Paraphrasing | Informative vs Expository Writing | Professional Writing III

Paraphrasing is the process of restating someone else's ideas or information in your own words. It is an important skill for writing, research, and academic work, as it allows you to use information from other sources while avoiding plagiarism. Here are some steps to help you paraphrase effectively:

Read the original text carefully: Before you start paraphrasing, make sure you understand the original text. Read it several times, and take notes on the main points and ideas.

Put the original text aside: Once you have a good understanding of the original text, put it aside and try to write a summary of the main ideas in your own words. This will help you avoid accidentally copying the original text.

Use synonyms and different phrasing: When you start paraphrasing, try to use synonyms and different phrasing to express the same ideas. This will help you avoid using the same words and sentence structure as the original text.

Check your work: Once you have finished paraphrasing, compare your work to the original text to make sure you have accurately conveyed the same information. Check for any instances of copying or too-close wording.

Cite your sources: Even when paraphrasing, it is important to give credit to the original source of the information. Make sure you include a citation to the original source in your work.

It is important to note that paraphrasing does not mean simply rearranging the words of the original text or replacing some words with synonyms. Rather, it involves restating the original ideas and information in your own words, while still maintaining the same meaning and intent.

Paraphrasing can serve different purposes depending on the context. In some cases, such as academic writing, paraphrasing may involve summarizing information from a longer article or study in order to present it in a more concise form. In other cases, such as when avoiding plagiarism, the goal of paraphrasing may be to express the same ideas as the original text but in different words and sentence structures.


Paraphrasing can serve several different purposes in writing, including:

Clarifying complex ideas: Paraphrasing can help to simplify or clarify complex or technical language, making it easier to understand.

Avoiding plagiarism: Paraphrasing can help writers to avoid plagiarism by expressing ideas in their own words while still giving credit to the original source.

Improving readability: Paraphrasing can make writing more concise, clear, and engaging by using simpler language, breaking up long sentences, or using different sentence structures.

Adapting for different audiences: Paraphrasing can help writers to adapt their writing for different audiences, using language and terminology that is appropriate for the intended readership.

Summarizing information: Paraphrasing can be used to summarize information, such as in research papers, where it is necessary to condense large amounts of data or literature into a concise format.

Enhancing the flow of ideas: Paraphrasing can help to connect different ideas or arguments in a piece of writing, making it easier for the reader to follow and understand the writer's main points.

Overall, paraphrasing can be a useful tool for writers to convey information clearly, ethically, and effectively, while also adapting to different contexts and audiences.

Clarifying complex ideas

Original text: "Sri Lanka's post-war reconciliation efforts have been hindered by a lack of political will and a fragmented civil society.

Paraphrased text: "Sri Lanka's attempts to promote reconciliation after the civil war have been impeded by a lack of political motivation and a divided civil society."

In this example, paraphrasing has simplified the original sentence by using clearer language and breaking it up into two parts, making it easier to understand

Avoiding plagiarism:

Original text: "According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the country's gross domestic product grew by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2021, compared to the same period last year."

Paraphrased text: "The Central Bank of Sri Lanka reports that the economy expanded by 2.3% during Q2 2021, in contrast to the corresponding period of the previous year."

In this example, the writer has paraphrased the original sentence by using different words and sentence structure, while still giving credit to the source of the information.

Paraphrasing

Improving readability:

Original text: "There is a pressing need to address the challenges facing Sri Lanka's healthcare system, including a shortage of medical professionals and inadequate funding."

Paraphrased text: "Sri Lanka's healthcare system is facing significant challenges, such as a shortage of healthcare workers and insufficient funding, which urgently require attention."

In this example, the writer has used simpler language and rephrased the original sentence to make it more concise and easier to read.

Adapting for different audiences:

Original text: "Sri Lanka's history and culture make it an ideal destination for travelers seeking an authentic experience."

Paraphrased text for a travel magazine aimed at budget-conscious backpackers: "Sri Lanka's rich heritage and unique customs provide budget travelers with an opportunity to experience an authentic and affordable trip."

In this example, the writer has adapted the original sentence for a different audience by changing the tone and emphasis of the language used.

Summarizing information:

Original text: "Sri Lanka's agricultural sector is dominated by rice cultivation, which accounts for over half of the country's total crop production."

Paraphrased text: "Rice is the primary crop grown in Sri Lanka, making up more than 50% of total agricultural output."

In this example, the writer has condensed the information in the original sentence into a more concise summary.

Enhancing the flow of ideas:

Original text: "While Sri Lanka has made significant progress in reducing poverty and improving living standards, inequality remains a major challenge, particularly for marginalized communities."

Paraphrased text: "Although Sri Lanka has made strides in reducing poverty and enhancing quality of life, there are still significant inequality issues that need to be addressed, especially among underprivileged groups."

In this example, the writer has rephrased the original sentence to improve the flow of ideas and make it easier to follow the writer's argument.

Example 1: Compressing an Article

Original article:

"The Sri Lankan government recently announced plans to develop the country's tourism industry, with a focus on attracting more high-end visitors and boosting revenues from the sector."

Paraphrased version:

"Sri Lanka's government is planning to grow its tourism industry by targeting high-end travelers and increasing revenue."

In this example, the paraphrased version has compressed the information in the original article by summarizing Sri Lanka's tourism development plans in a single sentence.

Example 2: Expressing the Same Ideas in Different Words

Original paragraph:

"Sri Lanka's economy has experienced significant growth over the past few decades, driven in large part by the service sector, particularly tourism, telecommunications, and IT. However, the country also faces significant challenges, including high levels of debt and a large trade deficit."

Paraphrased version:

"Over the last few decades, Sri Lanka's economy has undergone substantial growth due to the contributions of the service sector, including areas such as tourism, telecommunications, and IT. Nevertheless, the country also confronts several obstacles, including significant debt levels and a large trade imbalance."

In this example, the paraphrased version uses different words and sentence structures to express the same ideas as the original paragraph about Sri Lanka's economy, while also providing additional information and context.

Original paragraph:

Sri Lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the southern coast of India. The country has a long history and a diverse cultural heritage, with influences from India, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Today, Sri Lanka is a developing country with a growing economy and a range of industries, including tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing.


Paraphrased paragraph:

Situated in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island country that borders the southern coast of India. With a rich cultural history that draws from a variety of influences, including Indian, Dutch, and British, Sri Lanka is known for its diverse cultural heritage. In recent years, the country's economy has been developing and expanding, with a range of industries such as tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing driving this growth.

In the example I provided, the goal of paraphrasing was to avoid plagiarism by expressing the same ideas as the original paragraph in a different way, without compressing or summarizing the content.

In the paraphrased paragraph, I used different wording and sentence structure to convey the same information as the original paragraph.

For example, in the original paragraph, the first sentence describes Sri Lanka as an "island nation," while in the paraphrased paragraph, I use the phrase "island country" instead. I also added the detail that Sri Lanka "borders" the southern coast of India, which is another way of saying that it is located off the coast.

In the second sentence, I used the phrase "draws from a variety of influences" to paraphrase the original sentence's reference to "influences from India, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom." This conveys the same idea of Sri Lanka's diverse cultural heritage without using the exact same words.

Finally, in the third sentence, I rephrased the original sentence's reference to Sri Lanka's "growing economy" and "range of industries" by using the phrase "the country's economy has been developing and expanding" and mentioning the specific industries of tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Throughout the paraphrased paragraph, I aimed to convey the same information as the original paragraph, but in a way that uses different words and sentence structures to avoid any risk of plagiarism.

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