understanding paraphrasing and summarizing

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing (Differences, Examples, How To)

It can be confusing to know when to paraphrase and when to summarize. Many people use the terms interchangeably even though the two have different meanings and uses.

Today, let’s understand the basic differences between paraphrasing vs. summarizing and when to use which . We’ll also look at types and examples of paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as how to do both effectively.

Let’s look at paraphrasing first.

What is paraphrasing?

It refers to rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words. 

It’s important to rewrite the whole idea in your words rather than just replacing a few words with their synonyms. That way, you present an idea in a way that your audience will understand easily and also avoid plagiarism. 

It’s also important to cite your sources when paraphrasing so that the original author of the work gets due credit.

When should you paraphrase?

The main purpose of paraphrasing is often to clarify an existing passage. You should use paraphrasing when you want to show that you understand the concept, like while writing an essay about a specific topic. 

You may also use it when you’re quoting someone but can’t remember their exact words. 

Finally, paraphrasing is a very effective way to rewrite outdated content in a way that’s relevant to your current audience.

How to paraphrase effectively

Follow these steps to paraphrase any piece of text effectively:

• Read the full text and ensure that you understand it completely. It helps to look up words you don’t fully understand in an online or offline dictionary.
• Once you understand the text, rewrite it in your own words. Remember to rewrite it instead of just substituting words with their synonyms.
• Edit the text to ensure it’s easy to understand for your audience.
• Mix in your own insights while rewriting the text to make it more relevant.
• Run the text through a plagiarism checker to ensure that it does not have any of the original content.

Example of paraphrasing

Here’s an example of paraphrasing:

• Original:  The national park is full of trees, water bodies, and various species of flora and fauna.
• Paraphrased:  Many animal species thrive in the verdant national park that is served by lakes and rivers flowing through it.

What is summarizing?

Summarizing is also based on someone else’s text but rather than presenting their ideas in your words, you only sum up their main ideas in a smaller piece of text.

It’s important to not use their exact words or phrases when summarizing to avoid plagiarism. It’s best to make your own notes while reading through the text and writing a summary based on your notes.

You must only summarize the most important ideas from a piece of text as summaries are essentially very short compared to the original work. And just like paraphrasing, you should cite the original text as a reference.

When should you summarize?

The main purpose of summarizing is to reduce a passage or other text to fewer words while ensuring that everything important is covered.

Summaries are useful when you want to cut to the chase and lay down the most important points from a piece of text or convey the entire message in fewer words. You should summarize when you have to write a short essay about a larger piece of text, such as writing a book review.

You can also summarize when you want to provide background information about something without taking up too much space.

How to summarize effectively

Follow these steps to summarize any prose effectively:

• Read the text to fully understand it. It helps to read it a few times instead of just going through it once.
• Pay attention to the larger theme of the text rather than trying to rewrite it sentence for sentence.
• Understand how all the main ideas are linked and piece them together to form an overview.
• Remove all the information that’s not crucial to the main ideas or theme. Remember, summaries must only include the most essential points and information.
• Edit your overview to ensure that the information is organized logically and follows the correct chronology where applicable.
• Review and edit the summary again to make it clearer, ensure that it’s accurate, and make it even more concise where you can.
• Ensure that you cite the original text.

Example of summarization

You can summarize any text into a shorter version. For example, this entire article can be summarized in just a few sentences as follows:

• Summary:  The article discusses paraphrasing vs. summarizing by explaining the two concepts. It specifies when you should use paraphrasing and when you should summarize a piece of text and describes the process of each. It ends with examples of both paraphrasing and summarizing to provide a better understanding to the reader.

Paraphrasing vs. summarizing has been a long-standing point of confusion for writers of all levels, whether you’re writing a college essay or reviewing a research paper or book. The above tips and examples can help you identify when to use paraphrasing or summarizing and how to go about them effectively.

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About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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• How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

Published on April 8, 2022 by Courtney Gahan and Jack Caulfield. Revised on June 1, 2023.

Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words. Paraphrasing a source involves changing the wording while preserving the original meaning.

