Mar 28, 2024 · Below, we review the rules for citing paraphrases in MLA, APA, and Chicago formats. We’ll break down the guidelines and share a paraphrase citation example or two for each style so you can see how to do it yourself. ... Jul 26, 2024 · BEST PRACTICE PER PARAGRAPH: On your 1st paraphrase of a source, CITE IT. There is no need to add another in-text citation until you use a different source, OR, until you use a direct quote. References: Gahan, C. (2020, October 15). How to paraphrase sources. Scribbr.com. https://tinyurl.com/y7ssxc6g ... Jul 30, 2024 · Paraphrasing is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must reword the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation. There are two basic formats that can be used: Parenthetical Style: ... Oct 28, 2020 · APA paraphrasing involves effectively putting a source into your own words, while also creating an accurate in-text citation to go with it. See how this is done! ... Effective paraphrasing and citation skills allow writers to clearly and concisely present and credit the most important or relevant ideas from published works in their papers. With these skills, writers become better prepared to make unique contributions to knowledge in their field. ... May 26, 2020 · As the 7th edition APA manual explains, “the works you cite provide key background information, support or dispute your thesis, or offer critical definitions and data” (p. 253). APA 7 notes that “published authors paraphrase their sources most of the time, rather than directly quoting” (p. 269). ... Mar 3, 2015 · As the Publication Manual notes, citing your sources is imperative: “Whether paraphrasing, quoting an author directly, or describing an idea that influenced your work, you must credit the source” (p. 170). ... Sep 6, 2023 · Paraphrasing is using another person’s ideas but putting them into your own words and showing your interpretation of these ideas. It is not just changing a few words in a sentence from the original text, and it must still have a citation with the author’s surname or organisation’s name plus the year it was published. ... Dec 9, 2024 · Elements of a good paraphrase: Change the structure of the original passage. Change the words. Give a citation / reference ... ">

Decoding Academic Integrity: Mastering the Art of Citing Paraphrased Texts

Matt Ellis

Paraphrasing might seem like a way of avoiding plagiarism, but it can be considered a form of plagiarism if you don’t cite the original source. Citing paraphrases involves more than just mentioning the author’s name. Each formatting style—APA, MLA, or Chicago—has its own particular rules about how to cite paraphrased information, and these contrasting styles can be confusing.

Below, we review the rules for citing paraphrases in MLA, APA, and Chicago formats. We’ll break down the guidelines and share a paraphrase citation example or two for each style so you can see how to do it yourself.

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How to cite a paraphrase

Paraphrasing is when you restate someone else’s text or speech in your own words, keeping the original meaning. There are two challenges to doing this. One, which we’ll come back to in a minute, is that you have to cite a source, even though you’re not quoting it directly. The other challenge is that it’s not always easy to find a new way of saying what your source already said. Need help with that? In addition to the techniques mentioned in our paraphrasing guide , you can also check out our free paraphrasing tool , which lets you paste in up to 500 characters of text and then suggests a few different paraphrases for you to choose from. Navigate responsible AI use with Grammarly’s  AI checker , trained to identify AI-generated text.

One important point. You don’t need quotation marks if you are paraphrasing. Quotation marks are only for direct quotes, where you copy the original source’s wording exactly.

Now, back to the other challenge we mentioned. When you paraphrase, in order to avoid plagiarism , you need to include a citation. Citing a paraphrase in writing usually involves adding the author’s name and other information in parentheses next to the passage. This is called an in-text citation or parenthetical citation . Sometimes footnote or endnote citations can be used instead.

In academic writing , the formatting of an in-text citation and the information to include depend on the style you’re following: APA , MLA , or Chicago . Each style has its own unique rules, though there are some similarities between them. Below, we discuss the rules of citing paraphrases, based on which style you’re using.

Here’s another essential point. Along with creating an in-text citation or a footnote or endnote citation, you also need to add a full citation for the source in the bibliography at the end of your writing. Full citations usually include details about the publication, such as the publishing company or internet URL. Which details to include and in what order again depends on the formatting style. You can read all about that in our APA, MLA, and Chicago guides linked above. And you can use our free citation generator to help you along.

