10 Pro Tips to Paraphrase in Your Dissertation without Plagiarism

As per Oxford Brookes University, paraphrasing is a vital academic skill, especially when students are working on their dissertations. It allows the students to present existing research in their own voice while maintaining academic integrity at the same time. 

However, improper paraphrasing can easily lead to unintentional plagiarism, which is considered a serious academic offence. According to Psyche, in an anonymous survey of US and Canadian students, more than a third plagiarised their papers and faced severe academic consequences. 

In this article, we shall review the ten practical tips that can help you paraphrase effectively and ethically. Using these tips, you can ensure that your dissertation has a unique vibe and appeal. 

Let’s discuss the paraphrasing tips for your dissertation in further depth and detail. 

How Can I Use Paraphrasing in a Sentence?

If you want to paraphrase effectively, do not make the mistake of just taking the original sentence and swapping some of the words with their synonyms. Instead, you can go for the reformulation of the sentence and combine the information from multiple sentences into one. Also, you can change the active voice into a passive voice and start writing from a different point of view. 

As per UNSW Sydney, paraphrasing relates to a way of using different words and writing them to present the same ideas. Much of the work that you craft at the university shall involve important ideas. It is also linked to the discoveries made by experts in your field of study. 

While paraphrasing a sentence, you should take care of the following guidelines: 

1. You must make sure that your sentence does not match the source word-for-word. 
2. Ensure that you have put a passage from the source in your paper in your own words. 
3. You can change the phrasing of a passage or the words; however, ensure that it retains and fully imparts the original meaning of your work. 
4. You must ensure that the paraphrased information is attributed to the original source. 

However, if students want to use only reliable information and resources that provide custom help, they can contact a dissertation writing service. Since these services have a team of professional writers who can assist the students in fulfilling the requirements of their papers, students can benefit greatly from their help.

Top 10 Tips to Paraphrase In Your Dissertation without Plagiarism

Almost every student working on a dissertation knows that they have to do extensive research, and they are also expected to use the work attempted by other scholars in their papers. While writing a dissertation, students can use the existing knowledge. However, they must also know how to express their ideas in their own words if they want to steer clear of plagiarism.

One such skill that students can use to cater to this issue is paraphrasing. Using this skill, students are allowed to reword the original information and express the data in their own words. 

In the section given below, we are going to discuss the top 10 tips that students can use to paraphrase effectively in the dissertation that they are working on. 

Let’s dive deeper into the details.

1. Use Your Own Words and Sentence Structure

You must know that a proper paraphrase isn’t just about changing a few words. It involves changing the structure of the sentence by rewording it or using different tenses. You should also aim to express the idea as you would naturally say it.

Poor Paraphrasing (Plagiarised):

“Social media has completely changed how young people communicate, and it is being used to often replace personal conversations with digital messaging.”

Effective Paraphrasing:

“The digital platforms now dominate how many young adults stay in touch. This has led to a decrease in the frequency of in-person communication.” This second version shows a true reworking of both vocabulary and sentence structure.

2. Understand the Original Text Fully

The first and most vital step in paraphrasing is to fully understand the original source. Only after you have read the initial passage several times will you be able to grasp not just the words, but the meaning behind them. After that, needless to say, you will find out the unfamiliar terms and consider the context in which they have been used. You can also think about why the author is making a particular point, and what evidence supports it.

Example:

Original: “Social media has transformed the way young adults communicate, and it has replaced face-to-face interactions with online messaging.”

Understanding: Young people now have to rely more on digital platforms for communication, which has completely changed their interaction style.

So, once you’ve absorbed the core message, you are going to be better equipped to rephrase it authentically. All of this is important when it comes to paraphrasing the information available to you. 

3. Break Down Complex Sentences

It is quite common for academic writing to have dense and complex sentences. A good strategy is to go for break down these long sentences into shorter, more digestible ideas before you start paraphrasing. 

Example:

Original: “Despite the numerous benefits of remote work, including increased flexibility and reduced commuting time, it has also introduced challenges related to collaboration and team dynamics.”

Paraphrased:

“Although Remote working offers advantages like flexibility and less travel, it also creates difficulties in team collaboration and interaction.” This approach can be used for the simplification of the sentence while preserving its meaning.

4. Avoid Using Too Many Synonyms

You must know that using synonyms alone isn’t enough to avoid plagiarism. You can go for swapping out a few words while keeping the structure the same. It is easily detectable and doesn’t demonstrate true comprehension on the part of the readers. 

Problematic Paraphrase:

“Although remote work has several advantages such as better adaptability and less time spent travelling, it has also brought about problems regarding working together and group relationships.” As you can see, this version is still too close to the original. Instead, you can go for restructuring the sentence while still incorporating your understanding process. 

