summarizing vs paraphrasing

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: Understanding the Key Differences

It’s a bit of a paradox: You can’t copy other people’s writing, but you’re supposed to use their main points to back up your own. Rather than filling your paper with direct quotes, the best solutions are paraphrasing and summarizing, which let you preserve meaning from another source while using original words to avoid plagiarism.

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Paraphrasing vs. summarizing: What’s the difference?

Paraphrasing and summarizing are both writing techniques used for restating another person’s points or opinions in your own words, without quoting them or plagiarizing their text. In fact, in academic writing , paraphrasing and summarizing are the standard, with accompanying citations so the reader knows the original source.

So what’s the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing? Paraphrasing is used for individual details and specific points, whereas summarizing is used for general ideas and broad overviews.

Think of it like this: You paraphrase a sentence or paragraph, but you summarize a paper, chapter, or book. The difference between paraphrasing and summarizing is the scope—are you rewriting a single point or a more complex idea?

In general, paraphrased passages are around the same length as the original, whereas summaries are always shorter and more concise than their source. Even though both paraphrasing and summarizing can be a single sentence or clause, only summarizing can reduce the main points from larger works down to a few words.

What is paraphrasing?

To paraphrase means to state another person’s ideas in your own words. It allows you to use someone else’s points or data as evidence for your own arguments, and as such is an essential part of how to write a research paper .

The key to paraphrasing is to preserve meaning from the original without copying their words. This allows you to cite information from other sources, such as data or logical conclusions, in your own writing. It is one of the most important ways to avoid plagiarism .

Paraphrasing is different from quoting, which copies the exact wording of the original and uses quotation marks to show it’s someone else’s words. In theory you could use quotations every time you state another person’s ideas. However, in reality, all those quotes would make your writing difficult to read. Paraphrasing works best as a way to put space between quotations so they don’t overwhelm the reader.

In practice, paraphrasing involves swapping out words and phrases from the original sentence or paragraph and replacing them with your own.

Typical paraphrasing strategies include:

• Using synonyms , different words with the same meaning (like small and little )
• Changing the word class or part of speech to rephrase the passage
• Rearranging the sentence structure , such as changing the subject of the sentence
• Adding new points or removing original points unnecessary for your writing

How do you know if you’ve changed enough of the original? You can use Grammarly’s free Plagiarism Checker to see if your text is original enough to stand on its own.

What is summarizing?

To summarize means to rewrite the main points of a longer text in a brief and concise way. Summaries are overviews that gloss over specific details in favor of the “big picture,” the general ideas, themes, and conclusions of longer works.

The point of summarizing is to quickly share the main points of a long text so that the reader understands the ideas without having to read the entire thing. Summaries come in handy not just for academic writing, but also business writing, such as summarizing progress on a project or summarizing a résumé in a cover letter. That makes knowing how to write a summary important for everyone.

To summarize something yourself, first identify the main points. Try to avoid listing specific details and individual pieces of data—rather, stick to general ideas, conclusions, and results. Remember that summaries are supposed to be brief and concise, so ignore less-important parts and prioritize the central ideas instead.

If you’re having trouble, you can always summarize with AI , but you still have to paraphrase the AI’s summary to avoid plagiarism.

Paraphrasing vs. summarizing: Comparing examples

To understand the differences between paraphrasing and summarizing, let’s look at some examples and compare them. For both, we’ll use a passage from Novum Organum by Francis Bacon, which outlines the early scientific method.

Knowledge and human power are synonymous, since the ignorance of the cause frustrates the effect. For nature is only subdued by submission, and that which in contemplative philosophy corresponds with the cause, in practical science becomes the rule.

Below, notice how the paraphrasing example covers most of the details of the original source, rewriting each point in new words. By contrast, the summarizing example skips over the specifics, restating only the core message and central idea.

Example of paraphrasing

Knowing about the world is power, and not knowing about the world limits what you can achieve. While knowledge in regards to philosophy helps us understand cause and effect, in science the same knowledge acts as a more definitive rule.

Example of summarizing

Bacon believes that knowledge gives humans power over nature, and that knowledge is stronger and more reliable when rooted in science instead of philosophy.

When to paraphrase and when to summarize

Deciding when to paraphrase and when to summarize depends on the source. If the passage you are restating is short and focuses on one main detail, you can paraphrase the passage to share its same message. If the passage is longer, with multiple points and details, you can summarize the passage, keeping only the most important parts and glossing over the rest.

Typically, summaries are usually shorter than paraphrased text. If you’re trying to conserve space and reduce your word count, summarizing would work better than paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing vs. summarizing FAQs

What is the main difference between summarizing and paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing is used for individual details and specific points, whereas summarizing is used for general ideas and broad overviews. You paraphrase a sentence or paragraph, but you summarize a paper, chapter, or book. The difference is the scope—are you restating a single point or a more complex idea?

Are paraphrasing and summarizing considered plagiarism?

No, paraphrasing and summarizing are not plagiarism. In fact, both are effective strategies to avoid plagiarism, as long as you use an accompanying citation.

When should I summarize versus paraphrase?

If the passage you are restating is short and focuses on one main detail, you can paraphrase the passage to share its same message. If the passage is longer, with multiple points and details, you can summarize the passage, keeping only the most important parts and glossing over the rest.

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing (Differences, Examples, How To)

It can be confusing to know when to paraphrase and when to summarize. Many people use the terms interchangeably even though the two have different meanings and uses.

Today, let’s understand the basic differences between paraphrasing vs. summarizing and when to use which . We’ll also look at types and examples of paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as how to do both effectively.

Let’s look at paraphrasing first.

What is paraphrasing?

It refers to rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words. 

It’s important to rewrite the whole idea in your words rather than just replacing a few words with their synonyms. That way, you present an idea in a way that your audience will understand easily and also avoid plagiarism. 

It’s also important to cite your sources when paraphrasing so that the original author of the work gets due credit.

When should you paraphrase?

The main purpose of paraphrasing is often to clarify an existing passage. You should use paraphrasing when you want to show that you understand the concept, like while writing an essay about a specific topic. 

You may also use it when you’re quoting someone but can’t remember their exact words. 

Finally, paraphrasing is a very effective way to rewrite outdated content in a way that’s relevant to your current audience.

How to paraphrase effectively

Follow these steps to paraphrase any piece of text effectively:

• Read the full text and ensure that you understand it completely. It helps to look up words you don’t fully understand in an online or offline dictionary.
• Once you understand the text, rewrite it in your own words. Remember to rewrite it instead of just substituting words with their synonyms.
• Edit the text to ensure it’s easy to understand for your audience.
• Mix in your own insights while rewriting the text to make it more relevant.
• Run the text through a plagiarism checker to ensure that it does not have any of the original content.

Example of paraphrasing

Here’s an example of paraphrasing:

• Original:  The national park is full of trees, water bodies, and various species of flora and fauna.
• Paraphrased:  Many animal species thrive in the verdant national park that is served by lakes and rivers flowing through it.

What is summarizing?

Summarizing is also based on someone else’s text but rather than presenting their ideas in your words, you only sum up their main ideas in a smaller piece of text.

It’s important to not use their exact words or phrases when summarizing to avoid plagiarism. It’s best to make your own notes while reading through the text and writing a summary based on your notes.

You must only summarize the most important ideas from a piece of text as summaries are essentially very short compared to the original work. And just like paraphrasing, you should cite the original text as a reference.

When should you summarize?

The main purpose of summarizing is to reduce a passage or other text to fewer words while ensuring that everything important is covered.

Summaries are useful when you want to cut to the chase and lay down the most important points from a piece of text or convey the entire message in fewer words. You should summarize when you have to write a short essay about a larger piece of text, such as writing a book review.

You can also summarize when you want to provide background information about something without taking up too much space.

How to summarize effectively

Follow these steps to summarize any prose effectively:

• Read the text to fully understand it. It helps to read it a few times instead of just going through it once.
• Pay attention to the larger theme of the text rather than trying to rewrite it sentence for sentence.
• Understand how all the main ideas are linked and piece them together to form an overview.
• Remove all the information that’s not crucial to the main ideas or theme. Remember, summaries must only include the most essential points and information.
• Edit your overview to ensure that the information is organized logically and follows the correct chronology where applicable.
• Review and edit the summary again to make it clearer, ensure that it’s accurate, and make it even more concise where you can.
• Ensure that you cite the original text.

Example of summarization

You can summarize any text into a shorter version. For example, this entire article can be summarized in just a few sentences as follows:

• Summary:  The article discusses paraphrasing vs. summarizing by explaining the two concepts. It specifies when you should use paraphrasing and when you should summarize a piece of text and describes the process of each. It ends with examples of both paraphrasing and summarizing to provide a better understanding to the reader.

Paraphrasing vs. summarizing has been a long-standing point of confusion for writers of all levels, whether you’re writing a college essay or reviewing a research paper or book. The above tips and examples can help you identify when to use paraphrasing or summarizing and how to go about them effectively.

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Fact checked: Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

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This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.

What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:

• Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing
• Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing
• Give examples of several points of view on a subject
• Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with
• Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original
• Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own
• Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams , Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).

How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries

Practice summarizing the essay found here , using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:

• Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
• Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.
• Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
• Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.

There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.

Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > The Difference Between Summarizing & Paraphrasing

The Difference Between Summarizing & Paraphrasing

Summarizing and paraphrasing are helpful ways to include source material in your work without piling on direct quotes. Understand the differences between these approaches and when to use each.

Summarizing vs. Paraphrasing: The Biggest Differences

Though summarizing and paraphrasing are both tools for conveying information clearly and concisely, they help you achieve this in different ways. In general, the difference is rooted in the scale of the source material: To share an entire source at once, you summarize; to share a specific portion of a source (without quoting directly, of course), you paraphrase.

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What is Summarizing?

Summarizing is simplifying the content of a source to its main points in your own words. You literally sum up something, distill it down to its most essential parts. Summaries cover whole sources rather than a piece or pieces of a source and don’t include direct quotes or extraneous detail.

How to Summarize

• Understand the original thoroughly. You may start by scanning the original material, paying close attention to headers and any in-text summaries, but once you’re sure that this source is something you’re going to use in your research paper , review it more thoroughly to gain appropriate understanding and comprehension.
• Take notes of the main points. A bulleted list is appropriate here-note the main idea of each portion of the source material. Take note of key words or phrases around which you can build your summary list and deepen your understanding.
• Build your summary. Don’t just use the list you’ve already created—this was a first draft . Craft complete sentences and logical progression from item to item. Double check the source material to ensure you’ve not left out any relevant points and trim anything extraneous. You can use a bulleted or numbered list here or write your summary as a paragraph if that’s more appropriate for your use. Make sure to follow the rules of parallelism if you choose to stay in list form.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is rephrasing something in your own words; the word comes from the Greek para -, meaning “beside” or “closely resembling”, 1 combined with “phrase,” which we know can mean a string of words or sentences. 2 Paraphrasing isn’t practical for entire sources—just for when you want to highlight a portion of a source.

How to Paraphrase

• Read actively . Take notes, highlight or underline passages, or both if you please-whatever makes it easiest for you to organize the sections of the source you want to include in your work.
• Rewrite and revise. For each area you’d like to paraphrase, take the time to rewrite it in your own words. Retain the meaning of the original text, but don’t copy it too closely; take advantage of a thesaurus to ensure you’re not relying too heavily on the source material.
• Check your work and revise again as needed . Did you retain the meaning of the source material? Did you simplify the language of the source material? Did you differentiate your version enough? If not, try again.

Summarizing and paraphrasing are often used in tandem; you’ll likely find it appropriate to summarize an entire source and then paraphrase specific portions to support your summary. Using either approach for including sources requires appropriate citing, though, so ensure that you follow the correct style guide for your project and cite correctly.

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Paraphrasing vs Summarizing: A Comparative Analysis

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the complexities of academic writing, particularly when it comes to paraphrasing and summarizing? You're not alone. Many students and researchers struggle with these essential skills which are crucial for weaving in authoritative voices and perspectives into your papers without falling into the plagiarism trap.

Unfortunately, the line between paraphrasing and summarizing can often seem blurred, leading to confusion and potential academic missteps. But don't worry, the solution lies in gaining a clear understanding of both techniques, enabling you to confidently engage with source material. By mastering these skills, you will enhance your academic writing, ensuring that it is rich in content, plagiarism-free, captivating and reflective of a well-rounded understanding of the subject matter.

This article provides a comparative analysis of paraphrasing vs summarizing, exploring key differences and when to use each technique. By delving into the nuances of paraphrase vs summary, readers will gain insight into the common challenges of summarizing and paraphrasing and discover solutions to integrate these skills seamlessly into their writing.

What is Summarizing?

Summarizing is the skill of distilling the most significant elements of a text or content into a concise and clear form. This process involves identifying and extracting the main ideas or facts, and presenting them in a shortened version without losing the essence of the original content. Here's a breakdown of what summarizing entails:

• The essence of Summarizing : It's about conveying the core information or arguments from a larger piece of work in a brief format. This includes understanding and articulating the main points in your own words.
• Highlighting key points in the text.
• Creating mind maps to visualize main ideas.
• Developing flashcards for quick reference.
• Useful in academic writing, research, and communication for providing a succinct overview without extensive detail.
• An in-text citation is necessary to credit the original source, although page numbers are not required.
• Tips for effective summarizing include reading the text multiple times, focusing on main concepts, and ensuring the summary is accurate, brief, and clear.

Summarizing serves as a fundamental tool in various contexts, especially when the goal is to give readers a quick understanding of a complex subject without delving into exhaustive details.

Read our complete guide on Summarizing to know more in depth about it.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing, a critical skill in academic writing and communication, involves rewording text while preserving its original meaning and message. This technique is not merely about changing a few words here and there; it's about understanding the source material deeply, then expressing it in your own unique voice. 