Citing paraphrases: APA

The APA format uses an author-date system for citing a paraphrased passage. This involves placing the author’s surname (last name) and the year of publication in parentheses, separated by a comma. An APA-style in-text citation for a work with two authors would look like this:

(Bell & Offen, 1983)

The in-text citation should occur at the end of the passage, but before the concluding punctuation: at the end of a sentence before the period, or at the end of a clause before the semicolon or comma.

If you mention either the author’s name or the year of publication in the words of your own text, known as a narrative citation, you can omit that information from the APA paraphrasing citation. In narrative citations that mention only the author, put the year in parentheses after the author’s name instead of the end of the passage. This may sound complicated, but it’ll be more clear if you look at some examples.

APA paraphrasing citation example

Researchers recently discovered that Kundalini yoga improved cognition and memory in several older women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (Lavretsky, 2024).

In a 2024 study, researchers discovered that Kundalini yoga improved cognition and memory in several older women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (Lavretsky).

The research team of Dr. Helen Lavretsky (2024) recently discovered that Kundalini yoga improved cognition and memory in several older women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

In a 2024 study, the research team of Dr. Helen Lavretsky discovered that Kundalini yoga improved cognition and memory in several older women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Citing paraphrases: MLA

Paraphrase citing in MLA uses the author’s surname in parentheses, but with the page numbers instead of the year of publication. There is no comma to separate them, so numbers in MLA in-text citations generally refer to a page.

If you mention either the author or the page in the text—a narrative citation—you can omit that information from the citation. This is more common with the author than the page number, so in MLA papers you will often see only the page number in parentheses.

MLA paraphrasing citation example

Someone whose words and actions are not genuine, but instead represent those of another person, is considered to be an “artificial person” (Hobbes 113).

Someone whose words and actions are not genuine, but instead represent those of another person, is considered to be what Hobbes calls an “artificial person” (113).

Citing paraphrases: Chicago

The Chicago style provides for two different systems of citing sources. We’ll briefly describe each, but you don’t necessarily get to take your pick. If you’re writing for school, you’ll probably be told which system to apply. One is called the author-date system; it’s commonly used in the sciences. The other, known as the notes-and-bibliography system, is more often used in the humanities. Bear with us—this can be complicated!

The author-date system calls for using brief, in-text citations and giving full details in a reference list. The in-text citation is like APA but slightly different. You give the author’s last name followed by a space (but no comma) and the year of publication; then you add a comma and the page number if one is needed.

In the notes-and-bibliography system, you simply put a superscript number in your text ( after the punctuation ending your paraphrase), and you provide the relevant citation information in a footnote or endnote. Footnotes go at the bottom of the page; endnotes go in a separate section after the main body of your text. Under this system, you can either:

  • Give all the needed details in the notes (a full citation the first time you reference that source, but a short form for later references) and omit a bibliography, or
  • Give concise information in the notes (the author’s surname, an abbreviated title of the source, and the relevant page numbers) and give a full citation in a bibliography.

Chicago paraphrasing citations example

The first ruler to create a navy as we know it today was Minos of Crete, who used his to control what he called the Hellenic Sea, today known as the Aegean Sea (Thucydides 1972, 37).

The first ruler to create a navy as we know it today was Minos of Crete, who used his to control what he called the Hellenic Sea, now known as the Aegean Sea. 1

1. Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesian War , 37.

How to Cite a Paraphrased Text FAQs

Do i have to cite a source if i paraphrase and don’t directly quote.

Yes, in formal writing like research papers you still need to cite a source after you paraphrase its message. You need to include both an in-text citation, such as a parenthetical citation, as well as a full citation in the bibliography at the end of your work.

What are the differences in citing a paraphrase between MLA, APA, and Chicago styles?

MLA, APA, and Chicago styles can all use in-text citations, also known as parenthetical citations. For APA and Chicago, this includes the author’s last name and the year of publication, whereas in MLA it includes the author’s last name and page number. Chicago also has the option of using footnotes or endnotes instead of a parenthetical citation.

Where does the citation go when citing a paraphrase?

