Paraphrasing tool for essays
Reword a source passage in fresh language and structure while keeping its meaning. Then cite it, because a paraphrase still needs a citation.
Your result will appear here on index cards you can copy.
Paraphrase, don't patchwrite
Swapping a few words for synonyms while keeping the original sentence structure is called patchwriting, and plagiarism checkers and teachers treat it as plagiarism. A real paraphrase changes both the words and the structure. The method recommended by Purdue OWL:
- Read the passage until you understand it.
- Close the source and write the idea from memory.
- Compare with the original and fix any accidental copying or changed meaning.
- Put any unique phrases you kept in quotation marks.
- Add an in-text citation. Paraphrases always need one.
Paraphrase, summarise or quote?
| Length | Use when | |
|---|---|---|
| Quote | Exact words | The wording itself matters (a definition, a famous line). |
| Paraphrase | About the same | You need the detail but not the wording. |
| Summarise | Much shorter | You only need the main idea of a longer passage. |
Format the reference with the citation generator.
Questions students ask
Is using a paraphrasing tool plagiarism?
Paraphrasing without citing the source is plagiarism, whether you or a tool did the rewording. Always cite the original. Some schools also restrict AI paraphrasing, so check your policy.
Do I need to cite a paraphrase?
Yes. In APA and Harvard give the author and year; in MLA give the author and page number where available.
How is this different from the sentence rewriter?
The paraphraser is for other people's text you want to use as a source. The sentence rewriter improves the style of your own writing.