Paraphrasing is an alternative to  quoting (copying someone’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks ). In academic writing, it’s usually better to integrate sources by paraphrasing instead of quoting. It shows that you have understood the source, reads more smoothly, and keeps your own voice front and center.

Every time you paraphrase, it’s important to cite the source . Also take care not to use wording that is too similar to the original. Otherwise, you could be at risk of committing plagiarism .

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Table of contents

How to paraphrase in five easy steps, how to paraphrase correctly, examples of paraphrasing, how to cite a paraphrase, paraphrasing vs. quoting, paraphrasing vs. summarizing, avoiding plagiarism when you paraphrase, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about paraphrasing.

If you’re struggling to get to grips with the process of paraphrasing, check out our easy step-by-step guide in the video below.

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Putting an idea into your own words can be easier said than done. Let’s say you want to paraphrase the text below, about population decline in a particular species of sea snails.

Incorrect paraphrasing

You might make a first attempt to paraphrase it by swapping out a few words for  synonyms .

Like other sea creatures inhabiting the vicinity of highly populated coasts, horse conchs have lost substantial territory to advancement and contamination , including preferred breeding grounds along mud flats and seagrass beds. Their Gulf home is also heating up due to global warming , which scientists think further puts pressure on the creatures , predicated upon the harmful effects extra warmth has on other large mollusks (Barnett, 2022).

This attempt at paraphrasing doesn’t change the sentence structure or order of information, only some of the word choices. And the synonyms chosen are poor:

• “Advancement and contamination” doesn’t really convey the same meaning as “development and pollution.”
• Sometimes the changes make the tone less academic: “home” for “habitat” and “sea creatures” for “marine animals.”
• Adding phrases like “inhabiting the vicinity of” and “puts pressure on” makes the text needlessly long-winded.
• Global warming is related to climate change, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing.

Because of this, the text reads awkwardly, is longer than it needs to be, and remains too close to the original phrasing. This means you risk being accused of plagiarism .

Correct paraphrasing

Let’s look at a more effective way of paraphrasing the same text.

Here, we’ve:

• Only included the information that’s relevant to our argument (note that the paraphrase is shorter than the original)
• Introduced the information with the signal phrase “Scientists believe that …”
• Retained key terms like “development and pollution,” since changing them could alter the meaning
• Structured sentences in our own way instead of copying the structure of the original
• Started from a different point, presenting information in a different order

Because of this, we’re able to clearly convey the relevant information from the source without sticking too close to the original phrasing.

Explore the tabs below to see examples of paraphrasing in action.

• Journal article
• Newspaper article
• Magazine article

Once you have your perfectly paraphrased text, you need to ensure you credit the original author. You’ll always paraphrase sources in the same way, but you’ll have to use a different type of in-text citation depending on what citation style you follow.

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It’s a good idea to paraphrase instead of quoting in most cases because:

• Paraphrasing shows that you fully understand the meaning of a text
• Your own voice remains dominant throughout your paper
• Quotes reduce the readability of your text

But that doesn’t mean you should never quote. Quotes are appropriate when:

• Giving a precise definition
• Saying something about the author’s language or style (e.g., in a literary analysis paper)
• Providing evidence in support of an argument
• Critiquing or analyzing a specific claim

A paraphrase puts a specific passage into your own words. It’s typically a similar length to the original text, or slightly shorter.

When you boil a longer piece of writing down to the key points, so that the result is a lot shorter than the original, this is called summarizing .

Paraphrasing and quoting are important tools for presenting specific information from sources. But if the information you want to include is more general (e.g., the overarching argument of a whole article), summarizing is more appropriate.

When paraphrasing, you have to be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism .

This can happen if the paraphrase is too similar to the original quote, with phrases or whole sentences that are identical (and should therefore be in quotation marks). It can also happen if you fail to properly cite the source.

Paraphrasing tools are widely used by students, and can be especially useful for non-native speakers who may find academic writing particularly challenging. While these can be helpful for a bit of extra inspiration, use these tools sparingly, keeping academic integrity in mind.

