Paraphrasing

When referring to the writing of another scholar, or scholars, it is sometimes suitable to use direct quotations. Most of the time, however, it is better to paraphrase.

This is because:

  • a paraphrase provides you with the opportunity to select only the parts of the extract or quotation that are relevant to your study
  • it is possible to frame a paraphrase by adding your own interpretation of the published work

 

How to Paraphrase

When paraphrasing it is important to:

1. Have a different sentence structure from the original extract

2. Utilise different vocabulary or phrases, while retaining key phrases that cannot be paraphrased

3. Maintain the same meaning. One technique is to ask if the scholar themself would be happy with your paraphrase

4. Reference the original source, so that the reader can easily find the claims, facts or evidence cited

 

Oxford Paraphrasing Examples

Please follow the links below to examples of the techniques Oxford students have employed to effectively paraphrase:

Examples

 

LANGUAGE CONSIDERATIONS

When paraphrasing, there is likely to be more overlap in terms of vocabulary. It is, however, important that your paraphrase is its own piece of writing and this overlap should only include essential vocabulary.

As a general rule, you can retain any vocabulary that does not have a synonym. This is often the case with elemental concepts, such as "time", but it might also apply to abstract nouns more generally (e.g. "democracy"). You can also, and often should, keep specialist or key noun or noun phrase vocabulary.  "Key nouns" or "key noun phrases" are the concepts or objects you are writing about, and it rarely makes sense to change them.

 

 

© AWH 2025