Paraphrase Skills

1. Paraphrase Skill Builder

If you are having trouble writing summaries, maybe it is
because you are having difficulty paraphrasing. In this
presentation, we will examine some paraphrasing techniques
that will help you re-write someone else’s sentences into your
own words; thus avoiding plagiarism.

2. Paraphrasing
If you use three words in the same sequence as the original
author’s, you plagiarized! So, get good at paraphrasing. You
must use your own words, and you have to document the
source of your information.

Paraphrasing
To Paraphrase is to say the same thing another way.
Copy three words in a row and you’re out!
We can successfully paraphrase by using a combination of
techniques.
3. Paraphrasing Techniques
Here are some of the paraphrasing techniques we are going to
look at. You have to use these techniques in combination.
Usually, two or three techniques used together will work.

4.Change to Synonyms
The most basic paraphrasing technique is replacing words with
synonyms. In the example you can see that content was
replaced with happy, but there are still six other words that
must be changed in some way. 
 Change to Synonyms
 Replace
the original words with words_ that mean the same.

5. When you can’t find a Synonym

Sometimes you can’t find a synonym. When this happens,
replace the word with a short definition. Asking yourself
question will help you define words. For example, “what is a
stallion?” Answer “ a male horse.”

6. Change from specific to general

When the specific word is not necessary, you can replace it
with a general word. For example, you can replace the word
poodle or a German shepherd with “a dog”. Sometimes one
general word can replace several specific words. For example,
you can replace tables, chairs, and sofas with one word:
furniture. But, remember you can only replace specific words
with general words if it does not affect the overall meaning of
the sentence.

Change from specific to general

In many instances, we can use a general term to replace a
more specific one, but not the reverse. We may do this only
when it does not significantly alter the overall meaning of the
sentence.
On the bus with me were a dentist, a radiologist, and a
cardiologist.
Three doctors shared the bus trip with me.

7. Change Word Forms

Remember paraphrasing is an opportunistic process.
Sometimes you may see a way to replace a noun with a verb
and an adverb. You can do this by asking yourself questions
and then answering them with the information in the sentence.
In the example on this slide, the writer asked “what does a
typist do?” The answer is “type.” The second question is “how
does John type?” The answer is “quickly.” You can also do the
reverse.

Change Word Forms

Use an adverb instead of an adjective
Use a verb to replace a noun.
John is an accurate typist.
John types accurately.

8. Change from a Clause to a Phrase

You can reduce a dependent clause to a phrase when the
subject of the dependent clause is the same as the subject of
the independent clause. In the example above, “John took a
nap” is the independent clause. John is the subject. Of course
this technique alone is not enough to completely paraphrase
the sentence. You must change a few more things. By the way,
this technique works in reverse too. If I have a phrase for
which I can infer the subject, I can change it into a clause.

Change from a Clause to a Phrase

After he ate lunch, John took a nap.
After eating lunch, John took a nap.
After having eaten lunch, John took a nap.
The house that is across the street is old.
The house across the street is old.

9. Combine Techniques_Change to a phrase & add synonyms or

definitions
By defining what a nap is, the writer has successfully
paraphrased the remainder of this sentence.

Combine Techniques_Change to a phrase & add synonyms or

definitions
After he ate lunch, John took a nap.
After eating lunch, John slept a little.
10. Combine Techniques_Change to a phrase & add synonyms
or definitions
In this example, the writer has paraphrased the remainder of
the second sentence by substituting a few synonyms for
selected words. 
 Combine Techniques_Change to a phrase &
add synonyms or definitions


The house that is across the street is old.
 The house across
the street is old.


The house on the other side of the street is old.
 The dwelling
on the other side of the road is ancient.

11. Change from Quoted/direct Speech to Indirect Speech_

Changing from quoted speech is quick way to get started
paraphrasing a “live” speech because the verb tenses are
automatically changed as well as some pronouns. In this case
“am” becomes “was” and “I” becomes “she.” But that is just
the start. The writer still needs to change a couple of other
words.

Change from Quoted Speech to Indirect Speech_

Mrs. Lee said, “I am ready for lunch.”
Mrs. Lee said she was ready for lunch.

12. Change from Quoted Speech to Indirect Speech_

What did Mrs. Lee mean when she said “I am ready for lunch?”
She meant that she felt like eating lunch now. She most likely
was not actually getting ready for lunch.

Change from Quoted Speech to Indirect Speech_

Mrs. Lee said, “I am ready for lunch.”
Mrs. Lee said she was ready for lunch
Mrs. Lee said, she felt like eating lunch now.
13. Change from Active Voice to Passive Voice_
Another easy was to get started on a sentence is changing it
from active voice to passive voice. This is a good trick because
the verb will automatically change forms and the object and
subject will switch places. Remember, you will still need to
change a few more words using another technique.

