paraphrase

/'pærəfreiz/

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Explanation of "Paraphrase"

Definition:
A "paraphrase" is when you take someone else's words or ideas and express them in your own words. The goal is to clarify or simplify the original message while keeping the same meaning.

Usage Instructions:

• As a Noun: You can use "paraphrase" to refer to the reworded version of a text. For example, "I wrote a paraphrase of the article to help my friend understand it better."
• As a Verb: You can use "paraphrase" when you are rewording something. For example, "Can you paraphrase what the teacher said?"

Examples:

1. Noun: "Her paraphrase of the poem made it easier for us to understand the main themes."
2. Verb: "He paraphrased the complicated instructions so they were easier to follow."

Advanced Usage:

In academic writing, students often paraphrase sources to avoid plagiarism. This means they express the original ideas in their own words while still giving credit to the original author.

Word Variants:

• Paraphrasing (verb form): The act of rewording.
  • Example: "Paraphrasing helps improve your understanding of the text."
• Paraphrased (past participle): Something that has already been reworded.
  • Example: "The paraphrased version of the speech was much clearer."

Different Meanings:

The primary meaning of "paraphrase" is about rewording for clarity. However, in some contexts, it can also refer to summarizing or condensing information, although summarizing usually involves shortening the text more than paraphrasing.

Synonyms:

• Rewording
• Restating
• Rephrasing
• Summarizing (though this can mean shortening the text)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "paraphrase" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, you might encounter phrases like "put in your own words," which means to paraphrase something.

Conclusion:

Understanding how to paraphrase is a valuable skill in both writing and speaking. It helps you communicate ideas more clearly and shows that you can engage with the material in a meaningful way.

Academic

Noun

1. rewording for the purpose of clarification

Verb

1. express the same message in different words

Synonyms

• paraphrasis
• rephrase
• reword