To make sure you’ve properly paraphrased and cited all your sources, you could elect to run a plagiarism check before submitting your paper. And of course, always be sure to read your source material yourself and take the first stab at paraphrasing on your own.

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• ChatGPT vs human editor
• ChatGPT citations
• Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
• Using ChatGPT for your studies
• What is ChatGPT?
• Chicago style
• Critical thinking

 Plagiarism

• Types of plagiarism
• Self-plagiarism
• Avoiding plagiarism
• Academic integrity
• Consequences of plagiarism
• Common knowledge

To paraphrase effectively, don’t just take the original sentence and swap out some of the words for synonyms. Instead, try:

• Reformulating the sentence (e.g., change active to passive , or start from a different point)
• Combining information from multiple sentences into one
• Leaving out information from the original that isn’t relevant to your point
• Using synonyms where they don’t distort the meaning

The main point is to ensure you don’t just copy the structure of the original text, but instead reformulate the idea in your own words.

Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .

As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.

Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.

So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?

• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don’t properly credit the original author.
• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead.
• Paraphrasing  is not plagiarism if you put the author’s ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source .

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To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It’s appropriate to quote when:

• Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text
• You want to discuss the author’s language choices (e.g., in literary analysis )
• You’re presenting a precise definition
• You’re looking in depth at a specific claim

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Gahan, C. & Caulfield, J. (2023, June 01). How to Paraphrase | Step-by-Step Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-paraphrase/

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September 6

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Summarizing vs. Paraphrasing: What’s the Real Difference?

By   Joshua Turner

September 6, 2023

Summarizing and paraphrasing are two essential skills in writing. They are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. Summarizing is the process of condensing a text into a shorter version, highlighting the main points, and leaving out the details.

On the other hand, paraphrasing is rewording a text in your own words, retaining the original meaning and message.

Understanding summarizing involves identifying the key ideas and concepts in a text and presenting them in a concise and clear manner. It requires a good understanding of the text and the ability to distinguish between essential and non-essential information.

Summarizing is useful when you want to provide a brief overview of a longer text or when you want to highlight the main ideas.

Understanding paraphrasing involves rewording a text in a way that retains the original meaning but uses different words and sentence structures.

It requires a good understanding of the text and the ability to express the ideas in your own words. Paraphrasing is useful when you want to avoid plagiarism or when you want to clarify the meaning of a text.

Key Takeaways

• Summarizing involves condensing a text into a shorter version, highlighting the main points and leaving out the details.
• Paraphrasing involves rewording a text in a way that retains the original meaning but uses different words and sentence structures.
• Summarizing is useful when you want to provide a brief overview of a longer text, while paraphrasing is useful when you want to avoid plagiarism or clarify the meaning of a text.

Definition of Summarizing

Summarizing  is the process of condensing a longer piece of text into a shorter, more concise version while retaining the main points and key concepts. It involves creating an overview of the text that captures the gist of the original content.

Purpose of Summaries

The purpose of summaries is to provide readers with a condensed version of a longer text that highlights the main points and key concepts. Summaries are useful for quickly understanding the content of a longer piece of writing, such as an article or book, without having to read the entire text.

Main Points in Summarizing

The main points in summarizing include identifying the key concepts and ideas in the original text, condensing the information into a shorter version, and ensuring that the summary accurately represents the main points of the original text.

Steps in Summarizing

The steps in summarizing include reading the original text carefully, identifying the main points and key concepts, condensing the information into a shorter version, and reviewing the summary to ensure that it accurately represents the main points of the original text. It is important to use your own words when creating a summary and to avoid copying phrases or sentences directly from the original text.

In summary, summarizing is the process of condensing a longer piece of text into a shorter, more concise version while retaining the main points and key concepts. It involves creating an overview of the text that captures the gist of the original content. The purpose of summaries is to provide readers with a condensed version of a longer text that highlights the main points and key concepts.

The steps in summarizing include reading the original text carefully, identifying the main points and key concepts, condensing the information into a shorter version, and reviewing the summary to ensure that it accurately represents the main points of the original text.