Change from Active Voice to Passive Voice_

A hotel employee will carry your bags.
Your bags will be carried by a hotel employee.

14.Replace words with synonyms.

Two easy questions helped the writer replace two more words
in this sentence. The first is “What is another word for “bags?”
There are a couple of answers: “luggage” and “ suit cases.” The
second question is “ What do you call the person at a hotel who
carries your bags?” The answer is “bell boy” or “ bell hop” or
even “porter.”

……and replace words with synonyms.

A hotel employee will carry your bags.
Your bags will be carried by a hotel employee.

15. Change transitions

Changing the transitions in a sentence is one quick way to
change a key word. Be sure to apply a couple of other
paraphrasing techniques until the sentence has no more than
two words in the same sequence as the original sentence.

Change transitions
Although it was raining, Bob walked to work.
It was raining, but Bob walked to work.
It was raining; however, Bob walked to work.
16. Change word forms
The last sentence is completely paraphrased. Raining became
rain and walk was changed to on foot.

…… and change word forms

Although it was raining, Bob walked to work.
It was raining, but Bob walked to work.
It was raining; however, Bob walked to work.

17. Use a series of adjectives._

Instead of using the conjunction “and,” you can take advantage
of the adjective order characteristic of English. Notice that the
writer used the verb have to replace the possessive
apostrophe.

Use a series of adjectives._

John’s car is old and dangerous.
John has a dangerous old car.

18. Number Tricks

If the opportunity presents itself, there are some handy tricks
for paraphrasing numbers. In addition to these, dual and
couple mean two, trio means three, double means twice, a
baker’s dozen is twelve, a century is a hundred years, 72 hours
is three days, and 42 hundred is another way to say 4,200.
Don’t forget that you may use half, quarters, and thirds
creatively.

Number Tricks
There are creative ways to paraphrase numbers.
Twelve = one dozen
One hundred = one century
Five hundred years = half a millennium
Thirty years = three decades
Twenty = one score
One and half hours = 90 minutes

19. Combine Sentences

You may combine two or three simple sentences if one verb
and adjective can be found that says the same thing for all as in
the example.

Combine Sentences
Two or three simple sentences can be combined.
Dogs make nice pets. Cats are good pets too. Many people like
birds and fish.

Dogs, cats, birds, and fish are popular pets.

20. Split Sentences

Of course, if you can combine the sentences, you can also
divide them. Notice that the writer changed transitions and
found synonyms also. These are not single word synonyms, so
you won’t find them in a thesaurus. But, if you ask yourself
questions, like what does it mean to “think someone is
attractive?,” you will get some useful answers.

Split Sentences
One way to start paraphrasing a multi clause sentence is to
divide it into separate clauses.

Although Bob thought Jill was attractive, he decided not to go

out with her anymore.

Bob liked Jill. However, he chose to stop dating her.

21. Idiomatic expressions and metaphors

Paraphrasing idiomatic expressions is really easy. You just say

what the idiomatic expression really means. There are many
handbooks about idiomatic expressions. Remember, you can’t
look up synonyms for the various words that make up an
idiomatic expression and expect that together they will mean
the same as the expression.

Idiomatic expressions and metaphors_

Idiomatic expressions have special meanings which have little
to do with their literal meaning. To paraphrase these say what
the expression actually means.

Example: John kicked the bucket.

Paraphrased: John died.

22. Idiomatic expressions and metaphors_

Metaphors and similes compare something to something that it
is not. A simile does this by using like or as. For example, “My
brother walks like a duck.” My brother is not a duck, but there
is something similar to the way he walks and the way a duck
walks. A metaphor does the same thing as a simile but without
using like or as. The example on the slide is a metaphor.

Idiomatic expressions and metaphors_

Metaphors and similes compare one thing to something it is
not. To paraphrase a metaphor, you have to say what the
metaphor means.
Example: Rosa’s heart was a cold stone no man’s touch could
warm.
Paraphrased: Rosa rejected the romantic intentions of all men.

23. Interpret Meaning_Identify the underlying meaning of a

statement.
This technique is a big step towards summarizing. The writer
figured out what was really happening in the situation by
asking “What is Mrs. Lee really doing?” It was the “irritated
sounding voice” that told the writer that Mrs. Lee was
complaining. The fact that she was “ready for lunch” meant
that Mrs. Lee was hungry.

Interpret Meaning_Identify the underlying meaning of a

statement.
Mrs. Lee said in an irritated sounding voice, “I am ready for
lunch right now.”
Mrs. Lee complained about being hungry.
24. The End