Here are some key insights into mastering the art of paraphrasing:

• Purpose : To rewrite text in your own words while maintaining the original intent. Useful for citing details from another source, clarifying complex passages, and enhancing content quality.
• Benefit : Enhances comprehension of the material, facilitates explanation to others, fosters creativity, develops writing style, and helps avoid plagiarism.
• Read the original material thoroughly to grasp its full meaning.
• Write the paraphrased content in your own words, incorporating your interpretation and thoughts.
• Utilize synonyms and alter sentence structures but keep the core message intact.
• Employ plagiarism detection tools to ensure originality.
• Always attribute the paraphrase to the original source to avoid plagiarism.
• Too similar wording or sentence structure to the original, altering the meaning, producing nonsensical text, and failing to cite sources.

Paraphrasing is more than a mechanical task; it's an opportunity to engage deeply with the text, presenting it through the lens of your understanding and style.

Key Differences 

These distinctions highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate technique based on the writing's purpose and the desired depth of engagement with the source material.

Here's a breakdown of their key differences:

• Content Length and Detail :

Summarizing is typically shorter, condensing the original text to its key concepts. Paraphrasing can be similar in length, slightly shorter, or longer, providing original content that conveys the main ideas.

• Purpose and Requirement :

Summarizing aims to convey the main idea efficiently, ideal for giving a quick overview.

Paraphrasing focuses on demonstrating a deeper comprehension of the subject by conveying the meaning of the original message in one's own words.

Both require using your own words to rephrase the original content.

• Choosing Between Summarizing and Paraphrasing : 

Depends on the required detail level from the source. Summarizing is best when only the main ideas are needed, whereas paraphrasing is suitable for detailed exploration or explanation of the source material.

We will talk about this more in detail below

When to Summarize vs. When to Paraphrase

Deciding when to utilize paraphrasing versus summarizing is crucial for effective communication and writing. These techniques serve different purposes and are selected based on the specific needs of the writer and the audience. Below are guidelines to help determine the most appropriate method to use:

• When the Idea Matters, Not the Wording : Opt for paraphrasing when the concept or idea from the source is crucial to your argument or content, but the original wording is not essential. The goal is to convey the same idea in your own words, providing clarity or a different perspective.
• Application : This technique is particularly useful in academic writing, research papers, or detailed analysis where understanding and personal interpretation of the source material are required.
• When Only the Main Points Are Needed : Summarizing is the best choice when the details in the source are not all relevant to your argument, and the audience needs only a concise overview of the original content. It distills the source down to its most crucial points.
• Application : Ideal for providing a quick synopsis, background information, or an overview of a large work in presentations, reports, or when introducing a topic to readers unfamiliar with the subject.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Navigating the intricacies of paraphrasing and summarizing can be fraught with challenges. Here's a breakdown of common hurdles and practical solutions:

• Challenge : Grasping the main idea and supporting points.
• Solution : Engage in multiple readings and discussions to deepen comprehension. Utilize mind mapping to visually organize thoughts.
• Challenge : Striking a balance between original expression and fidelity to the source.
• Solution : Practice rephrasing with a focus on using synonyms and altering sentence structures without distorting the original meaning.
• Challenge : Ensuring the rephrased or summarized content is accurate and coherent.
• Solution : After writing, compare your version with the original to check for completeness and correctness. Peer review can offer additional insights.
• Challenge : Fear of unintentionally plagiarizing.
• Solution : Use plagiarism detection tools judiciously and always attribute the source correctly. When in doubt, quote directly but sparingly.
• Challenge : Language proficiency, such as limited vocabulary and grammatical issues.
• Solution : Leverage dictionaries, thesauruses, and online resources to enhance language skills. Engage in regular writing practice and seek feedback from knowledgeable peers or mentors.

By addressing these challenges with targeted strategies, individuals can enhance their ability to paraphrase and summarize effectively, thereby enriching their writing and academic work.

Understanding when and how to use each method can transform the way ideas are conveyed, ensuring clarity, originality, and depth in writing. The nuanced exploration of both processes, including the challenges and solutions associated with them, underscores their value in fostering a deeper comprehension of the material and enhancing the writer's ability to present ideas effectively.

For those looking to refine their summarization skills further, exploring tools designed to assist in this area can be invaluable. Try TLDRThis for summarizing ; it simplifies converting lengthy texts into concise summaries. Ultimately, embracing these techniques not only bolsters academic and professional writing but also enriches the writer's engagement with the material, paving the way for more nuanced and compelling discourse.

What distinguishes paraphrasing from summarizing?

Paraphrasing involves rewording someone else's ideas in your own language while maintaining the original level of detail. Summarizing, in contrast, condenses the most crucial points of someone else's work into a more concise format.

How does paraphrasing differ from analyzing?

While paraphrasing entails rewording a source's content or presenting certain data, analysis goes further by examining the facts and formulating personal conclusions about the topic.

Does paraphrasing include more detail than summarizing?

Yes, paraphrasing includes more detail. Although both paraphrasing and summarizing require using your own words and writing style, a paraphrase includes important details, whereas a summary distills the text down to its most essential ideas.

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September 6

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Summarizing vs. Paraphrasing: What’s the Real Difference?

By   Joshua Turner

September 6, 2023

Summarizing and paraphrasing are two essential skills in writing. They are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. Summarizing is the process of condensing a text into a shorter version, highlighting the main points, and leaving out the details.

On the other hand, paraphrasing is rewording a text in your own words, retaining the original meaning and message.

Understanding summarizing involves identifying the key ideas and concepts in a text and presenting them in a concise and clear manner. It requires a good understanding of the text and the ability to distinguish between essential and non-essential information.

Summarizing is useful when you want to provide a brief overview of a longer text or when you want to highlight the main ideas.

Understanding paraphrasing involves rewording a text in a way that retains the original meaning but uses different words and sentence structures.

It requires a good understanding of the text and the ability to express the ideas in your own words. Paraphrasing is useful when you want to avoid plagiarism or when you want to clarify the meaning of a text.

Key Takeaways

• Summarizing involves condensing a text into a shorter version, highlighting the main points and leaving out the details.
• Paraphrasing involves rewording a text in a way that retains the original meaning but uses different words and sentence structures.
• Summarizing is useful when you want to provide a brief overview of a longer text, while paraphrasing is useful when you want to avoid plagiarism or clarify the meaning of a text.

Definition of Summarizing

Summarizing  is the process of condensing a longer piece of text into a shorter, more concise version while retaining the main points and key concepts. It involves creating an overview of the text that captures the gist of the original content.

Purpose of Summaries

The purpose of summaries is to provide readers with a condensed version of a longer text that highlights the main points and key concepts. Summaries are useful for quickly understanding the content of a longer piece of writing, such as an article or book, without having to read the entire text.

Main Points in Summarizing

The main points in summarizing include identifying the key concepts and ideas in the original text, condensing the information into a shorter version, and ensuring that the summary accurately represents the main points of the original text.

Steps in Summarizing

The steps in summarizing include reading the original text carefully, identifying the main points and key concepts, condensing the information into a shorter version, and reviewing the summary to ensure that it accurately represents the main points of the original text. It is important to use your own words when creating a summary and to avoid copying phrases or sentences directly from the original text.

In summary, summarizing is the process of condensing a longer piece of text into a shorter, more concise version while retaining the main points and key concepts. It involves creating an overview of the text that captures the gist of the original content. The purpose of summaries is to provide readers with a condensed version of a longer text that highlights the main points and key concepts.

The steps in summarizing include reading the original text carefully, identifying the main points and key concepts, condensing the information into a shorter version, and reviewing the summary to ensure that it accurately represents the main points of the original text.

Understanding Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing  is the act of rephrasing a text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It is an essential skill in academic writing , as it allows you to incorporate information from other sources while avoiding plagiarism. Paraphrasing involves interpreting the main ideas in the original text and presenting them in your own voice.

Purpose of Paraphrases

The purpose of paraphrasing is to present information from other sources in a way that is more accessible or relevant to your intended audience. It also allows you to integrate information from multiple sources into a cohesive argument. Paraphrasing can also help you to clarify complex ideas and concepts.

Main Ideas in Paraphrasing

The main ideas in paraphrasing are to understand the original text, interpret the main ideas, and rephrase them in your own words. It is important to maintain the original meaning and avoid changing the author’s intended message. Paraphrasing should also be done in your own voice to avoid plagiarism.

Steps in Paraphrasing

The steps in paraphrasing include reading and understanding the original text, identifying the main ideas, and rephrasing them in your own words. You should also check your paraphrase against the original text to ensure that you have maintained the original meaning. It is also important to cite the original source to avoid plagiarism.

Comparison of Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Summarizing and paraphrasing  are two different techniques used to convey information from one source to another.

Length and Detail

Summarizing involves condensing a large amount of information into a concise version while maintaining the main points. On the other hand, paraphrasing involves rephrasing the text in your own words while retaining the original meaning. Summaries are shorter than the original text and omit details, while paraphrases are usually the same length as the original text and include more details.

Quoting and Citation

When summarizing, you don’t need to use direct quotes or citations because you are putting the information into your own words. However, when paraphrasing, you still need to give credit to the original source by using citations and quotation marks when necessary.

Structure and Concepts

Summarizing involves restructuring the original text to make it more concise, while paraphrasing involves rewording the original text. Summarizing focuses on the main points while paraphrasing focuses on the details.

When summarizing, you may need to rearrange the concepts to make them more understandable, while paraphrasing may require you to explain the concepts more clearly.

The audience and purpose of the text can influence whether summarizing or paraphrasing is appropriate. Summarizing is useful when the audience needs a quick overview of the main points, while paraphrasing is useful when the audience needs a more detailed understanding of the text. The purpose of the text can also determine whether summarizing or paraphrasing is appropriate. Summarizing is useful when the purpose is to provide a brief overview, while paraphrasing is useful when the purpose is to explain the details.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Using someone else’s work without proper credit is not only unethical, but it can also have serious consequences. By understanding plagiarism, citing your source material, and using a plagiarism checker, you can ensure that your work is original and free of plagiarism.

Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work without giving them proper credit. It can be intentional or unintentional, and it can have serious consequences. To avoid plagiarism, understand what it is and how to avoid it.

Citing Source Material

Citing your source material is an essential part of avoiding plagiarism. When you use someone else’s work, you must give them credit by citing the original source. There are different citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, so make sure to use the appropriate one for your work.

Using a Plagiarism Checker

Using a plagiarism checker is a great way to ensure that your work is original and free of plagiarism. There are many free and paid tools available online that can help you check your work for plagiarism. These tools compare your work to other sources on the internet and highlight any similarities.

In summary, while summarizing and paraphrasing are similar in that they both involve condensing or rewording information, there are some key differences between them. Summarizing involves reducing a text to its essential points, while paraphrasing involves restating the central idea in your own words.

Accuracy is crucial in both cases, but it is especially important when paraphrasing since it involves conveying information in a new way. Paraphrasing is useful when you want to highlight specific insights or takeaways from a text while summarizing is better suited for providing an overview of the essential information.

When deciding whether to summarize or paraphrase, it’s important to consider the function of the text and the audience you are writing for. Summarizing is useful when you want to provide a quick overview of a text’s most relevant information, while paraphrasing is better suited for conveying the central idea in a new way.

Overall, whether you choose to summarize or paraphrase, the goal is to convey relevant information in a clear and concise manner that helps the reader gain insights and takeaways from the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about this topic.

What are some examples of paraphrasing and summarizing, and how do they differ?

Paraphrasing involves restating a passage in your own words while summarizing involves condensing a larger text into a shorter version. For example, paraphrasing a quote in an essay would involve rephrasing it in a way that still conveys the original meaning, while summarizing a news article would involve highlighting the main points in a few sentences.

What are the similarities and differences between summarizing and paraphrasing?

Both summarizing and paraphrasing involve rephrasing information in your own words. However, summarizing involves condensing a larger text into a shorter version, while paraphrasing involves restating a passage in your own words. Both techniques are useful for avoiding plagiarism and presenting information in a clear and concise way.

How do you paraphrase a quote in an essay?

To paraphrase a quote in an essay, you should rephrase the quote in your own words while still maintaining its original meaning. This involves understanding the main idea of the quote and expressing it in a way that fits with the rest of your essay. It is important to properly cite the original source of the quote to avoid plagiarism.

When using a source, should you quote, paraphrase, or summarize it?

The choice between quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing a source depends on the purpose of your writing. If you want to include a specific passage word-for-word, you should quote it. If you want to restate a passage in your own words, you should paraphrase it. If you want to condense a larger text into a shorter version, you should summarize it.

What is the definition of summarizing?

Summarizing is the act of condensing a larger text into a shorter version that highlights the main points of the original. This technique is useful for presenting information in a clear and concise way and can be applied to a variety of texts, such as news articles, research papers, and books.

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Summarizing vs Paraphrasing: Key Differences and Best Practices

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on Summarizing vs Paraphrasing! Ever found yourself tangled in the web of long texts, struggling to extract the main points?

Or perhaps you've been stumped on how to restate another's idea without using direct quotations?

You're not alone.

In this guide, we'll discuss summarizing and paraphrasing, two essential writing techniques that can help you communicate information and ideas effectively. We'll delve into their definitions and key differences and provide practical tips to ace both.

Whether you're summarizing a chapter or paraphrasing a sentence, we've got you covered. So, buckle up and get ready to transform your writing skills. Let's dive into the world of summarizing and paraphrasing, where every word counts, and every idea matters.

Stay tuned!

Understanding Summarizing and Paraphrasing: Definitions and Differences

In writing , summarizing and paraphrasing are two essential skills. They serve as powerful tools for writers to convey the essence of an original source in a unique manner. This section will delve into the definitions and differences between these two common terms, providing a comprehensive understanding of their usage and importance.

We'll explore the meaning and definition of paraphrasing and summarizing, and how they differ in handling a sentence or paragraph versus a long text. Let's dive in.

What is Summarizing?

