How to Use Paraphrase
In order to use paraphrase,
- Examine an original statement.
- Rephrase that statement in a unique and interesting way.
For an example, consider the examples below.
Original sentence:
Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s election victory, he is still out of the good graces of the Obama administration, which has had to reassess its policy toward Israel.
Paraphrase 1:
Although Netanyahu has won the election, he lacks White House support, which has changed its Israel policy.
This paraphrase simplifies and shortens the message of the original, while maintaining its meaning.
Paraphrase 2:
In reassessing its stance on Israel, the White House has distanced itself further from Netanyahu, despite his successful election.
This rewording turns the focus from Netanyahu to the White House, which may be useful in a paper whose focus is different from the source article.
Paraphrase 3:
Although Netanyahu won the election, he has not won the Obama administration’s support in the face of issues with Israel.
Here, rewording uses turn of phrase to make a journalistic statement more interesting.
When to Use Paraphrase
Paraphrasing can be used in everyday conversation when reporting what someone else has said as well as in more serious situations. Paraphrases can be found in research papers, formal essays, newspapers, news reports, and documentaries. Paraphrases can be used to explain a complicated direct quote or to rephrase when a direct quote is not necessary.