In-text or parenthetical citations appear at the end of the passage before the concluding punctuation. For example, you could put them at the end of a sentence before the period or at the end of a clause before the semicolon or comma. For footnotes and endnotes, the superscript number appears at the end of the passage after the punctuation.

how to cite paraphrasing apa

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When do I use in-text citations?

When should you add in-text citations in your paper .

There are several rules of thumb you can follow to make sure that you are citing your paper correctly in APA 7 format. 

  • Think of your paper broken up into paragraphs. When you start a paragraph, the first time you add a sentence that has been paraphrased from a reference -> that's when you need to add an in-text citation. 
  • Continue writing your paragraph, you do NOT need to add another in-text citation until: 1) You are paraphrasing from a NEW source, which means you need to cite NEW information OR 2) You need to cite a DIRECT quote, which includes a page number, paragraph number or Section title. 
  • Important to remember : You DO NOT need to add an in-text citation after EVERY sentence of your paragraph. 

Paragraph Rules of Thumb: Cite after 1st paraphrase, continue writing, add a new cite for a new source or a direct quote.

What do in-text citations look like?

In-text citation styles: , let's look at these examples if they were written in text: .

An example with 1 author:

Parenthetical citation:  Following American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines will help you to cultivate your own unique academic voice as an expert in your field (Forbes, 2020). 

Narrative citation : Forbes (2020) shared that by following American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines, students would learn to find their own voice as experts in the field of nursing. 

An example with 2 authors: 

Parenthetical citation: Research on the use of progressive muscle relaxation for stress reduction has demonstrated the efficacy of the method (Bennett & Miller, 2019). 

Narrative citation: As shared by Bennett and Miller (2019), research on the use of progressive muscle relaxation for stress reduction has demonstrated the efficacy of the method. 

An example with 3 authors: 

Parenthetical citation: Guided imagery has also been shown to reduce stress, length of hospital stay, and symptoms related to medical and psychological conditions (Jones et al., 2020).

Narrative citation: Jones et al. (2020) shared that guided imagery has also been shown to reduce stress, length of hospital stay, and symptoms related to medical and psychological conditions. 

An example with a group/corporate author: 

Parenthetical citation: Dr. Philip G. Rogers, senior vice president at the American Council on Education, was recently elected as the newest chancellor of the university (East Carolina University, 2020). 

Narrative citation: Recently shared on the East Carolina University (2020) website, Dr. Philip G. Rogers, senior vice president at the American Council on Education, was elected as the newest chancellor. 

Tips on Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is recreating someone else's ideas into your own words & thoughts, without changing the original meaning (gahan, 2020).  .

Here are some best practices when you are paraphrasing: 

  • How do I learn to paraphrase? IF you are thoroughly reading and researching articles or book chapters for a paper, you will start to take notes in your own words . Those notes are the beginning of paraphrased information.
  • Read the original information, PUT IT AWAY, then rewrite the ideas in your own words . This is hard to do at first, it takes practice, but this is how you start to paraphrase. 
  • It's usually better to paraphrase, than to use too many direct quotes. 
  • When you start to paraphrase, cite your source. 
  • Make sure not to use language that is TOO close to the original, so that you are not committing plagiarism. 
  • Use theasaurus.com to help you come up with like/similar phrases if you are struggling. 
  • Paraphrasing (vs. using direct quotes) is important because it shows that YOU ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND the information you are reading. 
  • Paraphrasing ALLOWS YOUR VOICE to be prevalent in your writing. 
  • The best time to use direct quotes is when you need to give an exact definition, provide specific evidence, or if you need to use the original writer's terminology. 
  • BEST PRACTICE PER PARAGRAPH: On your 1st paraphrase of a source, CITE IT. There is no need to add another in-text citation until you use a different source, OR, until you use a direct quote. 

References : 

Gahan, C. (2020, October 15). How to paraphrase sources . Scribbr.com .   https://tinyurl.com/y7ssxc6g  

Citing Direct Quotes

When should i use a direct quote in my paper .

