the main points from a larger body of text or to draw together the main points from several sources

How to use:

• Should offer a balanced representation of the main points
• Should be expressed in your own words (except for technical terminology or conventional terms that appear in the original)
• Should not include detailed discussion or examples
• Should not include information that is not in the original text
• Should avoid using the same sentence structures as the original text
• Read the original text (more than once if necessary) to make sure you fully understand it
• Note the main points in your own words
• Recheck the original text to ensure you have covered the key content and meaning
• Rewrite using formal, grammatically correct academic writing
• Requires in-text citation and referencing
• No page numbers in in-text citation

Example (using Harvard referencing style, from CiteThemRight online, Cite Them Right - Summarising (Harvard) (citethemrightonline.com) :

'Nevertheless, one important study (Harrison, 2007) looks closely at the historical and linguistic links between European races and cultures over the past five hundred years.'

Definition: Using your own words to express an author’s specific point from a short section of text (one or two sentences, or a paragraph), retaining the original meaning.

• Used where the meaning of the text is more important than the exact words
• Useful for expressing the author’s specific point more concisely and in a way that clarifies its relationship to your work
• Useful for stating factual information such as data and statistics from a source
• Demonstrates that you have understood the content and can express it independently, rather than relying on the author’s words
• Allows you to use your own style of writing and your own ‘voice’ in your work
• Allows you to integrate the ideas to fit more readily with your own work and to improve the flow of the writing
• Must not change the original meaning
• Must go further than just changing a few words or changing the word order as this could amount to plagiarism (you would not be fully expressing the idea in your own words)
• Use different sentence structures from the original source
• Use different vocabulary from the original source to convey the meaning
• Read the original text several times, and identify the key content which is important and relevant to your work to distinguish this from content which is less important
• Identify any specialist terminology or key words which are essential
• Think about your reason for paraphrasing and how it relates to your own work
• Roughly note down your understanding of the relevant content in your own words (don’t copy) without looking at the original text
• Reread the original text and refine your notes to ensure that you are not misrepresenting the author, to determine whether you have captured the important aspects of the piece and to make sure your paraphrasing is not too similar to the original
• Rewrite this in formal, grammatically correct academic writing
• Requires page number/s in the in-text citation to precisely locate the original content on which the paraphrasing is based within the source

Example (using Harvard referencing style, from CiteThemRight online, Cite Them Right - Paraphrasing (Harvard) (citethemrightonline.com) :

'Harrison (2007, p. 48) clearly distinguishes between the historical growth of the larger European nation states and the roots of their languages and linguistic development, particularly during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. At this time, imperial goals and outward expansion were paramount for many of the countries, and the effects of spending on these activities often led to internal conflict.'

Definition: Using the author’s exact words to retain the author’s specific form of expression, clearly identifying the quotation as distinct from your own words (for example using quotation marks or indentation).

• Used where the author’s own exact words are important, rather than just the meaning
• Useful where the author’s original choice of words conveys subjective experience, uses persuasive language, or carries emotional force
• Useful where the precise wording is significant, for example in legal texts
• Useful for definitions
• Useful if the author’s own words carry the weight of power and authority that supports your argument
• Useful if you want to critique an author’s point, to ensure you do not misrepresent their meaning
• Useful if you want to disagree with the author as their own words may express their opposition to your argument enabling you to engage with and resist their point of view
• Useful if the author has expressed themselves so concisely, distinctively, and eloquently that paraphrasing would diminish the quality of the statement
• Demonstrates your ability to identify relevant and significant content from a larger body of work
• Demonstrates that you have read and understood the wider context of the quotation and can integrate it into your own work appropriately
• Should be used selectively (over-use of quotations does not demonstrate your own understanding)
• Should not be used just to avoid expressing the meaning in your own words or because you are not confident you have understood the content
• Make sure that the quotation is reproduced accurately, including spelling and punctuation
• Comment on the quotation and its relationship to your point, for example explain its interest and relevance, show how it applies to a particular situation, or discuss its limitations
• Short quotations of no more than three lines should be contained within quotation marks (you can use double or single quotations marks, but be consistent and note that Turnitin only recognises double quotation marks)
• Longer quotations (used sparingly) should be included as a separate paragraph indented from the main text, without quotation marks
• Don’t use quotation marks for technical terminology which is accepted within your specialism, and which is part of the common language of your academic discipline
• Requires page number/s in the in-text citation to precisely locate the quote within the source

Examples (from CiteThemRight online, Cite Them Right - Setting out quotations (Harvard) (citethemrightonline.com) ):

Short quotation (using Harvard referencing style):

'If you need to illustrate the idea of nineteenth-century America as a land of opportunity, you could hardly improve on the life of Albert Michelson’ (Bryson, 2004, p. 156).

Long quotation (using Harvard referencing style):

King describes the intertwining of the fate and memory in many evocative passages, such as:

So the three of them rode towards their end of the Great Road, while summer lay all about them, breathless as a gasp. Roland looked up and saw something that made him forget all about the Wizard’s Rainbow. It was his mother, leaning out of her apartment’s bedroom window: the oval of her face surrounded by the timeless gray stone of the castle’s west wing! (King, 1997, pp. 553-554)

Altering quotations:

You can omit part of a quotation by using three dots (ellipses). Only do this to omit unnecessary words which do not alter the meaning.

Example (from CiteThemRight online, Cite Them Right - Making changes to quotations (citethemrightonline.com) ).

'Drug prevention ... efforts backed this up' (Gardner, 2007, p. 49).

You can insert your own or different words into a quotation by placing them in square brackets. Only do this to add clarity to the quotation where it does not alter the meaning.

Example (from CiteThemRight online, Cite Them Right - Making changes to quotations (citethemrightonline.com) ):

'In this field [crime prevention], community support officers ...' (Higgins, 2008, p. 17).

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Summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting.

This handout is available for download in DOCX format and PDF format .

This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.

What are the differences among summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting?

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

Summarizing

• Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Although you are using your own words, it is still necessary to attribute the summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from the source into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.
• Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must also be attributed to the original author.

Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:

• Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing
• Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing
• Give examples of several points of view on a subject
• Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with
• Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original
• Distance yourself from the original by quoting it to show that the words are not your own
• Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations, including paraphrases of key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams , Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).

How and when should I summarize, paraphrase, or quote?

Before you summarize a source in your paper, decide what your reader needs to know about that source in order to understand your argument. For example, if you are making an argument about a novel, avoid filling pages of your paper with details from the book that will distract or confuse your reader. Instead, add details sparingly, going only into the depth that is necessary for your reader to understand and appreciate your argument. Similarly, if you are writing a paper about a non-fiction article, highlight the most relevant parts of the argument for your reader, but do not include all of the background information and examples.

