Writing > Plagiarism and Academic Integrity > Paraphrasing > Paraphrasing

When you paraphrase you present other people’s ideas, theories and data in your own words.

It is an important part of writing a paper. Remember:

• It is important to paraphrase properly.
• Paraphrasing, even though you are using your own words, must be properly referenced.

Paraphrasing can be difficult at first. We have all struggled to paraphrase appropriately, but as your writing skills develop so will your ability to paraphrase.

In most cases, when writing a paper, paraphrasing is preferred to quoting because:

• it is an "active process" that makes you think about what you are reading;
• it improves your understanding of the material; and
• it shows your reader (often your instructor) that you are familiar with the material and know how to integrate other people’s ideas into your argument.

A paraphrase should not resemble the original source in:

• form; or
• words used.

The paraphrase should:

• represent the original ideas accurately;
• not be twisted to support your argument; and
• be integrated into your paper.