Direct quotes should only be used occasionally: 

  • When you need to share an exact definition 
  • When you want to provide specific evidence or information that cannot be paraphrased
  • When you want to use the original writer's terminology

From:  https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/whaddyamean/ 

Definitions of direct quotes: 

  • Western Oregon University's APA Guidelines on Direct Quotes This is an excellent quick tutorial on how to format direct quotes in APA 7th edition. Bookmark this page for future reference!

Carrie Forbes, MLS

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APA Citation Guide (7th edition): Quotes vs Paraphrases

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What's the Difference?

Quoting vs paraphrasing: what's the difference.

There are two ways to integrate sources into your assignment: quoting directly or paraphrasing.

Quoting  is copying a selection from someone else's work, phrasing it exactly as it was originally written. When quoting place quotation marks (" ") around the selected passage to show where the quote begins and where it ends. Make sure to include an in-text citation. 

Paraphrasing  is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must reword the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation. 

Quoting Example

There are two basic formats that can be used:

Parenthetical Style:

Narrative Style:

Quoting Tips

  • Long Quotes
  • Changing Quotes

What Is a Long Quotation?

A quotation of more than 40 words. 

Rules for Long Quotations

There are 4 rules that apply to long quotations that are different from regular quotations:

  • The line before your long quotation, when you're introducing the quote, usually ends with a colon.
  • The long quotation is indented half an inch from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
  • There are no quotation marks around the quotation.
  • The period at the end of the quotation comes before your in-text citation as opposed to after, as it does with regular quotations.

Example of a Long Quotation

At the end of Lord of the Flies the boys are struck with the realization of their behaviour:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding, 1960, p.186)

Changing Quotations

Sometimes you may want to make some modifications to the quote to fit your writing. Here are some APA rules when changing quotes:

Incorrect spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Add the word [sic] after the error in the quotation to let your reader know the error was in the original source and is not your error.

Omitting parts of a quotation

If you would like to exclude some words from a quotation, replace the words you are not including with an ellipsis - ...

Adding words to a quote

If you are adding words that are not part of the original quote, enclose the additional words in square brackets - [XYZ]

Secondary Source Quotes

What is a secondary source.

In scholarly work, a primary source reports original content; a secondary source refers to content first reported in another source.

  • Cite secondary sources sparingly—for instance, when the original work is out of print, unavailable, or available only in a language that you do not understand.
  • If possible, as a matter of good scholarly practice, find the primary source, read it, and cite it directly rather than citing a secondary source.

Rules for Secondary Source Citations

  • In the reference list, provide an entry only for the secondary source that you used.
  • In the text, identify the primary source and write “as cited in” the secondary source that you used. 
  • If the year of publication of the primary source is known, also include it in the in-text citation.

Example of a Secondary Source Use

Quote & In-Text Citation

Reference List Entry

Paraphrases

Paraphrasing example.

When you write information from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion as follows:

If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation, instead include the year of publication following his/her name:

NOTE : Although not required, APA encourages including the page number when paraphrasing if it will help the reader locate the information in a long text and distinguish between the information that is coming from you and the source.

Paraphrasing Tips

  • Long Paraphrases

Original Source

Homeless individuals commonly come from families who are riddled with problems and marital disharmony, and are alienated from their parents. They have often been physically and even sexually abused, have relocated frequently, and many of them may be asked to leave home or are actually thrown out, or alternatively are placed in group homes or in foster care. They often have no one to care for them and no one knows them intimately.

Source from: 

Rokach, A. (2005). The causes of loneliness in homeless youth. The Journal of Psychology, 139, 469-480. 

Example: Incorrect Paraphrasing

Example: correct paraphrasing.

If your paraphrase is longer than one sentence, provide an in-text citation for the source at the beginning of the paraphrase. As long as it's clear that the paraphrase continues to the following sentences, you don't have to include in-text citations for the following sentences.

If your paraphrase continues to another paragraph and/or you include paraphrases from other sources within the paragraph, repeat the in-text citations for each.

Additional Resource

  • Paraphrasing (The Learning Portal)

Tip sheet on paraphrasing information

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / Paraphrasing in APA

Paraphrasing in APA

Paraphrasing is the art of putting information into your own words while writing a research paper, in order to maintain the academic integrity of your project. This is important because you need to use solid evidence as a researcher, but you need to put information into the proper format to avoid plagiarism. The American Psychological Association (APA) created a writing style in 1929 that calls for uniformity and consistency in giving credit to sources in your research.

