Paraphrasing is an age-old technique used by writers for various reasons. Many have used paraphrasing to understand things and expand their vocabulary. In fact, teachers use paraphrasing exercises to enhance students’ creative skills and also test their comprehension skills.
Students, however, feel paraphrasing is an easy way to write their papers, but most are not well-versed with the methods. Websites like MyAssignmentHelp offer access to an essay rephraser tool to ease the entire process. However, the need to learn the correct ways to paraphrase cannot be ignored.
As paraphrasing is an important skill, ignoring the various aspects will not be wise. This blog will take you through some expert tips and techniques for effective paraphrasing. But before we learn how to paraphrase with the use of Grammar Checker, let’s understand the meaning of the term.
What is Paraphrasing?
The term paraphrase is defined as ‘express the meaning of (something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity’ in the Oxford English Dictionary. Students often fail to understand the need to use their own words to explain an existing text and go on with copying and pasting the text. Being accused of plagiarism is common among students as they are unable to use the correct paraphrasing methods. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when you paraphrase a text.
The following sections will take you through the techniques and tips to paraphrase like a pro.
Paraphrasing Techniques to Craft a Perfect Essay
The following are a few techniques for effective paraphrasing. Implement them to craft impressive essays:
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Read the original text multiple times
It is crucial to read and understand the text you chose to paraphrase. You need to understand the meaning of the entire text before you start paraphrasing. The entire process depends on your understanding of the original text and how well you interpret the same in your language. Further, paraphrasing does not aim to change the original text’s meaning. Hence, going through the text multiple times is important for better interpretation.
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Make a note of the important points
You don’t start writing as you go through the text. It is important to be organized before you start writing the final paper. The experts suggest students jot down the important points as they read the text. It is not necessary that you will use all the points of the text in your write-up. There might be a few that will not be relevant from your perspective. Hence, to ensure you do not misguide readers, make a note of the important points when you read the original text.
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Make a comparison
It is not wise to submit the paper once you are done paraphrasing. You need to ensure that your paper is different from the original text. How do you ensure that? Well, you have to do the hard work and compare your paper with the existing text. You must check if your write-up is original, accurate, and complete. Do not make the mistake of copying and pasting an entire section of the original text to complete your assignment. Instead, focus on using your words and explain the topic without changing the meaning of the original text. Your readers must not tag your write-up to be a copied one.
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Use proper citations
There are instances where you have used a few phrases from the original text. It is not wrong to refer to the original source of information. But if you don’t use the correct ways to cite the sources, you will fall prey to plagiarism. So, you need to acknowledge the sources correctly if you have used any information from the original text. Further, you can use quotation marks if you use any sentences from the text. In short, you have to ensure that the readers understand your reference, and there’s no scope for it to be called plagiarized.
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Ensure the meaning is the same
You cannot claim that you have paraphrased a text perfectly if you change the entire meaning of the paper. You need to write your paper, keeping the meaning intact. The experts associated with major websites can help you with the same and take you through each step. You must learn how to paraphrase properly to ensure you have the best output and score well in your papers.
How do you keep all these things in mind and paraphrase? Don’t worry; I have listed some of the tips to do it perfectly.
Tips to Paraphrase Perfectly
There are a few things you need to keep in mind while paraphrasing. You need to ensure you can ease through the process. Apparently, the process seems easy, but when you start doing the task, you will face a lot of problems. So, to avoid such situations, here are a few tips from the experts:
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Use synonyms
The best way to paraphrase is by using synonyms of specific words. That way, you will be able to avoid the plagiarism tag and present your idea in a new way. The write-up will sound original and will help readers gain a new perspective. But don’t start looking for synonyms for each word. Identify the keywords and use synonyms to replace them while paraphrasing.
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Change the sentence structure
You can go ahead and change the sentence structure while paraphrasing a text. Changing the sentence structure does not mean using passive voice. You can use an active voice while changing a sentence, keeping the meaning intact. That way, you will be able to craft an original document and impress your professor.
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Break sentences
There are many texts that have long sentences. An effective way to paraphrase such texts is by breaking sentences into two or more halves. You can convey a message in two or three sentences without hampering the meaning of the original text. It will help you craft a perfect paper and bag the best grades.
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Work on the entire structure
It is not necessary to use the same structure as the original text. You can work on the structure and rearrange them while writing your text. It will help you maintain originality. Students often fail to understand the need to rearrange these things and are unable to paraphrase correctly. You have the option of asking for help from one of the highly qualified experts from a popular website to learn all about paraphrasing.
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Run a plagiarism check
You need to ensure that the paper is not plagiarized. There are chances that the text will have some traces of plagiarism. Consider removing all of them before you submit the paper. It will also help you understand if you have perfected your paraphrasing skills. If the paper has major problems with plagiarism, you are yet to learn how to paraphrase. In such cases, ask your professor or an expert to help you rectify the ways and perfect your skills.
The art of paraphrasing is a useful one. You can use it as you climb the academic ladder and work on different texts easily. Students, especially, need to learn the art from day one. They struggle with writing academic papers and often look for options to ease through the process.
Endnote:
Paraphrasing has always been an easy way to sail through difficult papers. It is crucial to know the best ways to paraphrase. The chances of your copy having signs of plagiarism are high if you are unaware of the correct methods. Therefore, it is essential to ask professors or an expert to understand how to paraphrase. Do the hard work, look for samples, and compare them with the original texts to understand how a paraphrased text is different.
Author Bio: Thomas Williamson is an expert associated with MyAssignmenthelp.com. He helps students understand the advantages of using an essay rephraser and work on their papers. He is also known for his blogs on various topics.