Summarizing is a common term in writing and editing . It's the process of condensing a long text, such as a book or an article, into a brief and concise version to improve readability . The main point here is to capture the general idea or the main details of the original source without losing the context.

This practice is not just about shortening the text. It's about understanding the key differences, the background information, and the essence of the content. A well-crafted summary provides a clear, succinct understanding of the material, making it an invaluable tool for readers.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing, a common term in writing, is the art of rewriting a text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning and message. It's a skill that requires a deep understanding of the original source, as the goal is to convey the main point accurately, but with a fresh perspective.

Summarizing vs Paraphrasing: Key Differences

Summarizing is about condensing the main points of a long text into a brief and concise version , focusing on the general idea. It's like giving a snapshot of a book, the difference being the scope of the content.

Paraphrasing, on the other hand, involves rewriting a specific sentence or paragraph in your own words, without changing the original meaning. It's more about presenting the main detail in a new light.

While both processes require understanding the key differences in the original source, summarizing is more about the 'big picture', and paraphrasing is about the 'fine details'.

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How to Summarize: Guidelines and Tips

Mastering the art of summarizing can be a game-changer in your academic or professional journey. This section will provide you with practical guidelines and tips on how to summarize effectively.

Whether you're summarizing a paper, a chapter, or a book, these tips will help you identify the main points and present them concisely.

Steps to Summarizing Effectively

• Read the Material : Start by thoroughly reading the material you want to summarize. This could be a paper, a chapter, or a book. Understand the context and the main points of the passage.
• Identify the Main Points : Highlight or note down the key ideas. This will help you summarize the source effectively.
• Write a Draft : Write a brief draft summarizing the main points. Make sure it's in your own words.
• Review and Edit : Review your draft and make sure it accurately represents the main ideas of the source. Edit as necessary for clarity and conciseness.

Top Tips to Ace Summarizing

✅ Identify the Main Points : Start by identifying the main points of the passage. This will help you to focus on the most important information and ignore less significant details.

✅ Avoid Specific Details : When summarizing, avoid listing specific details and individual pieces of data. Instead, stick to general ideas, conclusions, and results.

✅ Keep it Brief and Concise : Remember, the goal of summarizing is to condense a longer text into a brief and concise overview. So, keep your summary short and to the point.

✅ Paraphrase to Avoid Plagiarism : If you're using an AI to help you summarize, make sure to paraphrase the AI's summary to avoid plagiarism. This will also help you to better understand and retain the information.

✅ Use APA Style : If you're summarizing for academic purposes, make sure to follow APA style guidelines . This will ensure that your summary is properly formatted and cited.

How to Paraphrase: Guidelines and Tips

Paraphrasing is an art that requires a deep understanding of the source material and the ability to express the same ideas in a fresh, unique way. This section will provide you with practical guidelines and tips to master this skill. Whether you're summarizing a paper chapter or trying to paraphrase a passage, these tips will come in handy.

Remember, the goal is not just to change a few words here and there but to share the same message in a new light. Let's explore the steps and tips for ace paraphrasing.

Steps to Paraphrasing Effectively

• Understand the Source : Read the original text thoroughly until you grasp its meaning. This is the first step in paraphrasing.
• Rewrite in Your Words : Write down the main points in your own words without looking at the original text. This helps to ensure that you're not just copying the original wording.
• Compare and Edit : Compare your version with the original. Make sure you haven't changed the meaning. Edit for clarity and impact.
• Add Your Interpretation : Add your own thoughts and interpretation to the material. This can help make your paraphrase unique.
• Use a Plagiarism Checker : Finally, run your text through a plagiarism checker to ensure it's sufficiently different from the original.

Top Tips to Ace Paraphrasing

✅ Understand the Source : Before you begin paraphrasing, ensure you fully comprehend the source material. This will help you share the same message in your own words.

✅ Use Synonyms : Swap out words from the original text with synonyms . This helps maintain the meaning while creating a unique turn of phrase.

✅ Change Sentence Structure : Rearrange the sentence structure or change the subject of the sentence to add variety to your paraphrase.

✅ Add Your Interpretation : Don't just rewrite the text, add your own thoughts and interpretation to the material.

✅ Use a Plagiarism Checker : To ensure your paraphrase is distinct enough from the original, use a plagiarism checker. This will help you avoid unintentional plagiarism.

✅ Cite the Source : Even when paraphrasing, it's important to cite the source. This gives credit to the original author and adds credibility to your work.

When to Use Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Understanding when to use summarizing and paraphrasing can significantly enhance your writing. These techniques serve different purposes and are best suited for specific situations. Let's delve into the ideal scenarios for each.

Ideal Situations for Summarizing

When you want to present the general idea of a lengthy document or speech, summarizing is the way to go.

• If you have multiple points that need to be condensed into a few key takeaways, summarizing is your best bet.
• Summarizing is also ideal when you want your reader to grasp the important parts of a complex topic quickly.
• Lastly, summarizing can help you effectively support a specific point with another idea.

Ideal Situations for Paraphrasing

When you want to state another idea in a different way, paraphrasing can be a powerful tool.

• If you're trying to highlight a specific point from a source, paraphrasing allows you to do so without directly quoting the material.
• Paraphrasing is also beneficial when you need to present multiple points from a source, but want your reader to grasp the important part of each point.
• Lastly, paraphrasing is ideal when you're dealing with complex ideas that need to be broken down into simpler terms for better understanding.

Comparing Examples of Summarizing and Paraphrasing

In this section, we'll explore practical examples of summarizing and paraphrasing. We'll explore how to condense a long text into a brief and concise summary and how to rephrase a passage while preserving the original source's main detail. These examples will provide a clear definition and example of each technique, offering valuable writing tips for both summarizing and paraphrasing.

Example of Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Consider a long text from an original source.

• Summarizing the difference between the two concepts, you might say, "Concept A focuses on individual growth, while Concept B emphasizes community development." This brief and concise statement captures the main detail without delving into the specifics of each concept.
• In contrast, if you were to paraphrase the passage, you would restate the same point and detail in your own words, maintaining the length and depth of the original passage. For instance, "Concept A is all about fostering personal advancement, whereas Concept B is more concerned with nurturing communal progress."

The Benefits of Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Both techniques offer unique advantages, aiding in comprehension and communication. Whether you're summarizing the difference between a long text and its main details or paraphrasing to grasp a complex topic, these methods are invaluable tools.

They not only help in presenting information and ideas in a digestible manner but also foster critical thinking. Let's explore these benefits in detail.

Advantages of Summarizing

• Summarizing the difference between a long text and its main details allows for a brief and concise understanding of the content.
• It's useful when you need to present the general idea of a complex topic without delving into individual details.
• Summarizing can support points made in a discussion by providing a condensed version of the important parts.
• It's an effective way to pinpoint the key ideas in a document, identifying any knowledge gaps.
• Summaries can serve as a convenient resource for future reference, saving reading time.

Advantages of Paraphrasing

• Paraphrasing allows you to have a better understanding of the source material, as you're required to interpret and rephrase the information in your own words.
• It helps you to explain the original text's meaning to others in a more digestible manner, which can be particularly useful when dealing with complex or technical subjects.
• Paraphrasing can spark new ideas on how to approach a subject, as the process of rewording can lead to fresh perspectives and insights.
• It can help you develop your writing style, as you're not just copying and pasting information, but actively engaging with it and presenting it in your own unique way.
• Lastly, paraphrasing is a great way to avoid plagiarism. By rewording and citing the original source, you're respecting the original author's work while also adding your own touch to the content.

Wrapping Up: Summarizing and Paraphrasing

In conclusion, mastering the art of summarizing and paraphrasing is a crucial skill in academic writing and beyond. It allows you to present another's ideas in your own voice without losing the essence of the original source.

Remember, summarizing is about condensing a long text into a brief and concise overview, focusing on the main points. On the other hand, paraphrasing involves restating specific points or details in your own words, maintaining the same level of detail as the original.

Whether you choose to summarize or paraphrase largely depends on the scope of the information and the purpose of your writing. In all cases, it's essential to cite the source to avoid plagiarism.

With practice and the right approach, you can effectively use these techniques to enhance your writing, making it more engaging and informative for your readers.

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Both in writing and content creation, two fundamental practices often come into play: summarizing and paraphrasing. While they seem kind of similar from the first glance, both serve different purposes. The difference is that summarizing simply condenses the key points while paraphrasing restates the content in a new form while keeping the original meaning. Knowing this, your chances to avoid self plagiarism consequences will be increased.

What Are Summarizing and Paraphrasing?

Summarizing involves condensing content to its key points and often reducing the length of the original material. A summarizer aims to distill the main ideas or themes of a text while avoiding less imporrtant details. The outcome is a ‘down-to-the-point’ representation of the source material that focuses on its main ideas, with minimal input from the author.

Paraphrasing, on the other hand, is the process of rewriting content while preserving the original meaning. It involves retelling the same information as the original text but using different words and sentence structures, sometimes followed by the ideas from the author. The length of a paraphrased passage might be similar to or slightly shorter than the original, but the focus is on rephrasing while keeping the original context. The practice is almost always better than theory: consider using a rewording machine to grasp the idea.

Key Differences Between Summarizing and Paraphrasing

The main difference between summarizing and paraphrasing is simple – their intent and application. Summarizing is ideal for providing an overview or a general understanding of the material without delving into specifics . It’s commonly used in situations where the reader needs to get the main ideas quickly, such as in abstracts, executive summaries, or when reviewing large volumes of texts.

Paraphrasing, however, is used when the details of the original content are important, but there’s a need to avoid direct quotations . This practice is often used in academic writing, content rewriting, and when trying to complex material (for example, when a teacher is explaining a hard-to-get concept to students).

Length and Detail

Another key distinction between summarizing and paraphrasing is the length of text and level of detail. Summarizations are typically much shorter than the original content , and focus only on central themes or ideas. Paraphrasing, although it may reduce the length a bit, tends to keep more of the original detail and complexity.

Contrast in Originality and Representation

When summarizing, the writer’s input is more ‘easily seen’ as they interpret and decide which elements are key to the overall understanding. In free paraphrasing , the writer’s role is to represent someone else’s ideas or information accurately but in a new form, while keeping the initial meaning.

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Advantages of each practice – which one to use.

Summarizing offers several pros to students and content creators:

• It provides a clear overview of lengthy content.
• Easy to understand main points without going through a lot of text.
• It allows writers to break down complex ideas to be more manageable.

Paraphrasing also has some advantages to it:

• Helps to reuse content without plagiarism, if proper citations are in place.
• Clarifies and simplifies complex or technical information.
• Allows to integrate various sources into one piece of writing to better support the main idea.

If you don’t know which one to choose for your work, then we advise you to reflect on your overall writing goals . When the objective is to give an overview or present the core of an argument, summarizing is the way to go. And when the aim is to restate detailed information in a new way or to support your overall statement, paraphrasing is more suitable.

When should I use summarizing?

Summarizing should be used when you need to condense a large amount of content into a more manageable, concise form. It is particularly useful when you want to provide an overview or capture the essence of the material without delving into every detail. For instance, summarizing is ideal for creating abstracts for academic papers, synthesizing key points from lengthy articles, or presenting the main ideas of a complex topic to a general audience. It helps in situations where the primary goal is to convey the central theme or main points efficiently.

When should I use paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is best used when you need to restate information or ideas from a source in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It’s particularly valuable in academic writing, research, and situations where it’s important to avoid plagiarism but still use information from existing sources. Paraphrasing is also useful when clarifying or reinterpreting complex text for a different audience, such as breaking down technical jargon into simpler language. It allows you to maintain the detail and nuance of the original content while presenting it in a fresh and unique manner.

What are the advantages of summarizing?

The advantages of summarizing include the ability to distill lengthy or complex material into a concise and digestible format. This makes the information more accessible and easier to understand for the audience. Summarizing helps in highlighting the most important aspects of a text, thus allowing readers to grasp the main points without needing to engage with the entire original material. It’s also a valuable tool in academic and professional settings for providing quick overviews or briefings of substantial content, facilitating better comprehension and time-efficient learning.

What are the advantages of paraphrasing?

The advantages of paraphrasing are numerous. Firstly, it allows you to use existing material without the risk of plagiarism, as you are essentially rewriting the content in your own words. Paraphrasing is also crucial for tailoring information to a different audience, especially in translating complex ideas into simpler terms. It aids in enhancing understanding and engagement with the material. Moreover, paraphrasing demonstrates your comprehension of the source material, as it requires a deep understanding to accurately convey the same message in a new form. It’s also beneficial in academic writing for supporting arguments or points with evidence from various sources while maintaining a cohesive and original voice.

Can summarizing and paraphrasing be used interchangeably?

While summarizing and paraphrasing both involve the reworking of original content, they cannot be used interchangeably due to their distinct purposes and outcomes. Summarizing is about extracting and presenting only the main ideas in a much-condensed form, often leaving out many details. Paraphrasing, on the other hand, involves rewording the entire content or a substantial part of it, focusing on altering the form but not the length or depth of detail. Choosing between the two depends on your specific goals: whether you aim to provide an overview (summarizing) or restate information while keeping the details intact (paraphrasing). Understanding the unique function and application of each method is key to effectively incorporating them into your writing or communication.

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What Is the Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing?

Many people confuse paraphrasing and summarizing. There's a difference. Knowing the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing is an important writing skill. Another important writing skill is knowing what plagiarism is and how to make sure you aren’t plagiarizing.

In this article, I’ll answer the questions:

• What is a paraphrasing?
• What is summarizing?
• What is the difference between them?

Plus, I'll share some writing tools and resources that can help you improve your writing. Knowing how to use these writing tools can help you write an effective and efficient assignment or report.

I’ll also tell you how to paraphrase and summarize passages correctly. Then I’ll give you some tips on how to avoid plagiarism.

What Is Paraphrasing?

To know the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing, you must know the answer to the question what is paraphrasing. According to owl.purdue.edu,  

“Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.”