When you use any part of a source in your paper, you will always need to decide whether to quote directly from the source or to paraphrase it. Unless you have a good reason to quote directly from the source, you should paraphrase the source. Make it clear to your reader why you are presenting this particular material from a source, and be sure that you have represented the author accurately, that you have used your own words consistently, and that you have cited the source.

As a basic rule of thumb, you should only quote directly from a text when it is important for your reader to see the actual language used by the author of the source. While paraphrase and summary are effective ways to introduce your reader to someone's ideas, quoting directly from a text allows you to introduce your reader to the way those ideas are expressed by showing such details as language, syntax, and cadence. There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text; often a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence, while longer quotations can stand alone. Whatever their length, be sure you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so.

You can become more comfortable using these three techniques by summarizing an essay of your choice, using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:

• Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
• Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.
• Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
• Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.

Credit: Adapted from the “Harvard Guide to Using Sources,” https://usingsources.fas.harvard.edu/summarizing-paraphrasing-and-quoting , and the Purdue OWL Guide, https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/quoting_paraphrasing_and_summarizing/index.html , 2020.

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Using Sources

Quoting, paraphrasing, and avoiding plagiarism, how to summarize:  an overview, how to quote and paraphrase:  an overview, when to quote, when to paraphrase, four examples of quotes and paraphrases, how to avoid plagiarism in the research process, plagiarism and the internet.

• Stay “neutral” in your summarizing.  Summaries provide “just the facts” and are not the place where you offer your opinions about the text you are summarizing.  Save your opinions and evaluation of the evidence you are summarizing for other parts of your writing.
• Don’t quote from what you are summarizing.  Summaries will be more useful to you and your colleagues if you write them in your own words.
• Don’t “cut and paste” from database abstracts.  Many of the periodical indexes that are available as part of your library’s computer system include abstracts of articles.  Do no “cut” this abstract material and then “paste” it into your own annotated bibliography.  For one thing, this is plagiarism.  Second, “cutting and pasting” from the abstract defeats one of the purposes of writing summaries and creating an annotated bibliography in the first place, which is to help you understand and explain your research.
• be “introduced” to the reader, particularly the first time you mention a source;
• include an explanation of the evidence which explains to the reader why you think the evidence is important, especially if it is not apparent from the context of the quote or paraphrase; and
• include a proper citation of the source.
• The exact words of your source are important for the point you are trying to make.  This is especially true if you are quoting technical language, terms, or very specific word choices.
• You want to highlight your agreement with the author’s words .  If you agree with the point the author of the evidence makes and you like their exact words, use them as a quote.
• You want to highlight your disagreement with the author’s words .  In other words, you may sometimes want to use a direct quote to indicate exactly what it is you disagree about.  This might be particularly true when you are considering the antithetical positions in your research writing projects.
• There is no good reason to use a quote to refer to your evidence.  If the author’s exact words are not especially important to the point you are trying to make, you are usually better off paraphrasing the evidence.
• You are trying to explain a particular a piece of evidence in order to explain or interpret it in more detail .  This might be particularly true in writing projects like critiques.
• You need to balance a direct quote in your writing.  You need to be careful about directly quoting your research too much because it can sometimes make for awkward and difficult to read prose.  So, one of the reasons to use a paraphrase instead of a quote is to create balance within your writing.

Tips for Quoting and Paraphrasing

• Introduce your quotes and paraphrases to your reader, especially on first reference.
• Explain the significance of the quote or paraphrase to your reader.
• Cite your quote or paraphrase properly according to the rules of style you are following in your essay.
• Quote when the exact words are important, when you want to highlight your agreement or your disagreement.
• Paraphrase when the exact words aren’t important, when you want to explain the point of your evidence, or when you need to balance the direct quotes in your writing.

Quoting in MLA Style

Paraphrasing in mla style, quoting in apa style, paraphrasing in apa style.

Lévy, Pierre.  Cyberculture.  Trans. Robert Bononno.  Minneapolis:  U of Minnesota P, 2001.

Always cite your sources.  If you are unsure as to whether you should or should not cite a particular claim or reference, you should probably cite your source.

• Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Avoiding Plagiarism. Authored by : Steven D. Krause. Located at : http://www.stevendkrause.com/tprw/chapter3.html . Project : The Process of Research Writing. License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Summarizing and Paraphrasing in Academic Writing

“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.” – Ernest Hemingway

Plato considers art (and therefore writing) as being mimetic in nature. Writing in all forms and for all kinds of audience involves thorough research. Often, there is a grim possibility that an idea you considered novel has already been adequately explored; however, this also means there are multiple perspectives to explore now and thereby to learn from.

Being inspired by another’s idea opens up a world of possibilities and thus several ways to incorporate and assimilate them in writing, namely, paraphrasing , summarizing, and quoting . However, mere incorporation does not bring writing alive and make it appealing to readers . The incorporation of various ideas must reflect the writer’s understanding and interpretation of them as well.

What is Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing in Academic Writing?

Purdue OWL defines these devices of representation quite succinctly:

Therefore, paraphrasing and summarizing consider broader segments of the main text, while quotations are brief segments of a source. Further, paraphrasing involves expressing the ideas presented from a particular part of a source (mostly a passage) in a condensed manner, while summarizing involves selecting a broader part of a source (for example, a chapter in a book or an entire play) and stating the key points. In spite of subtle variations in representation, all three devices when employed must be attributed to the source to avoid plagiarism .

Related: Finished drafting your manuscript? Check these resources to avoid plagiarism now!

Why is it Important to Quote, Paraphrase, and Summarize?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve the purpose of providing evidence to sources of your manuscript. It is important to quote, paraphrase, and summarize for the following reasons:

• It adds credibility to your writing
• It helps in tracking the original source of your research
• Delivers several perspectives on your research subject

Quotations/Quoting

Quotations are exact representations of a source, which can either be a written one or spoken words. Quotes imbue writing with an authoritative tone and can provide reliable and strong evidence. However, quoting should be employed sparingly to support and not replace one’s writing.

How Do You Quote?

• Ensure that direct quotes are provided within quotation marks and properly cited
• A Long quote of three or more lines can be set-off as a blockquote (this often has more impact)
• Short quotes usually flow better when integrated within a sentence

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is the manner of presenting a text by altering certain words and phrases of a source while ensuring that the paraphrase reflects proper understanding of the source. It can be useful for personal understanding of complex concepts and explaining information present in charts, figures , and tables .

How Do You Paraphrase?

• While aligning the representation with your own style (that is, using synonyms of certain words and phrases), ensure that the author’s intention is not changed as this may express an incorrect interpretation of the source ideas
• Use quotation marks if you intend to retain key concepts or phrases to effectively paraphrase
• Use paraphrasing as an alternative to the abundant usage of direct quotes in your writing

Summarizing

Summarizing involves presenting an overview of a source by omitting superfluous details and retaining only the key essence of the ideas conveyed.

How Do You Summarize?

