Paraphrasing and

Summarising
Essential Writing Tools for University
 Paraphrasing and
Summarising
While Paraphrasing (Rewording) attempts only to restate
the relevant information in your own words,
Summarising aims to reduce information to a suitable
length (one-line outline or a précis which contains a
third of the number of words in the original passage).

A paraphrase fully reproduces all the details of a

passage. Nothing in the original may be left
unrepresented in the paraphrase. While a summary may
only give the substance and general meaning leaving
out the examples and supporting arguments present in
the original passage.

Both are needed to avoid Plagiarism in Academic

Writing.
 Paraphrasing -
Strategies
Changing vocabulary by using synonyms:

argues > claims

eighteenth century > 1700s

economise > saving

Changing word class (noun to verb, adjective to noun etc.):

explanation (n.) > explain (v.)

mechanical (adj.) > mechanise (v.)

profitable (adj.) > profitability (n.)

Changing word order:

. . . the best explanation for the British location of the Industrial

Revolution is found by studying demand factors. > A focus on
demand may help explain the UK origin of the Industrial
Revolution.
Effective Paraphrasing
If the original is in verse (poetry-form),
the paraphrase must be changed to prose.

Retains the same meaning

Has a different structure to the original

Has mainly different vocabulary

Keeps some phrases from the original that

are in common use (e.g. ‘Industrial
Revolution’ or ‘eighteenth century’)
Effective Summarising
ONLY THE GIST - The general meaning of the passage
should be expressed in the summary. No need for examples,
supporting information, repetitions, colloquial expressions or
rhetorical flourishes. Phrases may be condensed into words.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS - Should be all in your own words, and

not be a patchwork made up of phrases and sentences
quoted from the original

A CONNECTED WHOLE - Must not appear as separate notes, but

must be joined together in such a way as to read
continuously

SELF-CONTAINED - Must convey its message fully and

clearly without requiring any reference to the original

CHANGE DIRECT SPEECH TO INDIRECT SPEECH, if any

Happy to Help!

Reach out:
Rahul Jain
Junior Research Fellow (PhD Candidate)
Department of English and Cultural Studies
Panjab University
Chandigarh UT, India

rahuljain2301@icloud.com