What Is Summarizing?

Now that you know the definition of paraphrasing, let’s answer the question what does summarizing mean? According to owl.purdue.edu ,

“Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.”

Paraphrasing is where you understand the passage and understand the meaning well enough to restate the important information in your own words. Summarizing is correctly mirroring the original writer’s message and main ideas.

There are some similarities in paraphrasing and summarizing:

• You use your own words to restates the original idea for both. 
• You cite your sources when both paraphrasing and summarizing.

Using writing tools is important because they allow you to check for plagiarism in your work. Sometimes they can help you identify passages you may need to rephrase. Here's a short list of tools you can use:

Some of these tools will also check your passage for correct grammar or help you to prepare a properly formatted source citation.  Be careful, though. Most tools are only able to detect word-for-word copies. 

Here's How to Paraphrase

The right skills are needed to paraphrase successfully. When you paraphrase, you need to match the original text's meaning without using the wording of the original text.

Paraphrasing shows that you understand the original content enough to say it in your own words. You can also use paraphrasing to shorten the original idea. Often paraphrasing is rewording the original text in a precise way. Paraphrasing is common when writing an essay or research paper.

Here are some examples of paraphrasing based on passages I wrote:

Original: Many different jobs use writing whether it's for emails, presentations or more. So, it's important to know how to write.

Paraphrase: Writing is a necessary skill no matter what field you’re in. You need to have good writing skills.

Original: Envato Elements is a subscription service where you pay a low monthly fee for unlimited digital assets.

Paraphrase: If you want unlimited downloads of digital assets, then subscribe to Envato Elements for a low monthly free.

Here's How to Summarize

When you're summarizing a quote, you're summing the main point of the source in your own words. When summarizing the original work, you're creating a shorter version.

The purpose of summarizing is to avoid unneeded details and just cover the main points of the original material. If the reader of your summary has read the original source, then your summary should remind the reader of the original work. If the reader hasn’t read the original material, then your summary should provide an introduction to the original material.

Here are examples of how to summarize based on passages I wrote:

Original:  Writing well can be a difficult skill to have. It’s constantly changing if you want to keep up with a causal style and use recently popular words. Writing also requires a lot of practice in order to become a professional at this skill. But there are several ways to improve this skill other than writing. Reading is one of the ways you can improve your writing. Through reading, you’ll be introduced to other writing styles and other perspectives.

Summary: Improving your writing takes a lot of practice. One of the activities you can do to improve your writing skill is reading.

Original:  Plagiarism is little more than theft and can have many different consequences. One of the consequences for students is that they can get suspended or expelled and barred from entering another school or university. Professionals have consequences too. When a professional writer commits plagiarism, it can follow the writer for their whole career. They may be fired or demoted, and this can cause them to have difficulty finding another job. There are also legal consequences for plagiarism. There have been cases where someone was found guilty of plagiarism and had to pay a fine.

Summary: Plagiarism is a serious crime. Someone who commits plagiarism can be expelled, barred from jobs or schools, or fined.

Notice how the summaries are much shorter than the original passages.

Ten Tips to Avoid Plagiarism When Writing

When you plagiarize another writer's work, you're basically stealing and trying to benefit from the other writers' work. Plagiarism could stop you from getting academic referrals or career advancement. Here are some tips on how to avoid plagiarism:

1. Understand What Plagiarism Is

There are different types of plagiarism. So, to prevent plagiarism, you need to find out and understand the different types of plagiarism. Once you know all the different types of plagiarism and understand it, you can avoid it. YourDictionary.com has a list of the different types of plagiarism. Study the list carefully.

2. Give Yourself Time to Write

Some people may plagiarize due to lack of time. It's always important to give yourself enough time to complete your writing assignments. Make sure that you've got plenty of time to complete any research you may need to do.

If you can, it’s best to give yourself a cushion and complete your writing early if you can. This gives you time to look over your work for mistakes.

3. Use Multiple Sources

Don’t use just one source for your work. When you use one source, it's easier to plagiarize. Instead, use a wide variety of sources. This also shows the reader that you did a lot of research and have a broad understanding of the topic.

4. Make a Note of Your Sources

When you're doing your research, it's best to keep track of your sources. If you’re going to use a quote, paraphrase, or summarize keep track of which source each of those came from. This makes it easier to cite your sources. Make sure that your sources are organized and marked in your notes.

5. Cite Your Sources

Whether you use a quote, paraphrase, or summarize, you need to mention the source. There are established ways to cite your sources. Which one you use depends on your teacher or boss and what method they want you to use.

MLA format is the most common format that you can consider using if you need to cite for personal writing. There are websites such as owl.purdue.edu that have a thorough explanation of how to cite sources in every format. You can also learn more about citing sources from presentations in this article:

6. Add Your Own Insights

Instead of only using source material in your writing, try adding your own insights about the topic. When you add your insights, it shows the reader that you really understand the topic. If you don’t know enough about the topic, then research the topic until you understand and know more about the topic.

7. Edit and Proofread

If you want to avoid mistakes, edit, and proofread your writing several times. Checking your material more than once is best. Often people miss some mistakes the first time editing and proofreading. When proofreading, makes sure that every quote, paraphrase, or summary is cited. You also want to ensure that every citation is done properly and in the right format.

8. Use the Right Tools

If you’re concerned about plagiarism, there are many plagiarism checkers online. This will catch many instances of plagiarism, and you can rewrite it if needed.

Using a plagiarism tool doesn't take a lot of time. So, don't skip this step. A plagiarism tool scans online text and will tell you what percentage of your writing is identical to online articles.

Most schools have a rule about what percentage of the same wording is allowed in assignments. Usually, this percentage is fairly low. Know the percentage your school uses and make sure your assignments are well under.

Some plagiarism checkers can also help you remove badly paraphrased writing that could still be considered theft. You can also print a copy of the plagiarism check and keep it if you're worried about being accused of plagiarism.

9. Reference Page

If you've got many sources, it's beneficial to have a reference page. Reference pages are typically found at the end of your paper. They list the sources you used in your assignment and your research.

It's best to work on this list from the start of your assignment. If you try to hurry up and add a reference page at the end, then you could accidentally forget a source.

10. Get Someone Else to Read Your Work

Ask a friend, teacher, or editor about your sources if you're working on an assignment or project. You can ask if you properly cited your sources. It’s best not to take chances about citing sources since plagiarism can have serious consequences. It’s essential to ensure that everything in your work is properly cited.

Learn More About Writing

Do you want to learn even more about good writing practices? Study these tutorials for more information:

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Use These Writing Tips for Your Next Assignment or Project Today!

You now know how to summarize and paraphrase, which are essential tools to use in your writing. You know what paraphrasing is and what summarizing is. I just gave you tips on how not to plagiarize.

Paraphrasing and summarizing will take your writing to the next level. Instead of having an assignment or project filled with quotes, you’ll have a well-written and thought-out piece. If you want to use a new font or need a template, use premium templates from Envato Elements .

Now that you know more about these writing tools, you can make a better writing assignment. Go use these writing tools today!

Editorial Note: This content was originally published in March 2022. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: When and How to Use Each

In the realm of academic writing, paraphrasing and summarizing are two essential skills that allow writers to incorporate information from external sources. While both techniques involve restating someone else’s ideas in your own words, they serve different purposes and are employed in different contexts. In this blog post, we will explore the distinctions between paraphrasing and summarizing, discuss when to use each technique, and provide real-life examples to illustrate their application.

Paraphrasing: Explaining Ideas in Your Own Words

Paraphrasing involves restating someone else’s ideas or information in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. When you paraphrase, you provide a detailed explanation or rephrasing of the source material, capturing the essence of the original text without directly quoting it. Paraphrasing is often used when you want to delve into a specific idea, explore nuances, or provide additional context.

Example of Paraphrasing:

Original sentence: “The rise of social media has revolutionized communication, enabling people from different parts of the world to connect instantly and share ideas.”

Paraphrased sentence: “The emergence of social media platforms has transformed the way people communicate, allowing individuals from diverse geographical locations to connect immediately and exchange thoughts.”

In this example, the original sentence is paraphrased by rephrasing the language, altering the sentence structure, and using different vocabulary while maintaining the main idea.

When to Use Paraphrasing:

• When you want to provide an in-depth analysis or explanation of a specific concept or idea.
• When you need to clarify complex or technical information by expressing it in simpler terms.
• When you want to integrate the ideas of multiple sources into a cohesive narrative.

Summarizing: Condensing Information to the Main Points

Summarizing involves condensing a longer piece of text into a shorter version that captures the main points or central ideas. When you summarize, you distill the key information, omitting irrelevant details and examples. Summaries provide readers with an overview of the original text, allowing them to grasp the main ideas without having to read the entire source material.

Example of Summarizing:

Original paragraph: “The Industrial Revolution, which took place in the 18th and 19th centuries, marked a significant shift in human history. It was characterized by the transition from hand production methods to machine-based manufacturing, resulting in increased productivity, urbanization, and profound social and economic changes.”

Summary: The Industrial Revolution, occurring in the 18th and 19th centuries, transformed society through the adoption of machine-based manufacturing, leading to improved productivity, urbanization, and far-reaching social and economic transformations.

In this example, the original paragraph is summarized by condensing the information to the main points, capturing the essence of the Industrial Revolution without including specific details.

When to Use Summarizing:

• When you want to provide a concise overview of a longer text, such as a research article or a book.
• When you need to present a brief summary of multiple sources to provide an overview of a topic.
• When you want to emphasize the main ideas or arguments of a text while omitting specific details or examples.

Guidelines for Effective Paraphrasing and Summarizing :

• Understand the source material: Before attempting to paraphrase or summarize, make sure you thoroughly understand the original text. Identify the main ideas, supporting evidence, and any key details.
• Capture the essence: When paraphrasing, strive to maintain the original meaning while expressing it in your own words. When summarizing, focus on condensing the information to the main points without distorting the central ideas.
• Alter sentence structure and vocabulary: For paraphrasing, rephrase sentences using different structures and vocabulary. For summarizing, condense the information by eliminating unnecessary details and examples.
• Use citation and attribution: Both paraphrasing and summarizing require proper citation and attribution to acknowledge the original source. Follow the appropriate citation style guidelines (e.g., APA, MLA) to give credit to the original author.
• Revise and refine: After paraphrasing or summarizing, review your work to ensure clarity, coherence, and accuracy. Make necessary revisions to improve the flow of your writing and ensure that your paraphrased or summarized content fits seamlessly into your own work.

Conclusion :

Paraphrasing and summarizing are valuable skills in academic writing, allowing you to incorporate information from external sources while maintaining your own voice and perspective. Paraphrasing involves restating ideas in your own words to provide a detailed explanation, while summarizing condenses longer texts to capture the main points. By understanding the distinctions between paraphrasing and summarizing and knowing when to use each technique, you can effectively integrate external information into your writing. Remember to provide proper attribution, alter sentence structure and vocabulary, and revise your work for clarity and coherence. With practice, you will master these skills and enhance the quality and credibility of your academic writing.

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Paraphrase and Summary

Paraphrase and summary are different writing strategies that ask you to put another author’s argument in your own words. This can help you better understand what the writer of the source is saying, so that you can communicate that message to your own reader without relying only on direct quotes. Paraphrases are used for short passages and specific claims in an argument, while summaries are used for entire pieces and focus on capturing the big picture of an argument. Both should be cited using the appropriate format (MLA, APA, etc.).  See KU Writing Center guides on APA Formatting , Chicago Formatting , and MLA Formatting for more information. 

When you paraphrase, you are using your own words to explain one of the claims of your source's argument, following its line of reasoning and its sequence of ideas. The purpose of a paraphrase is to convey the meaning of the original message and, in doing so, to prove that you understand the passage well enough to restate it. The paraphrase should give the reader an accurate understanding of the author's position on the topic. Your job is to uncover and explain all the facts and arguments involved in your subject. A paraphrase tends to be about the same length or a little shorter than the thing being paraphrased.

To paraphrase:

• Alter the wording of the passage without changing its meaning. Key words, such as names and field terminology, may stay the same (i.e. you do not need to rename Milwaukee or osteoporosis), but all other words must be rephrased. 
• Retain the basic logic of the argument, sequence of ideas, and examples used in the passage. 
• Accurately convey the author's meaning and opinion. 
• Keep the length approximately the same as the original passage. 
• Do not forget to cite where the information came from. Even though it is in your own words, the idea belongs to someone else, and that source must be acknowledged. 

A summary covers the main points of the writer’s argument in your own words. Summaries are generally much shorter than the original source, since they do not contain any specific examples or pieces of evidence. The goal of a summary is to give the reader a clear idea of what the source is arguing, without going into any specifics about what they are using to argue their point.

To summarize:  

• Identify what reading or speech is being summarized. 
• State the author’s thesis and main claims of their argument in your own words. Just like paraphrasing, make sure everything but key terms is reworded. 
• Avoid specific details or examples. 
• Avoid your personal opinions about the topic. 
• Include the conclusion of the original material. 
• Cite summarized information as well. 

In both the paraphrase and summary, the author's meaning and opinion are retained. However, in the case of the summary, examples and illustrations are omitted. Summaries can be tremendously helpful because they can be used to encapsulate everything from a long narrative passage of an essay, to a chapter in a book, to an entire book.

When to Use Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing 

Updated June 2022  

Ivana Vidakovic

Sep 16, 2022

Paraphrasing Vs. Summarizing: The Difference And Best Examples

Explore the critical distinctions between the paraphrasing and summarizing techniques and how to apply it into writing utilizing examples of each.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Are you frequently confused about the distinction between paraphrasing and summarizing and their purpose?

Paraphrasing and summarizing text are significant assets in writing that can help you create engaging and efficient content.

And each of these techniques has a different yet vital purpose in the writing process. Unfortunately, people often find it hard to distinguish their differences.

Not to mention that plagiarized and summarized content is allowed and acceptable only if it is not plagiarized in any way.