• Note key points while going through a source text
• Provide a consolidated view without digressions for a concrete and comprehensive summary of a source
• Provide relevant examples from a source to substantiate the argument being presented

“Nature creates similarities. One need only think of mimicry. The highest capacity for producing similarities, however, is man’s. His gift of seeing resemblances is nothing other than a rudiment of the powerful compulsion in former times to become and behave like something else.” –Walter Benjamin

Quoting vs Paraphrasing vs Summarizing

Research thrives as a result of inspiration from and assimilation of novel concepts. However, do ensure that when developing and enriching your own research, proper credit is provided to the origin . This can be achieved by using plagiarism checker tool and giving due credit in case you have missed it earlier.

Source: https://student.unsw.edu.au/paraphrasing-summarising-and-quoting

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nice work and useful advises… thank you for being with students

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Quote the original words of your source, or paraphrase them in your own words? Read our advice on deciding which will work best for your purpose.

• Newcastle University
• Academic Skills Kit
• Good Academic Practice

Quotation and paraphrase are two ways to integrate what you’ve read into your own writing. Each approach has its own strengths, and it’s important to choose which would best demonstrate your understanding and thinking about your learning.

Definitions

To quote a text means to keep the exact wording of the original. Depending on what you need to support your point, you might quote a single word, a phrase, a sentence or several sentences. Quotations are signalled to the reader with quotation marks and a reference.

To paraphrase a text means to express its contents in your own words. The ideas are someone else’s (so a reference is still needed), but the words are yours (so no quotation marks). Your paraphrase might be the same length or shorter than the original.

Quotation and paraphrase each have distinct uses in your writing.

Use paraphrase when:

• The reader doesn’t need to see the original wording, just an accurate sense of what it means.
• The original is longer than you need, or contains minor elements that don’t really add to your point (you can leave elements out as long as you’re not misrepresenting what it means)
• You want to showcase your learning to your reader, and that you’ve understood the original accurately. Explaining it in your own words demonstrates your grasp of the content far better than a quotation.
• You want to make your own voice the most prominent one in your own assignment, even when you’re discussing someone else’s ideas. You can subtly make your own opinion of the original clear through your choice of words when you paraphrase, as long as it’s still an accurate representation.

Use a quotation when:

• You need to preserve the original’s exact words for your reader because you will be closely analysing them and they need to see what you’re analysing to make sense of it.
• You will be critiquing them, and the reader needs to see the original to be certain you’re not misrepresenting them.
• You have chosen the words as a definition which you will be working to in the rest of your assignment and the reader needs to see your terms of reference.
• The original can’t be paraphrased any better as it’s concise, distinctively phrased and well expressed (use sparingly however, and trust your own ability to paraphrase)

When not to use quotation or paraphrase

• A quotation shouldn’t speak for itself – tell the reader how you want them to understand and interpret it. If you’re quoting, add a comment of your own about what is interesting, relevant or persuasive about it. The longer the quotation, the more you should have to say about it.
• A quotation shouldn’t speak for you – in your own assignment, your voice should be the most prominent. As your confidence in your own ideas and writing grows, you will find yourself drawing on other authors rather than speaking ‘through’ them.
• Technical terminology that is part of the shared language of your discipline does not need to be marked as a quotation or paraphrase. These terms are very precise, and another word wouldn’t mean exactly the same thing. They don’t ‘belong’ to anyone in particular, but are common to the whole community of scholars which you are also part of.

Discipline differences

Some subjects may use quotation more than others; particularly Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences where text is an important form of primary data (such as Literature or Sociology which might use extracts of a literary work or transcripts of an interview as evidence). Some disciplines engage in open and lengthy critique of other scholars' ideas where there is disagreement, and quotation can play a more important part in this. In other subjects, however, particularly the Natural and Medical Sciences, scholars whose work does not stand up to a critical reading are not really mentioned so much, and quotation is rarer.

Avoiding plagiarism

Using paraphrase and quotation to support your argument with previous scholarship and demonstrate your breadth of reading is a very positive way to show your learning. You won’t be plagiarising as long as the reader isn’t left with the impression that it’s all your own work. Quotations should be clearly marked with quotation marks, single (‘) or double (“), according to your School’s referencing style, to make a clear distinction between your writing and someone else’s phrasing. You also need to include a reference so your reader can locate the original. Paraphrase is a good way to demonstrate your understanding, as you are doing the work of explaining someone’s ideas. However, you need to add a reference so that your reader can see where the idea came from originally. Ensure too that your paraphrase isn’t too close to the original.

See our guides on How to Paraphrase and How to Quote for strategies.

Download this guide as a PDF

Quote or paraphrase.

Quote the original words of your source, or paraphrase them in your own words? Read our advice on deciding which will work best for your purpose. **PDF Download**

More in this section

How to paraphrase

Learn how to express the source you’re reading in your own words to highlight your learning.

How to quote

Find out how to integrate quotations purposefully and smoothly into your writing.

Academic Skills Team

For more guidance on your learning, book a one-to-one tutorial with one of our tutors or visit our website for more activities and resources.

Know the Difference: Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing 

An important part of any academic discussion is citations. It highlights the existing works on a particular topic, enabling readers to track relevant research 1 to develop their arguments. Though the function of citation is simple, the learning process of correctly citing other articles can be challenging. There is an increased possibility of plagiarism if you incorporate others’ work or ideas without full or correct acknowledgment. As a research student or early researcher, you will come across rules for paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting in your research articles. These are essential strategies for citing existing research work to support or challenge your writings or arguments. You’ll use a combination of these in your assignments, dissertation, or research papers, so understanding their differences is important.  

In simple terms, the difference between these three terms lies in the proximity of your writing to the source writing, but their use could be hindered for the following reasons. 2   

• Low linguistic ability: limit the power to define, summarize, evaluate, and contrast existing literature.  
• Unfamiliarity with the language of citations: repeat citation patterns, integrate references incorrectly, or misplace reporting verbs. 
• Lack of awareness of the importance of referencing: Under referencing 

This article compares and discusses paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting to help you become more comfortable with their usage. 

Quoting involves using a direct quotation , where you quote the author verbatim to define or describe specific concepts. Use double quotation marks at the beginning and end of the quote, and use the exact words from the original text. It is important to cite the original source and name the author, or else your work could be considered plagiarized as there is software that easily detects this. Also, it is better to avoid long passages as direct quotes; limit them to one or two sentences. Another point to remember is to limit their instances in your paper. Use words/phrases such as stated , in the words of , etc., to indicate that you are using the author’s exact words. Discuss its meaning or add more information as needed so that the quotes fit logically in your writing.  

Paraphrasing

Unlike quoting, paraphrasing involves rewriting the text; the aim is to explain the original and relevant idea in one’s own words as a basis to build an argument. You can avoid words such as mentioned or stated for paraphrased text, but cite the source to ensure the reader knows that you are borrowing ideas. Paraphrasing can be challenging to most ESL students as it requires a good command of paraphrasing and considerable time and effort in choosing the right active or passive verbs to introduce a paraphrase. 3 A common mistake to avoid is swapping words in the original sentence with their synonyms.  

