Key points at a glance
- A paraphrase changes the wording while preserving the supported meaning.
- Ideas taken from a source still require a citation.
- Check qualifications, populations and causal language carefully.
What makes a good paraphrase?
A paraphrase presents another author’s point in independently composed language. Use it when the content matters to your argument but the exact wording does not. You may shorten the material, provided its meaning and important qualifications survive.
Replacing a few words is not enough. The University of Wisconsin–Madison writing guidance distinguishes independent restatement from language that follows the source too closely. Even a successful paraphrase still needs a citation.
Move from understanding to your own wording
Read the passage in context. Then look away and note the claim, its basis and its limits. Write the point in a way that serves your argument before returning to the original for comparison. This separates understanding from copying the sentence pattern.
During comparison, pay attention to small words with major consequences. “May” must not become “causes”. An observation about one participant group must not become a statement about all students. Keep established technical terms rather than replacing them with inaccurate synonyms just to sound different.
An original example: preserving the claim
Invented source sentence for this exercise: “In the interviews analysed, participants without previous platform experience were particularly likely to report difficulties with their first login.” A suitable paraphrase is: “Within this interview analysis, initial access problems were reported especially by people who had not used the platform before.”
An unsuitable version is: “Inexperienced users cannot log in to learning platforms.” It generalises beyond the example, removes the evidence context and turns reported difficulties into an absolute inability. The problem is a changed claim, not merely imperfect wording.
This exercise is original and does not report a research finding. In your thesis, add the actual source citation. Include a locator when your referencing style requires one or when it helps readers find the specific passage.
Separate the source from your interpretation
Show where the source’s point ends and your analysis begins. You might present a finding with its citation and then explain its relevance to your question. One citation at the end of a long paragraph can leave that boundary unclear.
Before citing several sources for one statement, compare their actual claims. Do their populations, contexts and findings align? A grouped citation should support a defensible synthesis, not conceal meaningful differences between studies.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Understand the claim in context.
- Use independently composed sentence structure.
- Preserve qualifications and population boundaries.
- Make the citation’s scope clear.
- Identify your own interpretation.
Common mistakes
- Only swapping individual words for synonyms.
- Turning a tentative statement into a certain claim.
- Omitting the citation because you wrote the wording yourself.
Print and bind your finished thesis
Once you have checked the content and final PDF, configure the printed copies to match your submission requirements.
Configure printing and bindingRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Does a paraphrase need a page number?
Follow your referencing style and university requirements. A precise locator can help even when it is optional, particularly for long books or highly specific claims.
Can I retain technical terminology?
Yes. Established technical terms should remain accurate. A distinctive expression coined by the source may require direct quotation. There is no useful universal rule based on how many words you replace.
Does translation count as paraphrasing?
Not automatically. A close translation can still reproduce the source’s wording and structure in another language. Mark translations according to your style and cite the original source.