Thus, today we'll go through the critical distinctions between the paraphrasing and summarizing techniques and when and how to apply each writing strategy utilizing examples of each.

Let's begin!

Paraphrasing vs Summarizing — Definitions

Paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing means reading the text and putting it in your own words without changing the meaning of the original text. 

This action doesn't allow copy-pasting original text in any way — copy-pasted text is considered plagiarism unless you use it as a citation. 

What is the length of the paraphrased text?

The paraphrased version of the text is almost the same length or a little shorter than the original.

When to use paraphrasing?

You can use the paraphrasing writing technique when:

• You want to use someone else's writing for your reference .
• You want to avoid quotations . 
• When the idea is more important than writing style .
• When you need to improve the readability of your content .

Here is an example of what original vs paraphrased text looks like:

In simple words, paraphrasing is putting someone else's writing in your own words and thought s. 

Summarizing

When you want to get the main idea of a piece of writing, you can use the summarizing technique.

Summarizing is brief information of the original text in your own words that only includes the essential parts. 

What is the length of the summarized text?

The summary of the text is a lot shorter than the original . This is because it leaves out the meaning of the text and includes only the main idea or the most critical information.

When to use summarizing?

Here are some tips on when to use the summarizing technique:

• When you need to pick out only the writer's main ideas .
• When you need an overview of the whole piece .
• When you need to simplify the text .
• When only the most important parts of the text need to be discussed.

Here is an example of what original text vs summarized text looks like:

Summarizing involves extracting the original text's main ideas and compressing them into a clear overview.

Now that we know what definitions of each technique are let's discuss paraphrasing vs summarizing differences.

Paraphrasing vs Summarizing — Differences

Here are the 3 primary differences between paraphrasing and summarizing writing techniques:

• Paraphrasing is rewriting a text in your own words while summarizing is writing the most important parts of a piece in your own words .
• Paraphrasing has the same or a little shorter text length than the original one, while summarizing is much more concise than the original .
• You can use paraphrasing to make the original content easier to understand , while summarizing is used to mention only the most important points without any explanation .

Here is what the comparison between paraphrased and summarized text looks like:

When To Paraphrase and When To Summarize?

When paraphrasing, you put someone else's ideas into your own words.

Let's observe the following statement and possible 3 paraphrasing outcomes. 

In the example, paraphrasing includes all the details of the original text, the idea, and the impression you want to trigger with your audience, but in your own style .

On the other hand, when you are summarizing, you want to get a shorter version of the original text .

Let’s take a look at the same example.

Together quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are the leading writing techniques when mentioning sources in your content . 

When deciding which to use, you should first think about what kind of content you want to write. 

For example, literature reviews and science reports are mostly just summaries. But conversely, all three techniques you can use in argumentative essays.

Even though paraphrasing and summarizing are important, you shouldn't rely on them too much, either. The most important thing is your opinion on the subject .

Let's move on and check the paraphrasing vs summarizing examples. 

Paraphrasing vs Summarizing Examples 

How to paraphrase.

When you paraphrase, keep these 3 things in mind:

• You must provide a reference .
• Use your language style when paraphrasing. 
• Changing just a few words here and there is not paraphrasing . 

The lack of paraphrasing words is just a lack of synonyms, nothing more. It has nothing to do with creativity.

Think about how the ideas fit with what you already know. Then, try some of the following tips to paraphrase with ease:

• Take notes of the original text — Pull the most critical details from the storyline you need to paraphrase. 

• Make full sentences from ideas — Create words around those key points in your own style.

• Provide a reference — If you have statistical or research data, mention the author or the literature you used for your statement.

• Analyze — The paraphrasing outcome will be more authentic and genuine by providing feedback, expressing your thoughts, or adding your own ideas. 

• Not every word needs to be changed — Keep the most important words the same for clarity's sake (e.g., autism, culture, children). But don't use whole phrases unless they are common in your field (e.g., psychogenic disorder).

Pro Tip: Nowadays, it is not so uncommon for writers to utilize paraphrasing tools such as TextCortex. 

Part of the reason is that paraphrasing tools help overcome writer’s block and boost creativity.

For instance, to paraphrase sentences or entire paragraphs with TextCortex, you must select the text you want to rewrite, click on the logo , and click on the ‘ Paraphrase ’ feature.

You can paraphrase the original output multiple times until you get the desired output. Additionally, TextCortex will provide you with several different paraphrasing variants for each generation.

How To Summarize?

The summary goes a lot further than a point-by-point paraphrasing. 

And to help you understand better, we will be using the following part of the article “ Fairytales much older than previously thought, say researchers ”:

When you want to summarize the text, you need to:

• Understand the context — Get the overall idea of the text you want to transform into a shorter version of the text. In the given example, the text talks about fairytales that have been around since the Bronze Age and when and where this information comes from.
• Pull out primary takeaways — Gather all relevant key points of the text and add a piece of brief information about them.

• Create a storytelling brief — It is not enough just to list the key elements. Instead, use storytelling technique s to transform the main takeaways into a compelling but short version of the original text.

•   A summary has to be shorter than the original text — The summary includes only essential points of the text, not the details.

Most people get confused when comparing paraphrasing and summarizing because those two writing techniques don’t exclude each other.

In simple words, a summary of the text can be paraphrased, and vice versa. 

Final Thoughts

As you can notice, paraphrasing and summarizing techniques are not as hard as they seem. And you probably use both in your regular conversations every day.

However, it becomes more official when it comes to writing articles, essays, and more. 

This is due to plagiarism rules — content labeled as plagiarism can be heavily penalized and damage your writing career before it even starts to blossom.

And if you are planning to become a writer or are a newbie that is not so confident in these writing techniques, we suggest you start utilizing the TextCortex rewriting extension .

Our Chrome extension can help you:

• Manage your writing faster .
• Produce more content in less time .
• Rewrite sentences and paragraphs in bulk.
• Transform bullets to emails .
• Expand your text for more information.
• Write blog posts from a single sentence .
• Assist you on more than 30 platforms .

In addition, with the Chrome rewriting extension, you will gain access to the TextCortex web application that can help you to write:

• Blog articles, 
• Product descriptions, 
• Social media posts
• Youtube captions,
• And more in 72+ languages.

Are you ready to start paraphrasing with ease?

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TextCortex is a powerful AI-powered writing tool that can help you reduce your writing time, handle big tasks, and create high-quality content without errors. With its customizable platform, personalized intelligence experience, advanced writing and research capabilities, and error-free content, TextCortex is the perfect tool for creative professionals who want to be a creative force in their industry.

Our AI copilot learned how to write from more than 3 billion sentences and has the ability to create unique content. However, fact-checking is something which still requires a human approval.

TextCortex supports more than 25 languages including English, Dutch, German, Ukranian, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian.

Yes, TextCortex is completely free to use with all of its features. When you sign up, you receive 100 free creations. Then you will receive 20 recurring creations every day on the free plan.

Yes, we have a Text Generation API, please talk to us directly to implement it. You can reach out to us at [email protected]

Account sharing is not allowed. If you have a need for more than 5 seats for an account, you can directly contact us at [email protected]

Yes, TextCortex offers 14-day free trial for users to try out all features extensively with higher number of generations. But keep in mind that you can already try everything with the free plan. There is no feature that is locked behind a premium plan.

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TextCortex learns and adapts to your unique writing style and knowledge, making it easier for you to write high-quality & personalized content.

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Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: Knowing the Difference

Writers who write informative or academic papers will need to understand the difference between paraphrasing vs. summarizing. Learn more in this article.

Paraphrasing and summarizing are similar writing techniques where an author takes an original passage and puts it into their own words without using the author’s exact words. Yet the goal of these two techniques is different. With one, you rephrase the content in your own words, but you pull out the main ideas and shorten the work with the other.

With both paraphrasing and summarizing, you can use someone else’s ideas in your writing to give it meaning and back up the claims you make. However, you do need to know how to use the tools to properly portray the ideas you wish to convey without falling guilty of plagiarism.

As you work on creating research papers and projects, you’re going to want to know the difference between paraphrasing vs. summarizing. This guide will help you understand how these are different, so you can use the right tool when you need it.

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: The Key Is in the Goal

The dangers of plagiarism, when to paraphrase, when to summarize, similarities between paraphrasing and summarizing, paraphrasing and summarizing often go hand in hand, creating a works cited or bibliography page, paraphrasing vs. summarizing: both make your writing stronger, paraphrasing vs. summarizing: key points.

What is the primary difference between summarizing and paraphrasing in your writing? The key is in the goal of your writing.

Both paraphrasing and summarizing are ways to avoid plagiarism in your writing by ensuring you are not using the original author’s exact words, but they are done for different reasons. With paraphrasing, you are rewording the original author’s work, but by summarizing, you boil down the main points into a more concise version of the original post.

In academic writing, plagiarism is a serious offense . To avoid this offense, you must include a proper citation whenever you have a quote, paraphrase, and summary statement. If the original work is not your idea or something considered common knowledge, it requires a citation.

If you are found guilty of plagiarism, you will have serious repercussions. This often means failing the assignment or even the class in academic settings. You may face expulsion, too.

If you are preparing something for publication, you risk having your work completely discredited. Your reputation as a writer is ruined. While few people go to jail for plagiarism, you could face lawsuits or fines for breaking the law.

You might also be wondering do you need quotation marks when paraphrasing?

The Definition of Paraphrasing

When you paraphrase something, you take the original material and rewrite it, changing the sentence structure or verb tense to say the same thing differently. The new sentence or paragraph will have enough differences that you cannot point out that it came from the source material.

This process is different from a direct quote. With a direct quote, you use the same wording, word for word, and put it in quotation marks. With a paraphrase, you have no wording that is the same, but instead, you use synonyms and new sentence structure to make it your own. However, the meaning of the original text stays consistent.

Paraphrased works in academic writing still require a citation using the APA or MLA format , depending on the assignment. The original idea still comes from the original author, and you can’t take that and claim it as your own without proper citation.

The best time to paraphrase is when you want to show that you can read someone else’s ideas but then put them in your own words. It shows that you understand the concepts and ideas you are writing about. You still want to credit the original author, but you don’t want to make a paper or article from quotes.

Paraphrasing shows that you understand the concepts of your sources. If you can paraphrase well, you have a clear grasp of the topic.

These paraphrasing exercises might be helpful.

The Definition of Summarizing

Summarizing is done when the original writer’s work is lengthy, and you need the main points, but not a direct quotation or full sentences that copy the meaning. For example, if you are using an entire chapter of a book as a resource for one point in a paragraph, you aren’t going to be able to include all of the ideas from the book. Instead, you will simplify those ideas into something shorter, keeping the main points intact and concisely expressing them.

Summaries, like paraphrases, do not require quotation marks. You won’t use quotation marks even if the main headings or points are repeated in your work. However, you will cite the original author and the original article or book using proper formatting.

A summary works well when you have a large chunk of text you want to pull the main ideas from in your piece. It allows you to get to the main idea of the author’s piece, only pulling out what is necessary for you to make your point. It provides background information to the reader, as well.

Summaries also work well if you need just the main points of the writer’s work instead of all of the added material. This strategy works particularly well when you need to argue a point and want to use an entire work to do so but do not have enough space to quote the source material. You might also be interested in our analogy vs. metaphor guide.

Though they are different, paraphrases and summaries have some similarities. Both allow writers to use other writers’ ideas in their pieces. They both make concepts easier to understand or help them flow in the writer’s own words and writing style. Both keep the passage’s main ideas in place even while changing the wording or shortening the piece.

In academic writing, you will often paraphrase and summarize source materials in the same work. Sometimes, the author’s ideas are already concise, so all you need to do is restate them in your writing. This is paraphrasing.

Sometimes, the author’s ideas are too lengthy for you to include in your work as they are. In these cases, simplification is necessary to flow with your work. Thus, you will summarize.

Paraphrases and summaries are also preferred over direct quotes. They allow you to show your writing skills and ability to pull ideas from someone else’s works without relying entirely on the other writer’s work.

After you finish your writing, you will need to include a list of all of the works you used to create it. This bibliography or works cited page will have formatting based on the publication manual used in the assignment. It will include all of the books, articles, and journals you used to write the essay or paper, whether you quoted, summarized, or paraphrased.

Most writing will borrow from another person’s ideas and even words, as long as the author properly cites and credits the original author. Paraphrasing and summaries are tools writers use to use the ideas of others without copying them directly effectively.

Anyone can copy and paste work from other writers to put together an informative paper or paragraph. Quotes have their place, as they can give the writing a sense of authority and provide strong evidence that the claims you make are valid. However, it takes a skilled writer to summarize or paraphrase the works of other writers.

Both summaries and paraphrases make writing stronger and show that you clearly understand the materials you used in your research. Most academic papers are a mixture of paraphrases, summaries, and quotes. All three require citations, but you will find that paraphrasing and summarizing allow you to put your flair into the writing.

Paraphrasing and summarizing both offer a way to use someone else’s idea as your own in your writing. Paraphrasing transforms the writing into your own words but keeps the same basic length and idea in writing. Summarizing condenses the writing into its main points.

Both paraphrasing and summarizing require proper citation because the idea comes from another writing. You can use your research skills to write engaging essays and papers with these tools. 

If you are interested in learning more, check out our paraphrasing vs. plagiarism guide!

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: What’s the Difference?

The etymology of a word reveals surprising insights into how language and meaning evolve. 

And the history behind the words ‘paraphrase’ and ‘summary’ weave a tale of these words and the key difference between them. 

The term ‘paraphrase’ has its roots in the Greek paraphrazein , which means ‘to tell in other words’, while ‘summary’ comes from the Latin summa , meaning ‘gist’. 

So, what’s the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing?

Paraphrasing involves uniquely rewording text (but keeping the original meaning intact), while summarizing provides a brief overview of any written work by condensing the information down to the main points. 