In academic writing, the preference is towards paraphrasing because it shows your understanding of the literature and allows you to present relevant evidence to your readers. Also, as it incorporates your own academic voice, you can avoid getting flagged by plagiarism detection tools, such as Turnitin. 

Tips for effective paraphrasing

• Reformulate the sentence by changing the voice from active to passive or starting from a different point. 
• Use quality sources to support your ideas.  
• Remove irrelevant information from the source text. 
• Combine information from multiple sentences. 
• Use synonyms where they don’t distort the meaning. 

Summarizing

When summarizing, you describe the original text without analyzing it. Your aim is to give your readers a broad overview of a subject. It involves placing the main ideas or points in your own words. Since your focus is on providing a general overview of the topic, summaries are often provided in the introductory paragraph. But remember to cite the summarized ideas. 

How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries

• Place all exact source words in quotation marks immediately. 
• When summarizing or paraphrasing, the following strategies can be adopted to avoid looking at the source material and reduce the influence of the source text in your version: 
• Read the text multiple times. This will help you understand the author’s main ideas and explain them to others. 
• Write down the main phrases and ideas. This should be done without looking at the original sentence. 
• Write in sentence form. Develop the summary or paraphrase based on your understanding of the source text. 
• Compare with the original work. Rewrite your work if words/phrases are the same as in the original work or if the structure is very similar. 

The following is an example of a good paraphrase. It has the same ideas as the source text (quoted on the left) but with different wording and sentence structure. 

Ways to avoid accidental plagiarism

• Use citations: Give credit where it is due.  
• Organize and develop your own idea: Work out a balance between the ideas from other sources and your original ideas. Your writing should have originality and be concise. 
• Use plagiarism checkers: There are a number of good plagiarism checker tools available online. Many online check tools also correct grammar errors, sentence structures, word choices, and subject-specific phrasing.  

Developing your paraphrasing and summarizing skills will take time. So, it is important that you set aside a lot of time to practice these skills to perfect your writing. 

• Hunter, J. (2006). The importance of citation.  URL: http://web grinnell edu/Dean/Tutorial/EUS/IC pdf (1204 2007) . 
• Elizalde Esain, A. (2017). English for Academic Purposes: The Challenge of Paraphrasing. 
• McKeown, K. (1983). Paraphrasing questions using given and new information.  American Journal of Computational Linguistics ,  9 (1), 1-10. 
• Bachman, L. F. (1990).  Fundamental considerations in language testing . Oxford University Press. 

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Paraphrase & Quotation (ELL)

Wr 111: essential lesson 2.

Our Essential Lessons are a sequence of lessons that form the backbone of the Writing Program curriculum, illustrating what we want all students to learn across our program’s diverse course topics. Most multilingual students, especially those newer to North American academic contexts, need work understanding and practicing paraphrase, as distinct from both quotation and from patch-writing or plagiarism. This lesson builds on what students already know about summary and can help them write more complex summaries or pieces of analysis in the future.

Students will be able to convey accurately the meaning of an academic text and avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing and quoting effectively.

plagiarism, paraphrase, quotation, summary, citation, attribution, academic misconduct

Introduce these concepts to students at the start of WR 111 Unit 2, “Writing for and with Others.” At this point, students will be familiar with summarizing, as they will have submitted the basic summary, and been introduced to the concepts of paraphrase and quotation. In addition, students will have been exposed to the basic elements of BU’s Academic Conduct Codeas part of the acculturation unit. Paraphrasing can be compared and contrasted with summarizing as well as using quotations.

Conceptual Framework

Genre awareness.

This lesson precedes WR 111 students’ study of genre, but students should be made aware that genre does dictate when and whether we cite a source. In a newspaper article, for example, the writer may refer in words to the source of information or a quotation, but MLA citation, for example, is not required. Scientific research papers, law journal articles, and other academic papers may require footnotes rather than in-text citations.

Metacognition

This lesson begins with a question about students’ prior knowledge and has them reflect on the differences between their home country’s approach to intellectual property and plagiarism as compared with that of the U.S. It later asks students to reflect on what they know, and what they think they know, about what plagiarism is and what types of work are governed by the concept of plagiarism. You may assign a brief write-up on the challenges students experienced when reconciling the cultural conventions of attribution of their home countries and the U.S.

PART I: CHECK FOR PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

• Ask students what they know or have heard about plagiarism, paraphrasing, and direct quotation; whether plagiarism and intellectual property exist as concepts in their home countries and whether there are academic consequences for plagiarism.
• Discuss whether students know that plagiarism is a serious offense at BU.
• Check for preconceived and inaccurate notions: If students are aware of plagiarism and the need for attribution, ask them what works it applies to (for example, if they think this applies to material found on the web).
• Explain the seriousness and repercussions of plagiarism in the U.S.; plagiarism is a serious offense in the U.S. Using part or all of another’s writing without giving attribution to the author is considered theft and misrepresentation, and one of the worst forms of academic misconduct.
• Give real-world examples of how plagiarism is viewed (resignation from high office; revocation of graduate degrees; public embarrassment). See, for example, “Senator Quits Montana Race After Charge of Plagiarism,” or “German Fascination with Degrees Claims Latest Victim: Education Minister”
• Discuss the relevant sections of BU’s Academic Conduct Code: Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are serious offenses at BU. (In addition, you might discuss the Code’s applicability to behavior such as buying papers from commercial services; using the paper of a student who previously took the course; or using one’s own paper from another course or an earlier semester without the instructor’s prior approval.)

PART II: INTRODUCE TOOLS FOR TEXT ATTRIBUTION

• Define key terms and give examples from texts students are reading in class. This handout provides students with some handy definitions.

Key terms and definitions Summarizing is used to express the main idea of a written work. It omits small details and does not use the author’s words and structure. Paraphrasing is used when it’s important to convey every idea in the original piece of writing. It does not use the author’s words and structure. Quoting is used when the writer’s exact words are important because they are well-known or historically significant, or because they express a concept in a unique or noteworthy way, such as: “I have a dream,” or “We hold these truths to be self-evident.”

• Offer students more practice with the mechanics of quotation and embedding quotes into their sentences, using an exercise like this one.
• Review the differences between paraphrasing and quoting, asking students why, if a paraphrase simply restates the passage, we don’t just use a direct quotation.

Reasons to paraphrase (vs. quote) Your paraphrase demonstrates that you understand the text. You can make challenging material easier to understand by paraphrasing.   You will be able to smoothly integrate the paraphrase into a paper you’re writing by using the same style, structure, and organization.    A direct quotation may have details you don’t want to include in your paper. American academic practice values using your own words and discourages using quotations.

