To paraphrase a quote, restate its idea in your own words and sentence structure, then cite the source. You drop the quotation marks, because the words are now yours, but you keep the citation, because the idea is not. A paraphrase is not a few swapped synonyms; it is a genuine rewrite that keeps the meaning and changes the wording.
Paraphrasing is usually the better choice over direct quoting, because it lets the borrowed idea match your own voice and flow. Here is how to do it correctly and when to quote instead.
What is the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?
Quoting keeps the source’s exact words inside quotation marks. Paraphrasing keeps the source’s idea but uses your words, with no quotation marks. Both require a citation, because both use someone else’s thinking.
The practical difference is ownership of the words. In a quote, the wording is the author’s and you are showing it. In a paraphrase, the wording is yours and you are absorbing the idea into your argument. For the mechanics of the quoting route, see how to quote in MLA.
How do you paraphrase a quote step by step?
Read the original until you understand it, then set it aside. Write the idea from memory in your own words, without looking at the source, so you are not tempted to copy its structure. Then check your version against the original to confirm two things: the meaning is accurate, and the wording and sentence shape are genuinely different.
Finally, add the citation. A paraphrase still needs the author and, in many styles, the year or page, because the idea is borrowed even though the words are not.
Paraphrase example
Take this original quote:
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” (William H. Whyte)
A weak paraphrase just swaps words and keeps the structure: “The biggest issue in communication is the illusion that it has occurred.” That is too close to the original and risks plagiarism.
A real paraphrase changes the wording and the structure while keeping the point: “People often assume they have communicated successfully when in fact no understanding has been exchanged (Whyte).” The idea survives; the sentence is new.
Do you use quotation marks when you paraphrase?
No. Quotation marks signal exact wording, and a paraphrase has no exact wording to mark. Putting quotation marks around a paraphrase tells the reader those were the source’s precise words when they were not.
There is one exception: if you keep a distinctive phrase from the original inside your paraphrase, put just that phrase in quotation marks. Everything else stays in your own words.
Do you still cite a paraphrase?
Yes, always. The most common plagiarism mistake students make is assuming that changing the words removes the need to cite. It does not. The idea, finding, or argument belongs to the source, so the source gets credited whether you quote it or paraphrase it.
The citation format follows your style guide. See APA quote citation and MLA quote citation for how each handles a paraphrase versus a direct quote.
When should you paraphrase instead of quote?
Paraphrase when the source’s idea matters more than its exact wording, which is most of the time. Paraphrasing keeps your essay in one consistent voice and lets you compress a long passage into a single clean sentence.
Quote directly only when the wording itself is the point: a precise legal definition, a memorable turn of phrase, or language you are going to analyze. If you are not going to comment on the specific words, paraphrase.
FAQ
Does a paraphrase need quotation marks?
No. Quotation marks are only for exact wording. A paraphrase uses your own words, so it takes no quotation marks, only a citation.
Do you have to cite a paraphrase?
Yes. The idea is borrowed even when the words are yours, so a paraphrase always needs a citation. Skipping it is plagiarism.
How is paraphrasing different from summarizing?
A paraphrase restates a specific passage at roughly the same length in your own words. A summary condenses a longer work down to its main points. Both require a citation.
How much do you have to change to paraphrase a quote?
Enough that both the wording and the sentence structure are clearly your own. Swapping a few synonyms while keeping the original structure is not paraphrasing and can count as plagiarism.
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