How to Paraphrase Without Plagiarizing

Paraphrasing is restating someone else's ideas in your own words. Done well, it shows you understand the source material. Done poorly, it's plagiarism -- even if you didn't intend it. Here's how to paraphrase correctly and cite it properly.

Paraphrasing vs Quoting vs Summarizing

These three techniques serve different purposes:

• Direct quote: Exact words from the source, in quotation marks, with a page number. Use when the exact wording matters.
• Paraphrase: The same idea rewritten in your own words and sentence structure. Use for most citations -- it shows comprehension.
• Summary: A condensed version of a longer passage or entire work. Use when you need the big picture, not specific details.

All three require citations. The format changes slightly (quotes need page numbers), but the obligation to cite doesn't.

The 5-Step Paraphrasing Method

1. Read the original passage carefully. Make sure you understand it fully before rewriting.
2. Put the source away. Don't look at it while writing your version.
3. Write the idea from memory in your own words and sentence structure.
4. Compare with the original. Check that you haven't accidentally copied phrases or structure.
5. Add your citation. Every paraphrase needs an in-text citation pointing to the source.

The key test: if you need the original in front of you to write your version, you're not paraphrasing -- you're copying.

What Counts as Plagiarism

Patchwork Plagiarism

Swapping a few words with synonyms while keeping the original sentence structure. This is the most common accidental plagiarism.

Original:

"Climate change has significantly altered global weather patterns, leading to more frequent and severe natural disasters."

Patchwork plagiarism (still plagiarism):

Climate change has greatly changed worldwide weather patterns, resulting in more common and intense natural disasters.

Proper paraphrase:

The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters can be traced back to shifts in global weather driven by climate change (Smith, 2025).

Notice that the proper paraphrase restructures the sentence completely and reverses the cause-effect order.

Mosaic Plagiarism

Mixing your own words with phrases from the source without quotation marks. Even with a citation, using someone's exact phrases without quotes is plagiarism.

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing your own previously submitted work without acknowledgment. If you wrote about the same topic in another class, you need to cite yourself or get permission to reuse the material.

How to Cite a Paraphrase

APA

In-text citation with author and year. No page number required for paraphrases (but recommended):

Recent research shows that citation errors are common in published papers (Smith, 2025).

Or with a signal phrase:

Smith (2025) found that citation errors are common in published papers.

For more APA details, see our APA citation guide.

MLA

In-text citation with author and page number:

Citation errors appear in a surprising number of published papers (Smith 47).

Chicago (Notes-Bibliography)

Footnote with full citation details:

Citation errors appear in many published papers.^1

Common Mistakes

1. Changing only a few words -- You need to restructure the sentence, not just swap synonyms
2. Keeping the same sentence structure -- Change the order, split or combine sentences
3. Forgetting the citation -- Even though it's in your words, the idea came from somewhere
4. Paraphrasing too closely from multiple sources -- Weaving together close paraphrases from different sources is still mosaic plagiarism
5. Not understanding the source -- If you can't explain the idea without looking at the original, re-read it

When to Quote Instead of Paraphrase

Sometimes quoting is the better choice:

• The author's exact words are important (definitions, famous statements)
• You're analyzing the language itself (literary criticism)
• The original is so well-written that paraphrasing would lose its meaning
• You're presenting evidence that needs to be verifiable word-for-word

If you're using AI tools in your research, learn how to cite ChatGPT and AI properly.

Try It with CiteTools

Once you've paraphrased correctly, you still need to format the citation. Paste the source's DOI, URL, or title into CiteTools.io to get a properly formatted in-text citation and reference entry in APA, MLA, Chicago, or any other style.