5. Use a Note-Taking Technique

When researching, you should focus on taking notes in your own words rather than copying large chunks of text. This shall encourage you to process the material first, hence further making it easier for you to paraphrase later without accidentally replicating the original wording.

After that, you can try using the Cornell Note-taking Method and summarising the key ideas in your own phrasing. When it’s time to write your dissertation, you are going to draw from your interpretations and not the exact phrasing of the author. 

6. Cite the Original Source

One thing is super important to take care of when you are rephrasing the given data. Even if you’ve completely reworded an idea, you must still credit the original source. You must know that paraphrasing without citation is still plagiarism. Hence, you should always include proper in-text citations and list all sources in your bibliography.

Example:

Paraphrased: “The shift toward digital interaction has altered communication habits among younger generations”. Your paraphrasing effectively shows your understanding, and your citation shows that you respect the original author’s contribution.

7. Use Paraphrasing Tools with Caution

You should know that online paraphrasing tools can help with rewording text, but they are not going to be reliable substitutes for your own thinking. You should know that these tools may fail to understand the context, which leads to the production of awkward or inaccurate results. 

Moreover, many universities have advanced software that can detect when machine-generated content has been used. Instead, you should go for using these tools to get ideas, then edit and restructure the results extensively by using your own voice and knowledge. This way, you will have fewer ways of getting caught. 

8. Keep Your Voice Consistent

You must know that your dissertation is going to reflect your unique academic voice. When paraphrasing, you must aim for consistency in tone, vocabulary, and style across the entire document. It goes without saying that this shall make your writing coherent and reduce the risk of certain sections that may sound disconnected or suspiciously different (a red flag for plagiarism checkers).

Tip: Focus on reading your paraphrased text aloud. If it sounds unlike the rest of your writing, you should be revising it to match your tone and rhythm.

9. Compare With the Original

Once you are done with the paraphrasing of a section, your task shall be to compare it directly with the original source. It will be better to ask yourself these questions:

• Have I used my own words and structure?
• Is it conveying the same meaning?
• Did I actively avoid copying key phrases?
• Have I successfully cited the source?

All these questions can ensure that you’re not unintentionally plagiarising once the comparison step is over. You can also take it as a great chance when it comes to refining or paraphrasing for clarity and precision. The comparison can actually help you grow your skills quite a lot. 

10. Practice Regularly and Review University Guidelines

You need to know that paraphrasing is a skill that shall improve with practice. Hence, working on summarising news articles, academic papers, or even blog posts in your own words will be quite helpful for you. Keep in mind that the more you practise, the more natural and effective your paraphrasing shall become. 

Also, the most important thing to do here is to not forget to check your university’s plagiarism policy. Many institutions are all in for the provision of specific guidelines on paraphrasing and referencing. Some of them even offer workshops help their students in mastering the academic writing standards.

How Can I Paraphrase a Poem?

You will have to reword the lines or stanzas of the given poem in simpler and clearer language while also making sure that the original meaning is intact. So, understanding the poem’s message and literary devices is also super-important. 

For that purpose, start by reading the poem carefully, multiple times if you want to grasp its theme and emotional tone. We have mentioned the guidelines that you can follow for this purpose:

• First and foremost thing should be the identification of the figurative language used in the given poem should be. 
• Then, work on translating these poetic expressions into straightforward language. You do not have to distort the intent of the poet. 
• The next thing to do is to keep the original sequence of ideas. Do not rearrange that. 
• Furthermore, do not turn the poem into prose because it will just strip away all its beauty. Remember that the goal is clarity, not oversimplification. 

It’s okay if your paraphrase is longer than the original poem. What is more important is that the meaning of the poem you are working on is preserved. For example, if a line reads, “Hope is the thing with feathers,” your paraphrase might say, “Hope is like a bird that lives within us, always present and uplifting.” 

Finally, you must review your paraphrase to ensure that there is accuracy and coherence in your work. Students find it challenging to paraphrase the poetry due to its compact and layered language, so you must take your time to reflect on each line’s deeper meaning. The entire process can enhance the appreciation of the poem and can also help you in analysis, especially in academic settings.

How Can I Paraphrase a Quote?

When you are paraphrasing a quote, your entire focus shall be on restating someone else’s words in your own language without changing the original meaning. Through this, you can simplify complex language and integrate the quote into your writing style. That is why you are advised to avoid overusing direct quotations. 

Also, you can start by understanding the quote fully i.e. look at the context and any unfamiliar words. Then, you can write it out in your own words by keeping the core message intact. Furthermore, you can use different sentence structures and vocabulary but do not add your own opinion or interpretation unless you’re analysing it. 