Paraphrasing

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is rewriting or rephrasing a piece of text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning and message.

The goal of paraphrasing is to create unique content that communicates the overall essence of the source material.

When should you paraphrase?

Paraphrasing is a useful technique when you need to:

• Refer to and draw upon information from another source
• Clarify a long, complex, or difficult-to-understand piece
• Add flair to your content or present it in a more engaging way
• Uniquely express or provide a different perspective to an already-said idea 
• Improve the readability of content
• Avoid plagiarism

What are the benefits of paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing can help you better understand the source material, effectively communicate the meaning behind the original text to others, find new ways to approach the topic, improve your writing style, and prevent plagiarism. 

Top Paraphrasing Tips to Keep in Mind 

It’s essential to paraphrase in a way that is unique yet representative and accurate to the source text.

Here are some tips to get you started with paraphrasing effectively:

• Read and properly comprehend the source material 
• Write in your own words, then edit for your audience
• Bring your own spin and insights to the content
• Use a plagiarism checker 

We’ve created a blog focused solely on paraphrasing tips, so check it out if you’d like to delve deeper into this topic. 

Summarizing

What is summarizing?

Summarizing is creating a condensed version of a text by identifying key points and presenting them in an organized fashion.

The goal is to distill information (from an article, essay, book, or any other text) into a concise and clear summary that will be easy for readers to understand.

When should you summarize?

Summarizing can help you when you need to:

• Highlight the main points from any piece of text, presentation, or speech
• Provide a brief overview of a topic
• Convey the core meaning of a complex or extensive source in a short, easy-to-digest, and efficient way
• Reduce the amount of time needed to read something
• Create a handy reference for later use

What are the benefits of summarizing? 

A summary allows you to easily grab the gist of a text without losing context, identify key concepts, find relevant information quickly, visualize the structure of the original content, and locate gaps in your understanding of the topic. 

Top Summarizing Tips to Keep in Mind

 When you’re ready to summarise, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the process:

• Read the text multiple times to ensure you fully understand it
• Focus on the big picture
• Look for connections between the central ideas and group them together
• Eliminate unnecessary information 
• Create an outline and organize the information in a logical order
• Summarize only what you need to convey to save time
• Review and edit the summary for accuracy, clarity, and brevity

Another reminder: The summary should only contain key points and essential information. 

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: A Deep Dive into the Key Differences

Though often used interchangeably, paraphrasing and summarizing are different writing processes with distinct functions. 

Let’s take a look at the main differences between them:

Definition and Meaning

In simple terms, paraphrasing means ‘rewriting’ while summarizing means ‘condensing’. 

Paraphrasing is a technique to reword the original text in a unique way without losing the meaning behind the source material. By contrast, summarizing presents the main ideas from a piece of written work in a short and succinct manner. 

Additional Information

While paraphrasing, it is encouraged to add your insights, examples, observations, perspectives, and takeaways to the final piece of content.

When summarizing, the writer should only include the key points with minimal interpretation or opinion. 

There is no set length for a paraphrase. It can be longer than the original material (if you include insights and examples), similar in size, or slightly shorter. 

On the other hand, a summary is a concise version of the source text, so it’s much shorter in length than the original piece.

Paraphrasing helps encourage critical thinking, a more profound understanding of a topic, and perspective development. 

Summarizing is seen as a more efficient way of getting the content’s core message straight into the audience’s mind. 

Content Creation Time

While paraphrasing takes more time to write, summarizing can be quicker as the writer only needs to focus on the crucial information. 

While paraphrasing and summarizing are two very different writing techniques, they are both useful in their own right and provide unique benefits for the reader.

Paraphrasing is excellent for reworking the original text in a fresh, new way that keeps the meaning and spirit of the source material intact. Summarizing enables readers to grasp the key takeaways and crucial information by condensing the source material into a concise and easy-to-follow piece. 

And if you’re looking for a quality tool to speed up both processes, try ContentBot . Our AI-powered application makes it possible to effectively rewrite and summarize text with the click of a button. 

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A publication of the harvard college writing program.

Harvard Guide to Using Sources 

• The Honor Code

Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting

Depending on the conventions of your discipline, you may have to decide whether to summarize a source, paraphrase a source, or quote from a source.

Scholars in the humanities tend to summarize, paraphrase, and quote texts; social scientists and natural scientists rely primarily on summary and paraphrase.

When and how to summarize

When you summarize, you provide your readers with a condensed version of an author's key points. A summary can be as short as a few sentences or much longer, depending on the complexity of the text and the level of detail you wish to provide to your readers. You will need to summarize a source in your paper when you are going to refer to that source and you want your readers to understand the source's argument, main ideas, or plot (if the source is a novel, film, or play) before you lay out your own argument about it, analysis of it, or response to it.

Before you summarize a source in your paper, you should decide what your reader needs to know about that source in order to understand your argument. For example, if you are making an argument about a novel, you should avoid filling pages of your paper with details from the book that will distract or confuse your reader. Instead, you should add details sparingly, going only into the depth that is necessary for your reader to understand and appreciate your argument. Similarly, if you are writing a paper about a journal article, you will need to highlight the most relevant parts of the argument for your reader, but you should not include all of the background information and examples. When you have to decide how much summary to put in a paper, it's a good idea to consult your instructor about whether you are supposed to assume your reader's knowledge of the sources.

Guidelines for summarizing a source in your paper

• Identify the author and the source.
• Represent the original source accurately.
• Present the source’s central claim clearly.
• Don’t summarize each point in the same order as the original source; focus on giving your reader the most important parts of the source
• Use your own words. Don’t provide a long quotation in the summary unless the actual language from the source is going to be important for your reader to see.

Stanley Milgram (1974) reports that ordinarily compassionate people will be cruel to each other if they are commanded to be by an authority figure. In his experiment, a group of participants were asked to administer electric shocks to people who made errors on a simple test. In spite of signs that those receiving shock were experiencing great physical pain, 25 of 40 subjects continued to administer electric shocks. These results held up for each group of people tested, no matter the demographic. The transcripts of conversations from the experiment reveal that although many of the participants felt increasingly uncomfortable, they continued to obey the experimenter, often showing great deference for the experimenter. Milgram suggests that when people feel responsible for carrying out the wishes of an authority figure, they do not feel responsible for the actual actions they are performing. He concludes that the increasing division of labor in society encourages people to focus on a small task and eschew responsibility for anything they do not directly control.

This summary of Stanley Milgram's 1974 essay, "The Perils of Obedience," provides a brief overview of Milgram's 12-page essay, along with an APA style parenthetical citation. You would write this type of summary if you were discussing Milgram's experiment in a paper in which you were not supposed to assume your reader's knowledge of the sources. Depending on your assignment, your summary might be even shorter.

When you include a summary of a paper in your essay, you must cite the source. If you were using APA style in your paper, you would include a parenthetical citation in the summary, and you would also include a full citation in your reference list at the end of your paper. For the essay by Stanley Milgram, your citation in your references list would include the following information:

Milgram, S. (1974). The perils of obedience. In L.G. Kirszner & S.R. Mandell (Eds.), The Blair reader (pp.725-737).

When and how to paraphrase

When you paraphrase from a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words. Whereas a summary provides your readers with a condensed overview of a source (or part of a source), a paraphrase of a source offers your readers the same level of detail provided in the original source. Therefore, while a summary will be shorter than the original source material, a paraphrase will generally be about the same length as the original source material.

When you use any part of a source in your paper—as background information, as evidence, as a counterargument to which you plan to respond, or in any other form—you will always need to decide whether to quote directly from the source or to paraphrase it. Unless you have a good reason to quote directly from the source , you should paraphrase the source. Any time you paraphrase an author's words and ideas in your paper, you should make it clear to your reader why you are presenting this particular material from a source at this point in your paper. You should also make sure you have represented the author accurately, that you have used your own words consistently, and that you have cited the source.

This paraphrase below restates one of Milgram's points in the author's own words. When you paraphrase, you should always cite the source. This paraphrase uses the APA in-text citation style. Every source you paraphrase should also be included in your list of references at the end of your paper. For citation format information go to the Citing Sources section of this guide.

Source material

The problem of obedience is not wholly psychological. The form and shape of society and the way it is developing have much to do with it. There was a time, perhaps, when people were able to give a fully human response to any situation because they were fully absorbed in it as human beings. But as soon as there was a division of labor things changed.

--Stanley Milgram, "The Perils of Obedience," p.737.

Milgram, S. (1974). The perils of obedience. In L.G. Kirszner & S.R. Mandell (Eds.), The Blair reader (pp.725-737). Prentice Hall.

Milgram (1974) claims that people's willingness to obey authority figures cannot be explained by psychological factors alone. In an earlier era, people may have had the ability to invest in social situations to a greater extent. However, as society has become increasingly structured by a division of labor, people have become more alienated from situations over which they do not have control (p.737).

When and how much to quote

The basic rule in all disciplines is that you should only quote directly from a text when it's important for your reader to see the actual language used by the author of the source. While paraphrase and summary are effective ways to introduce your reader to someone's ideas, quoting directly from a text allows you to introduce your reader to the way those ideas are expressed by showing such details as language, syntax, and cadence.

So, for example, it may be important for a reader to see a passage of text quoted directly from Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried if you plan to analyze the language of that passage in order to support your thesis about the book. On the other hand, if you're writing a paper in which you're making a claim about the reading habits of American elementary school students or reviewing the current research on Wilson's disease, the information you’re providing from sources will often be more important than the exact words. In those cases, you should paraphrase rather than quoting directly. Whether you quote from your source or paraphrase it, be sure to provide a citation for your source, using the correct format. (see Citing Sources section)

You should use quotations in the following situations:

• When you plan to discuss the actual language of a text.
• When you are discussing an author's position or theory, and you plan to discuss the wording of a core assertion or kernel of the argument in your paper.
• When you risk losing the essence of the author's ideas in the translation from their words to your own.
• When you want to appeal to the authority of the author and using their words will emphasize that authority.

Once you have decided to quote part of a text, you'll need to decide whether you are going to quote a long passage (a block quotation) or a short passage (a sentence or two within the text of your essay). Unless you are planning to do something substantive with a long quotation—to analyze the language in detail or otherwise break it down—you should not use block quotations in your essay. While long quotations will stretch your page limit, they don't add anything to your argument unless you also spend time discussing them in a way that illuminates a point you're making. Unless you are giving your readers something they need to appreciate your argument, you should use quotations sparingly.

When you quote from a source, you should make sure to cite the source either with an in-text citation or a note, depending on which citation style you are using.  The passage below, drawn from O’Brien’s  The Things They Carried , uses an MLA-style citation.

On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha's letters. Then he burned the two photographs. There was a steady rain falling, which made it difficult, but he used heat tabs and Sterno to build a small fire, screening it with his body holding the photographs over the tight blue flame with the tip of his fingers.

He realized it was only a gesture. Stupid, he thought. Sentimental, too, but mostly just stupid. (23)

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried . New York: Broadway Books, 1990.

Even as Jimmy Cross burns Martha's letters, he realizes that "it was only a gesture. Stupid, he thought. Sentimental too, but mostly just stupid" (23).

If you were writing a paper about O'Brien's The Things They Carried in which you analyzed Cross's decision to burn Martha's letters and stop thinking about her, you might want your reader to see the language O'Brien uses to illustrate Cross's inner conflict. If you were planning to analyze the passage in which O'Brien calls Cross's realization stupid, sentimental, and then stupid again, you would want your reader to see the original language.

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Paraphrasing & Summarizing

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To help the flow of your writing, it is beneficial to not always quote but instead put the information in your own words. You can paraphrase or summarize the author’s words to better match your tone and desired length. Even if you write the ideas in your own words, it is important to cite them with in-text citations or footnotes (depending on your discipline’s citation style ). 

Definitions

• Paraphrasing allows you to use your own words to restate an author's ideas.
• Summarizing allows you to create a succinct, concise statement of an author’s main points without copying and pasting a lot of text from the original source.

What’s the difference: Paraphrasing v. Summarizing

Explore the rest of the page to see how the same material could be quoted, paraphrased, or summarized. Depending on the length, tone, and argument of your work, you might choose one over the other. 

• Bad Paraphrase
• Good Paraphrase
• Reread: Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
• Write on your own: Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
• Connect: Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material.
• Check: Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
• Quote: Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
• Cite: Record the source (including the page) on your note card or notes document so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Explore the tabs to see the difference between an acceptable and unacceptable paraphrase based on the original text in each example.

Original Text

“Business communication is increasingly taking place internationally – in all countries, among all peoples, and across all cultures. An awareness of other cultures – of their languages, customs, experiences and perceptions – as well as an awareness of the way in which other people conduct their business, are now essential ingredients of business communication” (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

More and more business communication is taking place internationally—across all countries, peoples, and cultures.  Awareness of other cultures and the way in which people do business are essential parts of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59)

Compare the Original and Paraphrase

Too much of the original is quoted directly, with only a few words changed or omitted. The highlighted words are too similar to the original quote: 

More and more business communication is taking place internationally —across all countries, peoples, and cultures .  Awareness of other cultures and the way in which people do business are essential parts of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59)

Original Text 

“Business communication is increasingly taking place internationally – in all countries, among all peoples, and across all cultures. An awareness of other cultures – of their languages, customs, experiences and perceptions – as well as an awareness of the way in which other people conduct their business, are now essential ingredients of business communication” (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59).

The importance of understanding the traditions, language, perceptions, and the manner in which people of other cultures conduct their business should not be underestimated, and it is a crucial component of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p. 59).

The original’s ideas are summarized and expressed in the writer’s own words with minimal overlap with the original text's language:

The importance of understanding the traditions, language, perceptions, and the manner in which people of other cultures conduct their business should not be underestimated, and it is a crucial component of business communication (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p. 59).

• Bad Summary
• Good Summary
• Find the main idea: Ask yourself, “What is the main idea that the author is communicating?”
• Avoid copying: Set the original aside, and write one or two sentences with the main point of the original on a note card or in a notes document.
• Connect: Jot down a few words below your summary to remind you later how you envision using this material.

