Paraphrase and quote accurately
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Learning Objectives
- 1Distinguish between direct quotation and paraphrase
- 2Paraphrase a passage by rewriting the idea in your own words without copying phrasing
- 3Use quotation marks correctly when citing an author’s exact words
- 4Integrate a quotation or paraphrase into your own sentence with a signal phrase
Mini Lesson
When you write about what you have read, you have two powerful tools: <strong>quoting</strong> and <strong>paraphrasing</strong>. A direct quote copies the author’s exact words and places them inside quotation marks. A paraphrase rewrites the author’s idea entirely in your own words, keeping the meaning but changing the language. Both tools help you use evidence without committing plagiarism.
What is a direct quotation?
A direct quotation reproduces the author’s exact words. You must use quotation marks at the start and end of the borrowed text, and you must name the source. Use a quote when the exact wording matters — for example, when the author’s phrasing is especially powerful, precise, or when changing the words would lose meaning.
Original: "The Amazon rainforest produces about 20% of the world’s oxygen."
How do you include this in your own writing?
The signal phrase "According to the article" introduces the quote, quotation marks wrap the exact words, and a period closes the sentence inside the closing quote.
What is a paraphrase?
A paraphrase restates the author’s idea in your own vocabulary and sentence structure. It should be roughly the same length as the original, but every word and phrase must be your own. A paraphrase is NOT a summary (which shortens) and it is NOT a near-copy (which just swaps a few words).
- Change the sentence structure, not just individual words.
- Use synonyms, but only where they fit naturally.
- Do not include your own opinion — the idea still belongs to the author.
- Always credit the source, even for paraphrases.
A near-copy is NOT a paraphrase. If you change only one or two words from the original, that is still plagiarism — even without quotation marks.
When should you quote vs paraphrase?
- Quote when the exact wording is distinctive, technical, or when changing it would lose precision.
- Paraphrase when the idea matters more than the exact words — and to show you understood it.
- Use signal phrases for both: "The author explains that...", "According to Smith,...", "Research shows that..."
- Never drop a quote or paraphrase in raw — always introduce and follow up.
Original: "Scientists believe climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events."
Write a paraphrase for this sentence.
The sentence structure is different, the vocabulary is different ("predict" for "believe", "severe" for "extreme", "occur more often" for "increase the frequency"), but the core idea is preserved.
Signal phrase tip: vary your signal phrases. Repeating "says" every time is weak. Try: argues, claims, explains, suggests, notes, observes, concludes, warns.
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