For example, the quote “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” by Nelson Mandela can be paraphrased as “Learning has the greatest power to bring about global change.” Also, you should make sure the paraphrased version is as concise and clear as the original. 

Lastly, it’s important to still credit the source, especially in academic work. Paraphrasing is going to be useful when you want to highlight the essence of a quote without interrupting the flow of your writing. When you practice this skill, it will become easier for you to improve your ability to summarise and think critically. Also, always double-check that your version is accurately reflecting the tone and intent of the original author. 

How Can I Paraphrase an Article?

When you have to paraphrase an article, essentially, you will be rewriting its content in your own words. You must make sure that your focus lies on the preservation of the original meaning of the content. Following this guideline becomes super important, especially when you are working on the simplification of complex information, so that you can make it easy for your readers to comprehend that information. 

The tips that you can use to paraphrase an article for use in your dissertation are mentioned below:

• You can start by reading the article thoroughly and identifying its main ideas, arguments, and supporting details. 
• Highlighting the key points and taking notes in your own words should be a priority for you. 
• Once you are done with the noting process, it will become super easy for you to structure that paraphrased version by using your own notes.
• Avoid copying phrases directly unless they are common knowledge or technical terms. 
• You can also change the sentence structure, use synonyms, and rephrase ideas without altering the message. 

Reviewing the paraphrased article to make sure that it is free of plagiarism should also be a priority for you. The paraphrasing can help students make their comprehension of the content further clear to the readers and communicate their point of view effectively. It is especially helpful when students have to share the information with their readers or apply it to their own work. The same rule applies to the different experimental research paper types that are used in the PhD dissertations. 

How Can I Paraphrase Something?

If you want to paraphrase effectively, focusing on reading the original text and then rephrasing it in your own words is going to be the key. Furthermore, ensure to maintain the original structure and meaning of those sentences when you are citing the sources. 

You can also go for omitting the irrelevant information and combining sentences, for that matter. Also, you must not forget to read the original source carefully. You need to understand the original text work fully and identify the main keywords and points. Not only that, but covering the original text and rewriting it using your own words is going to be helpful. 

How Can I Paraphrase a Paragraph?

For effectively paraphrasing a paragraph, you should first read it thoroughly and identify all its keywords and key points. After that, start rewriting it in your own words. You must ensure that you have to retain the original meaning and structure of the information that is shared with you. Finally, when you are done with the paraphrasing, you can go for the citation of the original sources if you want to avoid plagiarism. If you have cited different sources in your dissertation, you must cite them accordingly in your own work.

What Are the 3 Steps to Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing effectively involves three key steps: understanding, rewriting, and reviewing. You must always remember to cite the original author if the idea is not your own, even if you’ve expressed it differently. As per the University of Technology Sydney, here are the key steps to follow during this process:

Step 1: Understand the Original Text

Read the sentence, paragraph, or passage thoroughly until you fully grasp its meaning. Furthermore, you can also go for the identification of the main point, supporting details, tone, and purpose. Without understanding, you will be risking the distortion of the original message when paraphrasing.

Step 2: Rewrite in Your Own Words

Once you have understood the content, you can put it aside and try to write the idea using a different sentence structure and vocabulary. For that purpose, you can also use synonyms, change the order of the information, and vary the grammatical construction. For that purpose, you should not just swap a few words. Remember that the goal is a fresh version that has the capacity to retain the original meaning.

Step 3: Review and Compare

Once you are done with the rewriting process, you have to compare your version with the original version. You must make sure that both versions carry the similar meaning, however the wording of both versions is different. Also, it is your duty to make sure that you have not accidentally copied any kind of key phrases or keywords without quotation marks. Refining the paraphrased version so that it becomes better than the original work should also be a key consideration for you.

Conclusion

We have reviewed in depth the top 10 tips that students can use to paraphrase different parts of their dissertation without plagiarising it. We hope that now it is clear that the paraphrasing skill is much more useful than just being used to avoid plagiarism in one’s paper. It demonstrates the comprehension skill of students and helps them express their ideas in a much easier manner. 

However, not every student can paraphrase a given content easily. If you are one of the students who struggles with this skill, you can seek reliable help from dissertation writing companies. Since these companies have expert writers on board, they can make it easy for students to achieve their academic goals. 

Last but not least, you must keep in your mind that paraphrasing is a skill which will take time for you to master it because it needs practice. You should always write with honesty and let your academic voice reflect itself through every sentence that you write.

Author Bio Max Finch is a seasoned dissertation writer who has been helping both national and international students with their dissertations and theses for the past nine years. He has years of experience in guiding students with the simplification of complex academic processes like paraphrasing, referencing and critical thinking. When Max is not working, you can find him exploring new learning tools online.