• Review  paraphrase vs. summary: A summary briefly states the main idea of a text; a paraphrase restates all of the important information in an excerpt.

PART III: PRACTICE WITH PARAPHRASE

• Review the principles of and strategies for paraphrasing with students.

Key principles for paraphrase Use your own words to express the concepts of the original passage. Use your own sentence structure and organization, not the author’s. Provide attribution in correct citation form for the passage you paraphrased.

Key strategies for paraphrase Read the portion of text you want to paraphrase. Make sure you understand it. After you’ve read the text, make notes of what you read, without using the author’s words or structure. Using only your notes, write all of the important ideas of the text using own words. Compare your paraphrase with the original text to be sure you’ve included all of the ideas in the text and stated those ideas accurately. Review and revise your passage for grammar and spelling errors.

• Examine together a model of paraphrase.
• Begin by directing students to Purdue OWL’s section on paraphrasing .
• Use this exercise (based on the essay “Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts” by Bruce Catton) to help students evaluate different kinds of paraphrases.
• Practice paraphrasing together in class.
• Consider having students work in pairs and produce a jointly written paraphrase for homework, as discussing the concepts with another student may improve understanding and provide support for skill development.
• Select 1-2 paragraphs from a work the class has read.
• Have students read the selection, then close their books and make notes.
• Have students use their notes to write a paraphrase of the selection.
• Have several students read their paraphrases aloud or write them on the board, and discuss.

Variations and Follow-Ups

Alternative lesson ideas.

• Purdue OWL paraphrasing exercises

Suggested follow-ups

• Revisit quoting and paraphrasing in the final weeks of the course, when students are reading their longer work and preparing to write their final papers.

Suggested flipped learning modules

• Academic Integrity: Part I, Avoiding Plagiarism
• Academic Integrity: Part II, Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing
• Summarizing

Further Reading

For students.

• The Norton Sampler: Short Essays for Composition . 9th ed., edited by Thomas Cooley, W.W. Norton & Co., 2017, pp. 583-87. This section of The Norton Sampler gives an excellent, concise explanation, with a clear “how to” of quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.
• Ferris, Dana. Language Power: Tutorials for Writers, by Dana Ferris. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014. The section on p. 273 entitled, “Do not overuse quotation marks,” explains why a writer should limit the use of direct quotations.
• “Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing.” The Purdue OWL , Purdue U Writing Lab. The Purdue OWL has a useful section explaining paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing ; their differences; and their different uses.

For instructors

• Adhikari, Soni. “ Beyond culture: helping international students avoid plagiarism .” Journal of International Studies , vol. 8, no. 1, 2018, pp. 375-388. This source analyzes causes of plagiarism by international students and recommends actions that can be taken by faculty in the U.S. to help these students understand and incorporate methods to avoid plagiarism.
• Roig, Miguel. “ Avoiding plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and other questionable writing practices: a guide to ethical writing. ” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Research Integrity . Revised ed., 2015. This source offers some helpful legal guidance.

See all Writing Program Essential Lessons Remote Implementation of Essential Lesson Activities

Paraphrasing - an overview

Paraphrasing is ..., what are the differences between quoting, paraphrasing & summarising .

• Why Paraphrase?
• Paraphrasing versus Plagiarism
• The Do's and Don'ts of Paraphrasing
• Paraphrasing - examples
• Further Information

Paraphrasing is 'a restating of someone else’s thoughts or ideas in your own words. You must always cite your source when paraphrasing’ (Pears & Shields, 2019 p. 245).  

(Solas English, 2017)

• Quoting means using someone else’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks.. 
• Paraphrasing means expressing someone else’s ideas in your own voice, while keeping the same essential meaning.
• Summarising means taking a long passage of text from someone else and condensing the main ideas in your own words.

Watch the video below for more information.  

(UNC Writing Center, 2019)

• Next: Why Paraphrase? >>
• Last Updated: Apr 10, 2024 3:42 PM
• URL: https://lit.libguides.com/paraphrasing

The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest

Differences Finder

Understanding the Difference Between Quoting and Paraphrasing a Source

In academic writing, the ability to incorporate sources effectively is crucial. It not only strengthens an argument but also provides a foundation for the writer’s own ideas and assertions. **Quoting** and **paraphrasing** are two fundamental …

Published on: Education

In academic writing, the ability to incorporate sources effectively is crucial. It not only strengthens an argument but also provides a foundation for the writer’s own ideas and assertions. **Quoting** and **paraphrasing** are two fundamental techniques that serve distinct purposes in integrating source material. However, many writers, especially those new to formal writing, often confuse or misuse these methods. This article aims to clarify the differences between quoting and paraphrasing, outline their proper use, and offer guidelines for avoiding common pitfalls associated with each technique.

Introduction

Whether you are writing a research paper, an essay, or any form of academic document, understanding how to appropriately use sources is essential. Quoting and paraphrasing are two distinct methods of incorporating information from a source into your own writing. Both serve different purposes and are used in various scenarios. This article will delve into the nuances of quoting and paraphrasing, highlighting their key differences, appropriate contexts for use, and tips for effective implementation. By the end of this guide, you should have a solid grasp of when and how to appropriately quote and paraphrase sources in your work.

What is Quoting?

Quoting involves taking the exact words from a source and placing them into your document, surrounded by quotation marks. This method is used when the exact wording of the source is significant or when the original language is powerful or distinctive. Quotes should be identical to the original, match the source document word for word, and must be attributed to the original author.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing, on the other hand, involves restating information from a source in your own words while retaining the original meaning. This technique is useful for conveying the same idea without resorting to the original text’s precise wording. Paraphrasing requires a thorough understanding of the original material so that the rephrased version correctly represents the source information. Unlike quoting, paraphrasing does not require quotation marks but does require a citation.

Key Differences Between Quoting and Paraphrasing

Understanding the difference between quoting a source and paraphrasing it is essential for effective academic writing. The key distinctions lie in how each method is used and their purpose in your writing. Quoting is best used when the exact words of the source are crucial for your argument or when the source’s wording is particularly eloquent or authoritative. Paraphrasing, in contrast, is employed when you need to convey the same idea but prefer to express it in your own words, often to integrate it better into the flow of your narrative.

Quoting uses the exact words from the source and requires quotation marks and citations. Paraphrasing involves rewording the source material and does not use quotation marks, though it still requires citation. Additionally, quoting tends to be shorter, often just a few lines, while paraphrasing can be more extensive.

When to Use Quotes

Knowing when to use quotes is as important as knowing how to use them. You should quote a source when the original text’s wording is unique, powerful, or succinctly conveys an idea that would lose its impact if rephrased. Quotes are also useful when the precise words of a source are necessary to establish credibility or authority on a subject. For instance, quoting a well-known researcher can lend weight to your own arguments. It’s also appropriate when the exact language is necessary for analysis, as in a literary critique or legal document review.

