8 Paraphrasing Techniques

1. Use synonyms
2. Use different parts of speech/word forms
3. Change sentence structures
4. Change quoted speech to indirect speech
5. Change from active to passive voice and vice versa
6. Change transition signals
7. Make ideas concrete
8. Combine techniques

EXERCISES

1. Find synonyms for some of the words. .

Original: The tiger quickly disappeared into the trees.

Revised: The big cat vanished into the forest.

Now You Try

1. Adolescent employees sometimes argue with their employers.

2. Johnny Pacheco has a creative talent as a composer.
3. The students could not complete the project in time as they were lacking in
skills and knowledge.

2. Change parts of speech: Change nouns into verbs, verbs into nouns, etc.

Original: The teacher helped the student finish her class registration
form.

Revised: The teacher helped the student register for classes.

Now You Try

1. Everyone danced at the graduation party for hours.

2. It is widely agreed that men and women think and act in different ways.
3. Allen (2009) argues that the best explanation for the British location of the
Industrial Revolution is found by studying demand factors.

3. Move phrases: Move parts of a sentence to change the sentence structure.

Original: Yesterday, I stayed in the library until midnight and finished

my homework.

Revised: I finished my homework at midnight in the library yesterday.

 Now You Try

1. In order to fight a damaging disease, the farmers began to grow genetically

modified crops.
2. At industrial revolution, workers’ pay was high, but energy from coal was
inexpensive.
3. Allen (2009) claims that the clearest explanation for the UK location of the
Industrial Revolution is seen by examining demand factors.

4. Change quoted speech to indirect speech.

NOTE: When reporting speech the tense usually changes. This is because when we use
reported speech, we are usually talking about a time in the past (because obviously the
person who spoke originally spoke in the past). The verbs therefore usually have to be in
the past too.

Original: She said, "It's cold."

Revised: She said it was cold.

Now You Try

1. She said, "I can teach English online."

2. She said, "I must have a computer to teach English online."
3. She said, "I've been on the web since 1999."

5. Change voice: Make active sentences passive and passive ones, active.

Original: The voucher was sent by the testing service on August 3rd.

Revised: The testing service sent the voucher on August 3rd.

Now You Try

1. Dieting can cause poor nutrition.

2. Smaller companies were merged into the parent company.
3. The students could not complete the project.

6. Change transition signals.

Original: Although, many educators and parents have praised the Harry
Potter series, some Christian parents have called for a ban on
the books in their schools and libraries.
 Revised: Even though, many educators and parents have praised the
Harry Potter series, some Christian parents have called for a
ban on the books in their schools and libraries.

Now You Try

1. The movie was shot in Hollywood, but many actors choose not to live in
Hollywood.
2. He should not have used office property furthermore he ought not to have
been in the building at all outside office hours.
3. Whereas motor vehicles are the most preferable way of transport, they are
also the major contributor to global warming

7. Make ideas concrete (make the sentence become simple than before)

Original: Studies investigating the pros and cons of single-sex versus

coeducation schools have come to public attention

Revised: Studies investigating the advantages and disadvantages of

single-sex versus coeducation schools have come to public
attention

Now You Try

1. The results show some dramatic differences between the genders.

2. This book is packed with practical answers, easy step-by-step instructions,
insider tips, great ideas, and new music sources you never knew existed!
3. The explosion of the eBook and tablet market of the past few years has
revolutionized the digital landscape.

8. COMBINE METHODS

EXERCISE

PARAPHRASE THE SUMMARY BELOW IN YOUR OWN STYLE

In the short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," author James Thurber
humorously presents a character who fantasizes about himself as a hero enduring incredibly
challenging circumstances. In his real life, Walter Mitty lives an ordinary, plain life; he is a
husband under the control of an overbearing, critical wife. Thurber uses lively dialogue to
give readers an understanding of Mitty's character. The story takes place over a period of
about twenty minutes; during this brief time, Mitty drives his wife to the hairdresser and runs
errands that his wife has given him while he waits for her. In between his worrying that he is
not doing what she wants him to do, he daydreams about himself as a great surgeon, brilliant
repair technician, expert marksman, and brave military captain. This story shows that fantasy
is often a good alternative to reality.