How to properly paraphrase

If you do not properly paraphrase your source material following the APA style, you are at the risk of losing credibility as a writer and possibly plagiarizing. Although paraphrasing is not difficult, it does take time and a little forethought to do it correctly. There are several steps you should follow in order to achieve success.

1. Read the original source

The first step in creating an effective paraphrase is to carefully read the original source. Read it the first time to get the overall understanding, and then do a second closer reading in order to gather details and material that will help you formulate your argument.

2. Take notes in your own words

After reading the original source and determining what details can help you formulate your argument, take a minute to jot down some notes. Be careful to put everything into your own words. Change the structure of the sentence as well as the vocabulary.

Also, take a moment to take notes on the context of the source. Why was it written? Who wrote it? When was it written?

3. Construct a paraphrase

In order to construct a paraphrase, you need to include the same information, but with different sentence structure and different vocabulary. APA rules say that a paraphrase should be approximately the same length as the original.

You also need to add contextual text around the paraphrase so it fits within your paper.

4. Double check the original source to avoid duplication

Although an extra step, it is always a good idea to read through the original source one more time to make sure that you have chosen different words and varied the sentence structure. This is a good time to add the APA requirements of author and year of the source so that you have it handy.

5. Include an APA in-text citation

Even though you are putting a paraphrase into your own words, APA requires an in-text citation for paraphrasing. You can create a parenthetical citation or a narrative citation to accomplish this.

Remember: All in-text citations will also need a corresponding APA reference in the APA reference page . For this article, we’re just focusing on in-text citations in paraphrases.

For both types of in-text citation, you will need the following source information:

  • Author’s last name
  • Year published
  • single page: p. #
  • page range: pp. #-#

Parenthetical citation

For an APA parenthetical citation , write your paraphrase and then add the author and year in parenthesis at the end. Use a comma between the author and the year inside the parenthesis, and put the period for the end of the sentence outside the parenthesis.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? (Key, 1814).

My parents traveled from Italy to Germany and then France. As the oldest child, I traveled with them after being born in Naples. They were very close, and shared that love they had for each other with me (Shelley, 1818, p. 78).

Narrative citation

In a narrative citation, you introduce the author’s name as part of the sentence, and put the year in parenthesis.

Francis Scott Key (1814) wrote very special words while overlooking a battle: Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

For further details, visit this guide on APA in-text citations.

Paraphrasing example

Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave an inaugural address in January 1933 during the Great Depression. This is an excerpt taken from an online source :

This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper….

1. Read original source text

In order to paraphrase, read through the text once to get the gist of it, and then again for deeper understanding. The context of this passage is also significant. It was given by a U.S. president during the Great Depression. What do you think he was trying to achieve?

Next take notes in your own words. Without immediately looking at the text, jot down what you think is the main point or concept of it. Next, take notes on the context of the source (you can look at the source for this).

For this passage, a few example notes could be:

  • Facing truth
  • Harsh current reality
  • Believing that this great nation will endure and eventually prosper again
  • Speech by President Roosevelt in 1933
  • Given during the Great Depression
  • He was addressing his citizens

Now’s the time to construct the paraphrase. Based on the notes above, a paraphrase would look something like this:

With his inaugural speech, Roosevelt was carefully trying to prepare citizens of the Nation to face the harsh reality that the Great Depression had caused, while also reassuring them that the country would endure and eventually prosper again.

4. Double check with the original source

The paraphrase above doesn’t not look too similar to the original, but we could still change a few words that were also in the original phrase (like “Nation,” “endure,” and “prosper). Revised, it looks like this:

With his inaugural speech, Roosevelt was carefully trying to prepare citizens of the United States to face the harsh reality that the Great Depression had caused, while also reassuring them that the country would eventually bounce back .

5. Add an APA in-text citation

An APA in-text citation means including the source’s author, year published, and page numbers (if available). The paraphrase already has the author’s name, but the year published needs to be added in parentheses. This is from an online source so no page number is needed.