When to Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is often more appropriate than quoting when you wish to summarize longer sections of text or simplify complex ideas into more digestible language. Paraphrasing allows you to maintain a consistent voice throughout your work and makes the text more cohesive and easier to read. It’s particularly useful when the detail or emphasis of the original text is not crucial, or when integrating the source material more seamlessly into your own analysis. Additionally, paraphrasing can help avoid the overuse of quotations, which may otherwise clutter your text and interrupt the flow of your writing.

To illustrate the differences, here are examples of a quote and a paraphrase from the same source text:

Original text : “In recent years, the rise of social media has significantly altered the landscape of interpersonal communication.”

Quotation : According to Smith (2020), “the rise of social media has significantly altered the landscape of interpersonal communication.”

Paraphrase : Smith (2020) notes that the emergence of social media has dramatically changed how people communicate with one another.

As you can see, the paraphrased version conveys the same idea but in different words, while the quotation uses the exact wording from the original text.

Tips for Effective Quoting and Paraphrasing

Both quoting and paraphrasing require careful attention to proper attribution and context. Here are some tips for effectively using each method:

• Ensure accuracy: For quotes, verify that you transcribe the source text exactly as it appears. For paraphrases, confirm that you fully understand the original material to avoid misrepresentation.
• Use quotes sparingly: Quotations should support your argument, not replace it. Rely on them judiciously to enhance your points without overwhelming your voice.
• Seamlessly integrate quotes: Introduce quotes in a way that connects them to your own analysis, providing necessary context and explanation.
• Vary your approach: Use a mix of quoting and paraphrasing to maintain reader interest and avoid monotony.
• Cite sources appropriately: Whether quoting or paraphrasing, always give credit to the original author with proper citations to avoid plagiarism.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Some common pitfalls can undermine the effectiveness of quoting and paraphrasing:

• Overquoting: Relying too heavily on quotes can overshadow your own voice and analysis. Strive for a balance that supports and enhances your argument.
• Inaccurate paraphrasing: Misrepresenting the original text can lead to misunderstandings. Ensure your paraphrase captures the essential meaning of the source.
• Plagiarism: Even when paraphrasing, failure to credit the original source constitutes plagiarism. Always provide proper attribution.
• Poor integration: Quotes and paraphrases should be smoothly integrated into your text, providing clear context and relevance to your discussion.
• Inadequate analysis: Simply quoting or paraphrasing without analysis doesn’t contribute to your argument. Provide your own insights and interpretations to add value.

Benefits of Quoting and Paraphrasing in Academic Writing

Quoting and paraphrasing are essential tools in academic writing, each serving a unique purpose in strengthening your argument and providing credibility to your work. Understanding the benefits of each will help you apply them effectively to enhance your research papers, essays, and academic projects.

Enhancing Credibility and Authority

When you quote a source, you bring an authoritative voice into your paper. Direct quotations lend credibility , especially when citing renowned experts, historical documents, or seminal works. By quoting, you demonstrate that your assertions are grounded in solid research, which can bolster the argumentative strength of your writing. Conversely, paraphrasing allows you to present the same information in your own words, showcasing your understanding of the material. Paraphrasing reflects your ability to synthesize and interpret information, underscoring your grasp on the subject matter and making your argument more compelling.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Mastering the art of quoting and paraphrasing is pivotal in avoiding plagiarism , a serious academic offense. Quoting involves verbatim excerpts from a source, necessitating the careful placement of quotation marks and proper citation. This practice clearly differentiates your thoughts from the author’s original words. Paraphrasing, on the other hand, requires a thorough transformation of the original text, invoking your unique sentence structure and vocabulary, yet still necessitating proper citation. Both techniques, when used correctly, allow you to incorporate others’ ideas into your work ethically and legally.

Clarity and Conciseness

Quoting and paraphrasing can significantly improve the clarity and conciseness of your writing. Direct quotes are particularly useful for highlighting powerful statements, precise definitions, and memorable phrases. These snippets can add vividness and authority to your text without diluting your narrative voice. Paraphrasing excels in communicating complex information more simply and succinctly. By rephrasing dense material, you can make your content accessible and engaging for readers without sacrificing accuracy or depth.

Strengthening Arguments

Effective quoting and paraphrasing can strengthen and substantiate your arguments. Quotations provide direct evidence for your claims, making your points harder to refute. Meanwhile, paraphrasing helps you integrate evidence smoothly into your narrative, providing the foundation for building coherent and persuasive arguments. By balancing quotes and paraphrased content, you can create a robust and well-supported discussion.

Showcasing Analytical Skills

Quoting and paraphrasing effectively demonstrates your analytical skills . When you appropriately choose which excerpts to quote and which to paraphrase, you reveal your ability to distinguish significant details and your capacity for critical thinking. This discernment reflects a deeper engagement with the material, which can impress instructors and peers, highlighting your scholarly aptitude.

Promoting Academic Integrity

Finally, the correct application of quoting and paraphrasing fosters a culture of academic integrity. Acknowledging the intellectual contributions of others while presenting your insights shows respect for the academic community. It also encourages honest and responsible scholarship, guiding you to contribute original thoughts and foster intellectual growth.

Effective Strategies for Quoting and Paraphrasing

While knowing the definitions and differences between quoting and paraphrasing is essential, equally important are the strategies for applying these techniques. Deploying these methods effectively ensures that your writing is both ethical and powerful.

Choosing the Right Sources

Before quoting or paraphrasing, it’s crucial to select credible and relevant sources. Aim for primary sources like original research articles, historical documents, and authoritative texts in your field. Peer-reviewed journals, academic books, and reputable websites ensure that the information you integrate into your work is accurate and trustworthy. Always evaluate the author’s credentials, publication date, and the source’s overall reliability to maintain the integrity of your academic writing.

Balancing Quotes and Paraphrases

Striking the right balance between quotes and paraphrased content is key to a well-rounded paper. Over-reliance on direct quotes can make your writing feel cluttered and hinder the flow of your narrative. Aim for a mix where quotes underscore major points or present irreplaceable wording, and paraphrases expand on supporting details. This balance showcases your ability to engage with the material critically and weave external input seamlessly into your argumentation.

Integrating Quotations

Effective integration of quotations requires context and clarity. Introduce each quote with a signal phrase that provides context, such as “According to Dr. Jane Smith,” or “In the words of John Doe, ‘…'” Clearly explain its relevance to your argument afterward to give the reader a clear understanding of why the quote was chosen. Additionally, avoid over-quoting. Choose concise and impactful excerpts, inline with your writing style, ensuring they support your thesis without overwhelming it.