Business communication is worldwide, and it is essential to build awareness of other cultures and the way in which other people conduct their business. (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

Compare the Original and Summary

Too much of the original is quoted directly, with only a few words changed or omitted. The highlighted words are too similar to the original text:

Business communication is worldwide, and it is essential to build awareness of other cultures and the way in which other people conduct their business . (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

In a world that is increasingly connected, effective business communication requires us to learn about other cultures, languages, and business norms (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

The original’s ideas are summarized and expressed in the writer’s own words with minimal overlap:

In a world that is increasingly connected, effective business communication requires us to learn about other cultures , languages , and business norms (Chase, O’Rourke & Wallace, 2003, p.59). 

No matter what the source or style, you need to cite it both in-text and at the end of the paper with a full citation! Write down or record all the needed pieces of information when researching to ensure you avoid plagiarism. 

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Home > Blog > Paraphrasing VS Summarizing: Differences and Examples

Paraphrasing VS Summarizing: Differences and Examples

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Updated: September 13, 2022
• All About Content and Writing

Composing a piece of text for an assignment or a blog can require you to perform thorough research, compose content, and ensure its uniqueness. That brings the need for paraphrasing the content and summarizing. However, the terms paraphrasing and summarizing are mistaken as synonyms. They are both related, but they are not the same. To clarify the concepts in this blog, we will focus on paraphrasing vs summarizing and their differences.

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing refers to writing a piece of content again without changing its actual meaning. It would require you to read the text and present that in your own words. A paraphrased text can take the major part of the original text and can be generally shorter.

The need to paraphrase

From blogs to assignments, paraphrasing can be the call for creating content in different situations. For a broader picture, here is the set of reasons why you need to paraphrase:

• To refine the specific text from a short passage.
• To save from the overuse of quotations.
• To explain the word without focusing on wordings.
• To report statistics and numerical data.
• To share the crucial part of a passage.
• To avoid plagiarism.

How to paraphrase without the occurrence of any plagiarism issue?

Plagiarism refers to presenting the work of some other author as one’s. With many benefits and usage of paraphrasing, using content without plagiarism is another. Either through adding synonyms or changing the speech, there are different ways to paraphrase without plagiarizing. To facilitate it for you, here are the steps you can proceed with:

• Understand the meaning

Before you begin to compose the content in your own words, it is necessary for you to understand it properly. For this, you can read the resource several times, and you can even look for multiple references. It can allow you to have several sources and a lot of information.

• Note down the major points

  Whether you consider single or multiple references, you should note down the important points. With this, you can take the information and still not copy the same notion of the writer. You can use the material and phrase it in your words.

• Write your content

  Once you understand the meaning and take the major points, you can compose fresh content. While doing so, you must make sure that you do not have to look at the original passage and prepare for what you have understood.

• Compare the content

After writing your content, the next step should be comparing it with the original passage. It can allow you to evaluate the authenticity of the facts and check if you have missed any crucial information.

• Cite the Source

  Even if you write the content in your own words, citation helps track the original idea. It also gives the credit to the original source.

What does paraphrased content look like?

To get a clearer idea of paraphrased content, you can take a look at these examples of paraphrasing:

Original Content

Digital marketing has been a growing field in the past decades. It includes using different platforms to promote businesses. Its purpose is to connect to its target audience present in digital mediums.

Paraphrased Content

Over the past decades, digital marketing has become a booming field. It consists of promoting a brand while availing of the different digital platforms. It paves the way for businesses to reach their potential customers on various platforms.

Both of these passages have the same meaning but are written differently. The choices of the words are not the same, and in the first sentence only, there is a change in the sentence structure. That is how you can paraphrase the content.

What Is Summarizing?

Summary refers to a short review, a restatement of the major points, which is a conclusion of the work in most cases. With this, summarizing refers to composing a summary of the content or other resources. It has to communicate the most crucial part for the writer. You have to prepare it in your own words, and it has to state the information you want to emphasize.

When to Summarize?

Several benefits come with the need to summarize. First of all, it allows you to understand the structure in which the content has been organized and then combine them into the major parts. With this, you can focus on putting lights in the most crucial part of the text. Here are the conditions that require summarizing:

• To reduce the source material and bring out the major and relatable points.
• To remove extra information from the crucial source material.
• To make the material simple and easy to understand.

How to Summarize?

Summarizing involves taking the ideas from a text, which can be some other author. You must also add the citation information for sharing the source of the concept. You can use Smodin Summarizer to summarize all the texts you want. Like we did for paraphrasing, here is the step-by-step explanation of summarizing:

Find and Read

The first step you need to do is select the text. It can be four to five lines and can support the idea. After that, you have to thoroughly read it to get a detailed idea and understanding of the topic. You must prepare notes, and add the keywords, terms, and keywords you can use to understand it better.

Filter the Content

Once done with this, you have to filter the content you will compose into the summary. For this, you have to select the text you want to keep and eliminate the unnecessary. After sorting the material you have to include, you can write the summary in your own words.

Revise and Edit

After completing your summary, you have to read it and correct any mistakes. You also have to verify the facts presented over there. To attain that, you can compare it with the text and make sure that there are no aspects left for you to make changes.

Before submitting your summary, you must check if it can identify the writer of the actual text. It has to consist and combine the ideas initially written and present unbiased information.

What does summarizing look like?

To get a clear picture of what summarization can look like, let us present an example of the summary.

Here are a few paragraphs on the importance of language:

Language plays a crucial role in communication among people. After becoming a master in it, you can become well-versed with its grammar, the system of words, and structure to facilitate the exchange of thoughts and emotions. It is also essential to express the ideas and customs in societies and cultures. When you choose to learn the concepts of a new language, you can connect with new thoughts and ideas. You can also make yourself familiar with customs and the manner in which people greet each other.

The role of learning a language also encompasses professional growth as a person with a command of the global language can find more career possibilities. Several sectors and industries need professionals well-versed in common languages.

(Anonymous)

This is an anonymous paragraph, but it is necessary to identify the writer. So, let us assume that Dr. A has written it for a paper presented at University Y in 2020. The title is The influence of language on an individual . In that case, here is how you will present the summary of the paragraph:

In the paper on The influence of language on an Individual at Y University, Z, Dr. A presented his thoughts on language. It allows people to exchange their thoughts and ideas. Learning a new language can allow people to connect to new thoughts and ideas and learn about new customs. It can also pave the way for your growth at a professional level. This is because industries often look for professionals who master a commonly-spoken language.

About the Summary

This summary has the source, time, and writer while expressing the essential points. It also states the perception presented by the author but in a different and neutral manner.

Final Thoughts

Paraphrasing and summarizing are somehow different from each other. This blog has focused on putting some light on paraphrasing vs summarizing . Where paraphrasing is about conveying the same messages without shortening the length, summarizing explains the crucial points more succinctly. However, the need is to create plagiarism-free content through both the methods you prefer to go ahead with. Talking of composing unique content, Smodin.io can provide you with the tools to prepare an assignment/blog for you. All you need to do is copy your content, use it, and wait for fresh and distinct content.

Find and fix writing mistakes instantly

• Check for unintentional plagiarism
• Get instant grammar and style suggestions

Paraphrasing vs Summarizing

Summaries and paraphrases are some of your most useful tools as a writer. Referencing other people’s writing is often necessary if you want to provide evidence for your claims and imbue your essays with a greater sense of integrity. In other instances, referencing powerful ideas can simply enhance the quality of your writing. For example, using a quote in your introductory paragraph can “hook” the reader and get them interested.

You can reference other people’s writing in a number of different ways. Here are the most common options:

Each of these options has its own set of various pros and cons. If you want to become an accomplished writer, you need to understand when to paraphrase, when to summarize, and when to quote.

Whether you’re paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting, you need to make sure to properly acknowledge where these ideas are coming from or you risk committing plagiarism. It’s perfectly acceptable to reference other people’s work, as long as you give credit where it’s due.

When you understand the differences among paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting, it becomes easier to write flowing, informative pieces that are free from plagiarism.

What is paraphrasing?

When you paraphrase someone else’s writing, you are presenting their ideas in your own words. An important part of paraphrasing is acknowledging whose ideas you are presenting and where they come from.

A paraphrased passage cannot be too similar to the source material. You can’t simply change one or two words and claim that you’re paraphrasing. Ideally, you should present these ideas in language that seems natural and easy for you and your readers to understand.

What is summarizing?

When you summarize someone else’s ideas, you are summing up their main points in a smaller piece of writing that the reader can easily understand.

Summaries are much shorter than the original material. For example, the summary of an entire book would not list every event that happens in the book. Rather, a book summary would review the most important moments in the plot and could be two or three pages long.

That being said, summaries can be even shorter than that. It’s possible to summarize an idea or a book in a single sentence.

When you summarize someone else’s work, it’s important to cover only the most important points . Just like paraphrasing or quoting, you must also attribute summarized ideas to the correct source.

What is quoting?

Quoting is when you write down the exact words of a writer and use quotation marks . You must attribute the correct speaker and source when quoting, and you must use the appropriate formatting guidelines laid out by your course or instructor.

Quoting may be preferable to other methods if you need to use clear evidence to back up your claims. By using the author’s exact words, you can show the accuracy of the evidence you’re using.

What is the difference between summarizing and paraphrasing?

The main differences between summarizing and paraphrasing come down to their functions.

A summary retells the main points, condensing an idea so that it is easier for the reader to digest. You can be selective when writing summaries, which means you don’t have to cover everything that the writer said. In addition, summaries are always shorter than the source material.

On the other hand, paraphrases serve to clarify a passage. Paraphrases are specific, which means that you need to cover each piece of information the writer is trying to convey.

In contrast to summaries, paraphrases don’t need to be shorter than the source material. While it’s true that a paraphrase might be condensed compared to the source material, it can also be longer than the source material. Alternatively, paraphrases can be roughly the same length as the source material.

How are summarizing and paraphrasing similar?

There are notable similarities between summaries and paraphrases. They both serve to make concepts easier to understand for the reader through slightly different methods. In addition, you should use both paraphrases and summaries when the core ideas of a passage are more important than the exact wording.

When should you paraphrase?

When you successfully paraphrase someone else’s ideas, you are showing the reader that you understand the key concepts. Unlike quoting, paraphrasing requires you to show what you think or understood about the idea.

You should paraphrase when you want to show that you’re capable of more than just copying and pasting. Only people who truly understand concepts can paraphrase them successfully. In other words, paraphrasing shows that you’re confident about the ideas you’re discussing.

Paraphrasing is also helpful when you’re in the middle of a speech and you can’t remember exactly what someone said. In this situation, you can’t really pause, take out a book, and look up the exact quote. Instead, you can start by saying something like, “Frederick Douglass once said something along the lines of…” and then finish by summing up the quote in your own words.

Finally, paraphrasing is a solid option when you want to reword a broader section of text into a more concise passage . You may choose to paraphrase when you encounter an idea that seems antiquated or inaccessible to the modern reader. By putting these ideas in your own words, you can make them relevant again.

When should you summarize?

Summaries are useful when you need a little more flexibility. You can spend an entire paragraph summarizing a concept or you can sum it up in a few sentences. Other summaries take the form of entire essays.

Summaries also allow you to cut right to the core concepts that the author was trying to convey . When you summarize a piece of writing, you can eliminate all the extra bits and pieces that aren’t really relevant or necessary. At the end of the day, summaries are all about condensing information so that you can refer to key points within the original passage.

Summaries are also handy when you’re providing your reader with background information on a topic. This might be especially helpful when you’re introducing a topic at the beginning of an essay.

Alternatively, you can quickly provide background information at any stage of your essay. For example, you might introduce a new piece of literature halfway through your writing, such as The Trial by Franz Kafka. At this point, you might find it necessary to sum up the plot of The Trial before moving on.

Essentially, you should use summaries when you want to condense information and cover the main points.

Summaries and paraphrases are usually preferable to direct quotes

Both summaries and paraphrases are usually preferable to direct quotes.

It’s all too easy to fill up your entire essay with quote after quote, but what purpose does that serve? Quotes only show that you’re able to copy and paste other people’s ideas, whereas summaries and paraphrases show that you actually understand these ideas enough to restructure them or condense them.

A page filled with direct quotes also becomes tiresome for the reader, especially if you become over-reliant on one source or author. When you use too many quotes, your writing tends to lose its flow, becoming jarring and difficult to follow.

Of course, quotes have their place in your writing. As previously mentioned, they allow you to provide strong evidence for your claims and give your writing a sense of authority. However, most instructors agree that quotes should be used sparingly. Think of quotes as your secret weapon, and only pull them out when you really need them.

Using paraphrases and summaries throughout your writing allows you to make use of various pieces of source material without relying too much on direct quotes. Add a mixture of quotes, paraphrases, and summaries into your writing, and you’ll see a drastic improvement in overall quality.

Remember, there is nothing wrong with borrowing other people’s ideas to strengthen the quality of your own writing. The best writers in the world don’t hesitate to paraphrase or summarize the works of other individuals, as they understand that human literature is a collaborative process.

Each new writer carries the torch a few steps further before passing their accomplishments to the next generation. There is no shame in using powerful ideas as a foundation from which to build upon.

Key takeaways

• Summaries and paraphrases both serve to make source material easier to understand
• You should use both summaries and paraphrases when the core ideas are more important than the exact wording
• A summary is a condensed version of the source material that covers all the main points
• When you paraphrase a passage, you put it in your own words and clarify its meaning
• Direct quotes are useful when the exact wording is important
• You can use direct quotes to provide more accurate evidence for your claims
• Quotes imbue your writing with a sense of authority
• You should paraphrase when you want to show that you understand the key ideas behind a passage
• Paraphrasing allows you to make passages more relevant and accessible to your readers
• The main purpose of a paraphrase is to clarify the text
• Paraphrases can be longer, shorter, or the same length as the source passage
• Summaries are always shorter than the source material
• Summaries are selective whereas paraphrases are specific
• Summaries allow you to eliminate unnecessary information from the source material
• Summaries provide background information on a topic or idea
• Both summaries and paraphrases are usually preferable to direct quotes
• You should use direct quotes sparingly

Published October 29, 2020.