With his inaugural speech, Roosevelt (1933) was carefully trying to prepare citizens of the United States to face the harsh reality that the Great Depression had caused, while also reassuring them that the country would eventually bounce back.

Examples of poor paraphrasing

Most people who fail at paraphrasing use the same sentence as the original source, and just change a word or two. If this is the case, the paraphrase would look something like this:

This great country will endure as it has endured, will come back to life and will prosper. So, first of all, let me show my strong belief that the only thing we have to worry about is fear itself…”

Another problem with paraphrasing occurs when you do half the job. Although the first and third sentences change the sentence structure and vocabulary in the sample below, there are some sections that are taken word-for-word from the original.

“From Italy they visited Germany and France. I, their eldest child, was born at Naples, and as an infant accompanied them in their rambles. I remained for several years their only child. Much as they were attached to each other, they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow them upon me.

Paraphrase:

My parents visited Italy and then Germany and France. I, their eldest child, was born at Naples. I traveled with them and was their only child for a few years. They loved each other and they seemed to draw inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love.

In addition to the word-for-word similarities, this paraphrase doesn’t mention the original source’s author, year published, or page number (Shelley, 1818, p. 78).

Key takeaways

  • In order to avoid plagiarism, APA delineates the way to give credit to sources when you are paraphrasing.
  • In APA style, parenthetical citations demand the author and year of source.
  • In order to create a stellar paraphrase, you need to change the structure and the words, but keep the main idea intact.

Published October 28, 2020.

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APA 7th referencing guide: Paraphrasing

  • Referencing and APA style
  • How to cite sources within the text
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About paraphrasing

Most pieces of writing you do at university will expect you to refer to other sources as evidence to support and justify the point that you make. The key way to use sources in your writing is to paraphrase their ideas. Paraphrasing is using another person’s ideas but putting them into your own words and showing your interpretation of these ideas.  It is not just changing a few words in a sentence from the original text, and it must still have a citation with the author’s surname or organisation’s name plus the year it was published. You do not have to include a page number unless you are paraphrasing or summarising an idea from a particular page.

Callanan, G. A. & Tomkowicz, S. M. (2011). Legal yes, ethical no: using the case of debit card overdraft fees as a business ethics teaching tool. Journal of the Academy of Business Education , 12, 85-100.

Idea in the source which you want to paraphrase:-

This simultaneous attention to profit maximization on the one hand and the ethical expectations of society on the other creates a conflict that organizations confront on a daily basis. In this sense, organizations are pulled in two different directions; actions that allow for profit maximization, even if they are legal, could be questionable from an ethics standpoint and thereby fail to satisfy the expectations of society (pp. 85-86).

Unacceptable paraphrase i.e. plagiarism:-

This immediate consideration to profit maximization on the one hand and the moral expectations of society on the other creates a struggle that organizations confront on a regular basis. Therefore, organizations are pulled in two different directions; activities that allow for profit expansion, even if they are lawful, could be disputed from an ethics standpoint and thereby fail to fulfil the expectations of society.

Acceptable paraphrase:-

Callanan and Tomkowicz (2011, pp. 85-86) have argued that the ethical expectations of society and the attention placed on profit maximisation create a struggle for most organisations, which they have to deal with every day; organisations are often pulled in two opposing directions, one being the actions which will maximise profit and the other being the expectations of society.

If you are unsure how to paraphrase, please speak to the Learning Development team for your faculty: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/library/learning-development/

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APA Style (7th ed.)

  • Paper Formatting in APA 7
  • Position of the citation
  • Secondary Referencing
  • Date of Publication
  • Page numbers
  • Citing Sources Multiple Times
  • Citing from Web pages
  • Paraphrasing and Summarising

Paraphrasing

Summarising.