Paraphrasing With Fidelity

Paraphrasing requires a delicate balance of rephrasing the original content while preserving its original meaning. Begin by thoroughly understanding the source material. Take notes, then set it aside and write the paraphrase using your vocabulary and structure. This ensures that the paraphrase is genuinely in your words and reduces the likelihood of accidental plagiarism. Always compare your paraphrase with the original to make sure you haven’t inadvertently borrowed phrasing or structure, always citing the original source appropriately.

Using Quotes to Highlight Key Points

Using quotes judiciously can underline critical points and arguments in your paper. Reserve direct quotations for definitions, particularly poignant statements, and key pieces of evidence that are compelling in their original phrasing. This strategy emphasizes the importance of those sections to your reader, making them stand out within the larger narrative.

Rewriting and Reviewing

The process of quoting and paraphrasing is not one-and-done. After integrating quotes and paraphrased content, revisit your work to ensure that each element is correctly cited and seamlessly integrated into your narrative. Editing and revising help to ensure clarity, coherence, and that your voice remains dominant, effectively synthesizing information rather than merely compiling quotes.

Citing Sources Correctly

Proper citation is the cornerstone of ethical quoting and paraphrasing. Familiarize yourself with the citation style mandated by your academic institution—APA, MLA, Chicago, etc. Each style has specific guidelines for citing quotes and paraphrases. Use tools like citation managers or referencing software to keep track of your sources and generate accurate citations, maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism.

Practice and Feedback

Like any skill, effective quoting and paraphrasing improve with practice. Regularly engage with diverse materials, trying out both techniques, and seeking feedback from peers or mentors. Constructive criticism helps refine your approach and hones your abilities, contributing to a higher quality of academic writing.

By mastering these strategies, you ensure that your quoting and paraphrasing not only enhance the quality and depth of your writing but also uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.

Sure! Here are five FAQs related to the topic “Understanding the Difference Between Quoting and Paraphrasing a Source”:

**Question:** What is the main difference between quoting and paraphrasing a source?

**Answer:** The main difference between quoting and paraphrasing a source is that quoting involves using the exact words from the original text within quotation marks, whereas paraphrasing involves rewording the original text in your own words while preserving the original meaning.

**Question:** When should I use a quote instead of a paraphrase?

**Answer:** You should use a quote when the exact wording of the source is important for making your point or when the original text is so well-phrased that rewording it would diminish its impact. Quotes are also useful when you want to provide direct evidence or support for your arguments.

**Question:** What are the benefits of paraphrasing over quoting?

**Answer:** Paraphrasing has several benefits: it demonstrates your understanding of the source material, helps integrate evidence more smoothly into your own writing, and can make your work less reliant on lengthy quotations, thus maintaining your own voice and style.

**Question:** How can I ensure that my paraphrase is not too close to the original text?

**Answer:** To ensure your paraphrase is not too close to the original text, read the original passage thoroughly, then set it aside and write your version without looking at it. This method forces you to put the ideas into your own words. Always compare your paraphrase to the original to ensure you haven’t inadvertently copied phrases or sentence structures.

**Question:** Do I need to cite my sources when paraphrasing, just as I do when quoting?

**Answer:** Yes, you must always cite your sources when paraphrasing, just as you do when quoting. Even though you are using your own words, the ideas and information come from the original source, and proper citation gives credit to the original author and avoids plagiarism.

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The best AI tools for academic paraphrasing: tested and ranked

Proper paraphrasing is an essential skill for individuals in academia, including researchers, scholars, professors, and students. In this guide, we comprehensively tested, reviewed and ranked seven popular AI tools for academic paraphrasing , along with our top 3 choices, so that you can pick the best one.

What are the best AI tools for academic paraphrasing?

When writing academic papers, it is necessary to reference sources and avoid relying solely on direct quotations.

Throughout this process, it is crucial to avoid plagiarism, ensuring that one’s work does not contain stolen text passages, even unintentionally.

The evaluation of the results was based on the following criteria:

Customization refers to the range of options offered by the tool, such as selecting different paraphrasing approaches or indicating the desired degree of change and the use of synonyms.

Distinguished by its adaptability to various disciplinary standards and scientific conventions, Trinka stands out as an all-encompassing solution.

Quality of Rephrasing

When we first tried Trinka for the paraphrasing the quote for our test, we were surprised: Trinka faced challenges in paraphrasing an entire text selection at once, leaving a portion untouched and necessitating manual intervention (see image below).

Originality

After the brief detour, accomplished in just three clicks, the achieved result yielded the following plagiarism scores:

Customization

Furthermore, as stated above, a notable feature is the personal assistant tool, accessible in a separate window, aiding in paraphrasing and offering customization options for your voice. From adjusting tones and lengths to sounding formal, confident, or casual, this feature significantly enhances the quality of paraphrasing.

2. QuillBot

QuillBot ‘s AI will collaborate with you to generate effective rephrasing: You have a lot of control as you can compare outputs from all seven available modes to choose the most suitable paraphrase.

While it’s crucial to approach AI paraphrasing tools with discernment, QuillBot distinguishes itself by providing a user-friendly experience. Through a color-coded overview of modifications (see the image below), it enhances transparency in the process. For instance, changed words are highlighted in orange, and the longest unchanged words are marked in blue.

The initial rephrased output yielded an originality score of 66% and less. Nevertheless, with QuillBot ‘s clear indication of unchanged passages, a minimal number of clicks sufficed to modify a few additional words, swiftly achieving a 100% originality score.

Moreover, QuillBot presents a unique feature allowing users to expand or shorten text, proving exceptionally useful for students and researchers constrained by stringent word limits.

With the premium plan, you gain access to full functionality, including unlimited word paraphrasing, faster processing, advanced grammar features, tone detection, and more. The premium plan is priced at $19.95 per month or $8.33 per month when paid annually.

3. Scispace

Scispace ‘s paraphrasing option consistently delivers results that are unique and accurate.

Although the plagiarism detection did not flag it as plagiarized, for experienced university professors, it might seem a bit too close to the original, especially if the original quote is known, as numerous adjectives were essentially transformed into nouns.

While we selected an ‘academic’ tone, Scispace offers a plethora of tones, ranging from ‘professional’ to ‘sympathetic’ or even ‘passive-aggressive.’

The Scispace premium subscription, offering unlimited paraphraser outputs, is priced at $12 per month when billed annually. This comes at a slightly higher cost than its competitor QuillBot. However, you can get 20% OFF the monthly subscription plan with the code masteracademia20 , or 40% off the annual plan with the subscription code masteracademia40 !

4. Paraphraser

While Paraphraser provides decent paraphrasing capabilities, it’s worth noting that when dealing with more intricate quotes, users should exercise caution to ensure the preservation of the original meaning of the quoted text.

However, the real challenge lies in preserving accurate meaning. The initial attempt to paraphrase our test quote resulted in a somewhat tangled paraphrased version. Nevertheless, it presented numerous synonyms that facilitated additional manual edits.

Another noteworthy advantage is the inclusion of a built-in plagiarism checker, streamlining and enhancing this crucial step in the process.

