Paraphrasing Meaning and Definition
Paraphrasing
Pronunciation
/ˈpærəfrézɪŋ/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
The process of rephrasing or rewording a sentence, passage, or text in one’s own words, often to convey the same meaning while avoiding plagiarism.
Examples
- The student’s paraphrased passage was indistinguishable from the original text.
- The writer spent hours paraphrasing the quotes to make them sound more natural.
Synonyms
- Rewording
- Rephrasing
- Translation
Antonyms
- Literal translation
- Quotation
Etymology
The word “paraphrasing” is derived from the Greek words “para” meaning “alongside” and “frasein” meaning “to put together”, and was first coined in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Paraphrasing is often used in academic writing, journalism, and translation to create original content while conveying the same meaning as the original text. It is essential to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author.
Cultural References
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“To put into one’s own words” is an idiomatic phrase that means to paraphrase or rephrase something in one’s own language.
Related Words or Phrases
Synonyms: reword, rephrase, translate. Antonyms: literal translation, quotation.
Collocations
Common collocations include: “paraphrasing skills”, “paraphrasing techniques”, and “paraphrasing tools”.
Frequency of Use
Paraphrasing is a common linguistic technique used in various contexts, with approximately 30% of written content being paraphrased.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings include: “parafersing”, “parafasizing”, and “parafasis”.