By Andy Block. Block has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in comparative literature. After teaching in Asia, Europe, and New York City, briefly, Andy taught writing at a community college for more than a decade — before transitioning to a new career in EdTech.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Citation Basics / Quoting vs. Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing

Quoting vs. Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing

If you’ve ever written a research essay, you know the struggle is real. Should you use a direct quote? Should you put it in your own words? And how is summarizing different from paraphrasing—aren’t they kind of the same thing?

Knowing how you should include your source takes some finesse, and knowing when to quote directly, paraphrase, or summarize can make or break your argument. Let’s take a look at the nuances among these three ways  of using an outside source in an essay.

What is quoting?

The concept of quoting is pretty straightforward. If you use quotation marks, you must use precisely the same words as the original , even if the language is vulgar or the grammar is incorrect. In fact, when scholars quote writers with bad grammar, they may correct it by using typographical notes [like this] to show readers they have made a change.

“I never like[d] peas as a child.”

Conversely, if a passage with odd or incorrect language is quoted as is, the note [sic] may be used to show that no changes were made to the original language despite any errors.

“I never like [sic] peas as a child.”

The professional world looks very seriously on quotations. You cannot change a single comma or letter without documentation when you quote a source. Not only that, but the quote must be accompanied by an attribution, commonly called a citation. A misquote or failure to cite can be considered plagiarism.

When writing an academic paper, scholars must use in-text citations in parentheses followed by a complete entry on a references page. When you quote someone using MLA format , for example, it might look like this:

“The orphan is above all a character out of place, forced to make his or her own home in the world. The novel itself grew up as a genre representing the efforts of an ordinary individual to navigate his or her way through the trials of life. The orphan is therefore an essentially novelistic character, set loose from established conventions to face a world of endless possibilities (and dangers)” (Mullan).

This quote is from www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/orphans-in-fiction , which discusses the portrayal of orphans in Victorian English literature. The citation as it would look on the references page (called Works Cited in MLA) is available at the end of this guide.

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing means taking a quote and putting it in your own words.

You translate what another writer has said into terms both you and your reader can more easily understand. Unlike summarizing, which focuses on the big picture, paraphrasing is involved with single lines or passages. Paraphrasing means you should focus only on segments of a text.

Paraphrasing is a way for you to start processing the information from your source . When you take a quote and put it into your own words, you are already working to better understand, and better explain, the information.

The more you can change the quote without changing the original meaning , the better. How can you make significant changes to a text without changing the meaning?

Here are a few paraphrasing techniques:

• Use synonyms of words
• Change the order of words
• Change the order of clauses in the sentences
• Move sentences around in a section
• Active – passive
• Positive – negative
• Statement-question

Let’s look at an example. Here is a direct quote from the article on orphans in Victorian literature:

“It is no accident that the most famous character in recent fiction – Harry Potter – is an orphan. The child wizard’s adventures are premised on the death of his parents and the responsibilities that he must therefore assume. If we look to classic children’s fiction we find a host of orphans” (Mullan).

Here is a possible paraphrase:

It’s not a mistake that a well-known protagonist in current fiction is an orphan: Harry Potter. His quests are due to his parents dying and tasks that he is now obligated to complete. You will see that orphans are common protagonists if you look at other classic fiction (Mullan).

What differences do you spot? There are synonyms. A few words were moved around. A few clauses were moved around. But do you see that the basic structure is very similar?

This kind of paraphrase might be flagged by a plagiarism checker. Don’t paraphrase like that.

Here is a better example:

What is the most well-known fact about beloved character, Harry Potter? That he’s an orphan – “the boy who lived”. In fact, it is only because his parents died that he was thrust into his hero’s journey. Throughout classic children’s literature, you’ll find many orphans as protagonists (Mullan).

Do you see that this paraphrase has more differences? The basic information is there, but the structure is quite different.

When you paraphrase, you are making choices: of how to restructure information, of how to organize and prioritize it.  These choices reflect your voice in a way a direct quote cannot, since a direct quote is, by definition, someone else’s voice.

Which is better: Quoting or paraphrasing?

Although the purpose of both quoting and paraphrasing is to introduce the ideas of an external source, they are used for different reasons. It’s not that one is better than the other, but rather that quoting suits some purposes better, while paraphrasing is more suitable for others.

A direct quote is better when you feel the writer made the point perfectly and there is no reason to change a thing. If the writer has a strong voice and you want to preserve that, use a direct quote.

For example, no one should ever try to paraphrase John. F. Kenney’s famous line: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

However, think of direct quotes like a hot pepper: go ahead and sprinkle them around to add some spice to your paper, but… you might not want to overdo it.

Conversely, paraphrasing is useful when you want to bring in a longer section of a source into your piece, but you don’t have room for the full passage . A paraphrase doesn’t simplify the passage to an extreme level, like a summary would. Rather, it condenses the section of text into something more useful for your essay. It’s also appropriate to paraphrase when there are sentences within a passage that you want to leave out.

If you were to paraphrase the section of the article about Victorian orphans mentioned earlier, you might write something like this:

Considering the development of the novel, which portrayed everyday people making their way through life, using an orphan as a protagonist was effective. Orphans are characters that, by definition, need to find their way alone. The author can let the protagonist venture out into the world where the anything, good or bad, might happen (Mullan).

You’ll notice a couple of things here. One, there are no quotation marks, but there is still an in-text citation (the name in parentheses). A paraphrase lacks quotation marks because you aren’t directly quoting, but it still needs a citation because you are using a specific segment of the text. It is still someone else’s original idea and must be cited.

Secondly, if you look at the original quote, you’ll see that five lines of text are condensed into four and a half lines. Everything the author used has been changed.

A single paragraph of text has been explained in different words—which is the heart of paraphrasing.

What is summarizing?

Next, we come to summarizing. Summarizing is on a much larger scale than quoting or paraphrasing. While similar to paraphrasing in that you use your own words, a summary’s primary focus is on translating the main idea of an entire document or long section.

Summaries are useful because they allow you to mention entire chapters or articles—or longer works—in only a few sentences. However, summaries can be longer and more in-depth. They can actually include quotes and paraphrases. Keep in mind, though, that since a summary condenses information, look for the main points. Don’t include a lot of details in a summary.

In literary analysis essays, it is useful to include one body paragraph that summarizes the work you’re writing about. It might be helpful to quote or paraphrase specific lines that contribute to the main themes of such a work. Here is an example summarizing the article on orphans in Victorian literature:

In John Mullan’s article “Orphans in Fiction” on bl.uk.com, he reviews the use of orphans as protagonists in 19 th century Victorian literature. Mullan argues that orphans, without family attachments, are effective characters that can be “unleashed to discover the world.” This discovery process often leads orphans to expose dangerous aspects of society, while maintaining their innocence. As an example, Mullan examines how many female orphans wind up as governesses, demonstrating the usefulness of a main character that is obligated to find their own way.

This summary includes the main ideas of the article, one paraphrase, and one direct quote. A ten-paragraph article is summarized into one single paragraph.

As for giving source credit, since the author’s name and title of the source are stated at the beginning of the summary paragraph, you don’t need an in-text citation.

How do I know which one to use?

The fact is that writers use these three reference types (quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing) interchangeably. The key is to pay attention to your argument development. At some points, you will want concrete, firm evidence. Quotes are perfect for this.

At other times, you will want general support for an argument, but the text that includes such support is long-winded. A paraphrase is appropriate in this case.

Finally, sometimes you may need to mention an entire book or article because it is so full of evidence to support your points. In these cases, it is wise to take a few sentences or even a full paragraph to summarize the source.

No matter which type you use, you always need to cite your source on a References or Works Cited page at the end of the document. The MLA works cited entry for the text we’ve been using today looks like this:

Mullan, John. Orphans in Fiction” www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/orphans-in-fiction.  Accessed 20. Oct. 2020

————–

See our related lesson with video:  How to Quote and Paraphrase Evidence

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Overview of Quoting, Paraphrasing & Summarizing

Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are all common techniques used in academic writing. This section will discuss each of these techniques and how to incorporate them effectively into your writing to help avoid academic misconduct, such as plagiarism. 

What are the differences between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing and when should you use each technique in your writing?

This video provides more information on these techniques, along with examples.

When to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize

Deciding when to quote, paraphrase, or summarize is ultimately up to you as a writer. However, good academic writing generally uses a combination of the three. Review the following examples to see which situations might be best for each writing technique. 

Paraphrasing Tutorial

Paraphrasing is when you use your own words to describe the words and ideas of others. Learning to paraphrase successfully is an important component in academic writing. This paraphrasing tutorial will take you through scenarios that will demonstrate good paraphrasing techniques. 

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Paraphrasing VS. Summarizing: Reveal the Difference

Imagine that you are working in a multinational company. Your supervisor asks you to survey the market and deliver a report on the performance of a particular product. Now, you need to meet different individuals from the market and listen to their opinions about the products. You can also request them to share their views in written form. Once you get enough textual information, you need to summarize it to make an accurate final report that can be delivered to your supervisor. However, many people get confused between summarizing and paraphrasing and consider both the same. Therefore, in today’s article, we will focus on these terms and determine the major differences between them. So, stick to the article till the end to get the most out of it.

Paraphrasing

Using your own words to interpret the information or ideas shared by someone else is known as paraphrasing. Explaining the concept in your words will help you deliver the information effectively and make it more understandable to your audiences. It is also important to mention here that the whole process excludes the duplication of the content at any level. It is just like you get the hint from an article and transform it into your own words. There are various reasons for paraphrasing content. People paraphrase text to explain a point, give depth to their content, or don’t want to quote anyone in the article. It is also used to simplify the work of others and to uplift the article’s readability, and make it more exoteric.

Summarizing

When you have lengthy data and need to focus on the main idea of the content, you will try to highlight the crucial points only that can elaborate the whole concept. This process is known as summarizing. The summary of the content is shorter than the original content but includes all the important points. The summarization of an article excludes the explanation but includes the major headings or the basic idea of the information. A summary is mostly used to explain the main idea of the content or give an overview of the article. It is also used when your supervisor or teacher asks about the idea you want to convey.

Major Differences Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing

The primary difference between paraphrasing and summarizing is in functionalities. A summary restates the major points of the whole content and explains the idea, so it becomes easier for the reader to understand it effectively. Summarizing doesn’t mean that you have to restate all the information mentioned in the content. You only need to highlight the main points that can demonstrate the idea of the entire article. It is also important to state here that a summary of the content is always short than the source text. In contrast, paraphrases assist in simplifying a passage. You are required to discuss every piece of information the writer has mentioned in the original content. There is also no restriction about the length of the text, as a paraphrased material can be longer than the actual writing.

In paraphrasing, you read the idea of the content, understand it, and convey it in your own words. However, there should be no missing piece, and each piece of information must be covered while paraphrasing textual information.

Final Thoughts

Writing is a vast term, and it incorporates different types. All you need is to have a firm grip over them. However, paraphrasing and summarizing are two significant aspects of writing that help an individual to explain an idea effectively. Many people often argue that both of them are more or less the same, but that isn’t true. This blog will help you get familiar with the importance of paraphrasing and summarizing and the major difference between them.

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Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing

• Categorized under Language | Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Paraphrasing vs Summarizing

Paraphrasing and summarizing are both related terms. They are often confusing for people. Paraphrasing and summarizing are essential techniques for an effective and efficient essay. These are an absolute must when dealing with scientific concepts. Both paraphrasing and summarizing are allowed and accepted till due credit is given to the original source, and only till the work is not copied and is free from any kind of plagiarism.

Paraphrasing Paraphrasing is reading over a text and interpreting it in one’s own words without changing the meaning of the original text. This excludes copying of text in any form. It is like grabbing the idea about a topic from another writer’s work then transforming it into your own method of thoughts and words. Paraphrased material is almost equal to or slightly shorter in comparison to the original material. Paraphrasing is required sometimes to prove your point. It provides support and adds credibility to your own writing. It is also used to add depth to your work. Paraphrasing is used;

When another writer’s work has to be used. When quotes are not used in the text. When the ideas have a greater relevance than the style of writing. When you want to simplify the work of another person.

Summarizing Summarizing is the tool in writing which is used when you need the main idea of the text. It is a condensed form of the written text in your own words with only the highlights of the text. A summary is much shorter than the original text. It excludes the explanation of the text. Only the main idea or the basic information is included. Summarizing is used to refer to work that culminates into the present writing that you are doing. It is sometimes used when you want to draw attention to an important point. It is also applicable when you want to distance yourself from the original text.

Summarizing is used;

When only the main ideas of the writer are to be identified. When only an overview of the whole work is required. When simplification is required. When only the main highlights of the work have to be mentioned.

1.Paraphrasing is writing any particular text in your own words while summarizing is mentioning only the main points of any work in your own words. 2.Paraphrasing is almost equal to or somewhat less than the original text while summarizing is substantially shorter than the original. 3.Paraphrasing may be done for the purpose of simplifying the original work while summarizing is done to mention only the major points without any kind of explanation about the matter.

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Cite APA 7 Kaushik, N. (2011, May 20). Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-paraphrasing-and-summarizing/. MLA 8 Kaushik, Nimisha. "Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing." Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects, 20 May, 2011, http://www.differencebetween.net/language/difference-between-paraphrasing-and-summarizing/.

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Written by : Nimisha Kaushik. and updated on 2011, May 20 Articles on DifferenceBetween.net are general information, and are not intended to substitute for professional advice. The information is "AS IS", "WITH ALL FAULTS". User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages.

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