  • Examples of References in APA (7th ed.) style
  • APA Reference Examples A-Z
  • Citation Tools and Software
  • Comparison of APA 6th and 7th eds

how to cite paraphrasing apa

To paraphrase is to communicate the author’s work in your own words and to acknowledge the source:

  • Used to rewrite text in your own words
  • Used to clarify meaning
  • Used to shorten a longer statement, but keep the main ideas
  • Giving credit to the original author of the idea

how to cite paraphrasing apa

Elements of a good paraphrase:

Change the structure of the original passage

Change the words

Give a citation / reference

To summarise is to describe broadly the findings of a study without directly quoting from it.  Summarising involves repeating the main ideas of a passage in your own words.  A summary concentrates on the important points rather than the details.

how to cite paraphrasing apa

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  • Last Updated: Dec 17, 2024 12:23 PM
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COMMENTS

  1. Paraphrases

    Published authors paraphrase their sources most of the time, rather than directly quoting the sources; student authors should emulate this practice by paraphrasing more than directly quoting. When you paraphrase, cite the original work using either the …

  2. APA Style">Paraphrases - APA Style

    Published authors paraphrase their sources most of the time, rather than directly quoting the sources; student authors should emulate this practice by paraphrasing more than directly quoting. When you paraphrase, cite the original work using either the narrative or parenthetical citation format.

  3. Citing Paraphrases: Essential Guide to Proper Attribution - Grammarly">Citing Paraphrases: Essential Guide to Proper Attribution - ...

    Mar 28, 2024 · Below, we review the rules for citing paraphrases in MLA, APA, and Chicago formats. We’ll break down the guidelines and share a paraphrase citation example or two for each style so you can see how to do it yourself.

  4. APA Citation Style, 7th Edition: In-Text Citations & Paraphrasing">APA Citation Style, 7th Edition: In-Text Citations & Paraphrasing

    Jul 26, 2024 · BEST PRACTICE PER PARAGRAPH: On your 1st paraphrase of a source, CITE IT. There is no need to add another in-text citation until you use a different source, OR, until you use a direct quote. References: Gahan, C. (2020, October 15). How to paraphrase sources. Scribbr.com. https://tinyurl.com/y7ssxc6g

  5. APA Citation Guide (7th edition): Quotes vs Paraphrases">APA Citation Guide (7th edition): Quotes vs Paraphrases

    Jul 30, 2024 · Paraphrasing is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must reword the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation. There are two basic formats that can be used: Parenthetical Style:

  6. Paraphrasing in APA - EasyBib">Paraphrasing in APA - EasyBib

    Oct 28, 2020 · APA paraphrasing involves effectively putting a source into your own words, while also creating an accurate in-text citation to go with it. See how this is done!

  7. Paraphrasing and Citation Activities, APA Style 7th Edition">Paraphrasing and Citation Activities, APA Style 7th Edition

    Effective paraphrasing and citation skills allow writers to clearly and concisely present and credit the most important or relevant ideas from published works in their papers. With these skills, writers become better prepared to make unique contributions to knowledge in their field.

  8. Paraphrasing Guidelines (APA, 2020, p. 269)">Paraphrasing Guidelines (APA, 2020, p. 269)

    May 26, 2020 · As the 7th edition APA manual explains, “the works you cite provide key background information, support or dispute your thesis, or offer critical definitions and data” (p. 253). APA 7 notes that “published authors paraphrase their sources most of the time, rather than directly quoting” (p. 269).

  9. APA Style 6th Edition Blog: Paraphrasing">APA Style 6th Edition Blog: Paraphrasing

    Mar 3, 2015 · As the Publication Manual notes, citing your sources is imperative: “Whether paraphrasing, quoting an author directly, or describing an idea that influenced your work, you must credit the source” (p. 170).

  10. APA 7th referencing guide: Paraphrasing">LibGuides: APA 7th referencing guide: Paraphrasing

    Sep 6, 2023 · Paraphrasing is using another person’s ideas but putting them into your own words and showing your interpretation of these ideas. It is not just changing a few words in a sentence from the original text, and it must still have a citation with the author’s surname or organisation’s name plus the year it was published.

  11. APA Style (7th ed.): Paraphrasing and Summarising">LibGuides: APA Style (7th ed.): Paraphrasing and Summarising

    Dec 9, 2024 · Elements of a good paraphrase: Change the structure of the original passage. Change the words. Give a citation / reference