However, each existing mode offers a curated set of synonyms, indicated by words highlighted in green, providing a diverse range of options for paraphrasing. This feature not only facilitates the creation of uniquely paraphrased quotes but also ensures that the essence and meaning of the original quote are preserved.

Additionally, Paraphraser offers extra pro functions, including an inbuilt summarizer, grammar checker, and plagiarism checker, enhancing the overall user experience and ensuring the quality of the paraphrased content.

5. Writefull

($5.46/month if billed annually)

Writefull harnesses the power of language models extensively trained on academic journal articles, making it a specialized tool designed specifically for the academic context.

Writefull delivers satisfactory results in paraphrasing and excels in generating unique content. However, it has limited options for customization.

Each of the three paraphrased quotes underwent rigorous scrutiny on the selected plagiarism detection sites. The outcome across all evaluations revealed a noteworthy result – 100% uniqueness for each paraphrased version.

Upon receiving this input, Writefull generates three distinct versions of the text, effectively showcasing alterations by highlighting them in a user-friendly yellow color.

However, while the tool allows for effortless comparison and selection among the provided versions, it lacks a feature for direct, on-the-spot manual customization. Unlike some other platforms, Writefull does not currently support the ability to click on individual words and make immediate synonym selections and the like.

Writefull can be used with limited functionality for free. Its Premium Plan offers unlimited use of all features at a cost of $15.37 per month. However, there are significant savings if you choose to pay annually, as it amounts to only $5.46 per month.

While Copy.ai demonstrated decent paraphrasing quality in our testing, the free paraphrasing option lacks sufficient customization options, rendering it unsuitable for academic settings.

Nevertheless, delving into the free version could prove beneficial for refining email communication or crafting social media posts that share academic publications.

Quality of Paraphrasing

While Copy.ai has not been developed specifically for academic purposes, the paraphrased text by copy.ai is decent:

However, difficult to follow the changes as there was no side by side comparison or highlighted words or sentences parts, helping to follow what changed.

The originality of the paraphrased text was very good. Putting the generated text by copy.ai into three different plagiarism checkers, resulted in all 100% unique results!

Copy.ai provides customization options within its system; however, it lacks specific features relevant to paraphrasing and academic applications. This limitation becomes apparent in the prompts available upon account creation, which are centered around sales, social media, or email marketing.

It’s essential to acknowledge that while these prompts offer utility in various contexts, they may not align well with academic needs.

Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the free paraphraser fails to present a comparison with the original quote and lacks a manual option for incorporating additional synonyms or other modifications.

Copy.ai provides a free plan enabling the creation or editing of up to 2,000 words per month at no expense. Should you decide on the monthly subscription and opt for an annual payment, the cost totals $36 per month.

While it may prove beneficial for various professions, it is not advisable for academic paraphrasing due to being comparatively expensive. However, experimenting with the free version could be a viable option to gauge its suitability for your needs.

7. Grammarly

Hence, paraphrasing in Grammarly is not merely a copy-paste exercise. Grammarly can augment paraphrasing efforts, albeit in a more nuanced and intricate manner.

Quality of paraphrasing

Furthermore, a minor inconvenience arises in the form of a formatting issue with the reference and the brackets around it, which, while relatively minor, remains somewhat bothersome.

The availability of three paraphrased text options in Grammarly is appreciated. However, the performance of the free paraphrasing tool itself is mediocre.

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Study skills: Summarising, paraphrasing and quoting for academic purposes

When: 16 January 2020, 19:30 — 21:00 Venue: Birkbeck Main Building, Malet Street

Book your place

Summarising, paraphrasing and quoting are essential academic writing skills. They are key to a good academic writing style, creating a sound academic argument and demonstrating your understanding of the material. These skills are also crucial to reading and note making for academic purposes, and to integrating your material into your writing. This workshop will identify the differences between summarising, paraphrasing and quoting, why these academic writing skills are important, when to summarise, paraphrase or quote and how to summarise, paraphrase and quote.

Contact name: Sal Campbell

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November 30, 2023 By Karen Kenjosian

Enhancing Academic Writing: The Vital Role of Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is a fundamental skill in academic writing, serving as a bridge between research and original thought. Scrible’s new Paraphrasing Support feature in its Edu Pro plan directly addresses the needs and challenges identified in recent academic research.

The Critical Nature of Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is not just about rewording text; it reflects comprehension and the ability to critically engage with the material. Eaton and Hughes emphasize its role in maintaining academic integrity, stating, “Paraphrasing is essential to disseminating knowledge in an ethical manner” (Eaton and Hughes). 

Paraphrasing as a Learning Tool

The ability to paraphrase is closely tied to a student’s understanding and learning. As noted in a ResearchGate publication, “Paraphrasing encourages deeper engagement with the source material, promoting better understanding and retention.” ([ResearchGate Publication on Guided Inquiry Learning]). 

Scrible’s Paraphrasing Support: A Game-Changer

Scrible meets a critical need in academic writing by simplifying the paraphrasing process through the following ways:

• Allows users to create unique paraphrases for portions of their text.
• Measures the percentage of verbiage quoted from the source material, ensuring originality in the paraphrased content.
• Makes it easy to properly cite the paraphrased material in MLA, APA, Chicago, and more than 9,000 citation styles.
• Seamlessly inserts paraphrased material into the writing document with our Google and Scrible Writer Add-ons.

This is especially valuable given the observation from the University of New South Wales that effective paraphrasing is a skill that requires practice and understanding (“Paraphrasing, Summarising and Quoting”). Siqi Song points out this is especially true for non-native English speakers, “For ESL students, mastering paraphrasing is a step toward fluency in academic writing” (Song). Scrible’s Paraphrasing Support is designed to make this step less intimidating, providing a built-in opportunity to prevent plagiarism and ensure the paraphrase is distinctly different from the annotated text.

The Broader Educational Impact

Effective paraphrasing indicates a student’s understanding and ability to critically analyze information. Mastering the skill of paraphrasing is essential for academic success. Scrible’s innovative Paraphrasing Support feature meets a crucial need in the educational landscape, helping students demonstrate their understanding and engage more deeply with their research. It’s not just a tool; it’s a partner in the journey of academic excellence.

Eaton, Sarah Elaine, and Julia Christensen Hughes, editors. Academic Integrity in Canada: An Enduring and Essential Challenge . Springer, 2022.

Song, Siqi. “Teaching the Challenging but Essential Academic Writing Skill of Paraphrasing.” EFL Magazine . Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

[An Interventive Collaborative Scaffolded Approach with a Writing Center On ESL Students’ Academic Writing]. ResearchGate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

[Implementation of Guided Inquiry Learning Model in Improving Students’ Understanding of Paraphrasing]. ResearchGate. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.“Paraphrasing, Summarising and Quoting.” University of New South Wales . Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

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