Understanding Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing  is the act of rephrasing a text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It is an essential skill in academic writing , as it allows you to incorporate information from other sources while avoiding plagiarism. Paraphrasing involves interpreting the main ideas in the original text and presenting them in your own voice.

Purpose of Paraphrases

The purpose of paraphrasing is to present information from other sources in a way that is more accessible or relevant to your intended audience. It also allows you to integrate information from multiple sources into a cohesive argument. Paraphrasing can also help you to clarify complex ideas and concepts.

Main Ideas in Paraphrasing

The main ideas in paraphrasing are to understand the original text, interpret the main ideas, and rephrase them in your own words. It is important to maintain the original meaning and avoid changing the author’s intended message. Paraphrasing should also be done in your own voice to avoid plagiarism.

Steps in Paraphrasing

The steps in paraphrasing include reading and understanding the original text, identifying the main ideas, and rephrasing them in your own words. You should also check your paraphrase against the original text to ensure that you have maintained the original meaning. It is also important to cite the original source to avoid plagiarism.

Comparison of Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Summarizing and paraphrasing  are two different techniques used to convey information from one source to another.

Length and Detail

Summarizing involves condensing a large amount of information into a concise version while maintaining the main points. On the other hand, paraphrasing involves rephrasing the text in your own words while retaining the original meaning. Summaries are shorter than the original text and omit details, while paraphrases are usually the same length as the original text and include more details.

Quoting and Citation

When summarizing, you don’t need to use direct quotes or citations because you are putting the information into your own words. However, when paraphrasing, you still need to give credit to the original source by using citations and quotation marks when necessary.

Structure and Concepts

Summarizing involves restructuring the original text to make it more concise, while paraphrasing involves rewording the original text. Summarizing focuses on the main points while paraphrasing focuses on the details.

When summarizing, you may need to rearrange the concepts to make them more understandable, while paraphrasing may require you to explain the concepts more clearly.

The audience and purpose of the text can influence whether summarizing or paraphrasing is appropriate. Summarizing is useful when the audience needs a quick overview of the main points, while paraphrasing is useful when the audience needs a more detailed understanding of the text. The purpose of the text can also determine whether summarizing or paraphrasing is appropriate. Summarizing is useful when the purpose is to provide a brief overview, while paraphrasing is useful when the purpose is to explain the details.

Avoiding Plagiarism

Using someone else’s work without proper credit is not only unethical, but it can also have serious consequences. By understanding plagiarism, citing your source material, and using a plagiarism checker, you can ensure that your work is original and free of plagiarism.

Understanding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work without giving them proper credit. It can be intentional or unintentional, and it can have serious consequences. To avoid plagiarism, understand what it is and how to avoid it.

Citing Source Material

Citing your source material is an essential part of avoiding plagiarism. When you use someone else’s work, you must give them credit by citing the original source. There are different citation styles, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, so make sure to use the appropriate one for your work.

Using a Plagiarism Checker

Using a plagiarism checker is a great way to ensure that your work is original and free of plagiarism. There are many free and paid tools available online that can help you check your work for plagiarism. These tools compare your work to other sources on the internet and highlight any similarities.

In summary, while summarizing and paraphrasing are similar in that they both involve condensing or rewording information, there are some key differences between them. Summarizing involves reducing a text to its essential points, while paraphrasing involves restating the central idea in your own words.

Accuracy is crucial in both cases, but it is especially important when paraphrasing since it involves conveying information in a new way. Paraphrasing is useful when you want to highlight specific insights or takeaways from a text while summarizing is better suited for providing an overview of the essential information.

When deciding whether to summarize or paraphrase, it’s important to consider the function of the text and the audience you are writing for. Summarizing is useful when you want to provide a quick overview of a text’s most relevant information, while paraphrasing is better suited for conveying the central idea in a new way.

Overall, whether you choose to summarize or paraphrase, the goal is to convey relevant information in a clear and concise manner that helps the reader gain insights and takeaways from the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions about this topic.

What are some examples of paraphrasing and summarizing, and how do they differ?

Paraphrasing involves restating a passage in your own words while summarizing involves condensing a larger text into a shorter version. For example, paraphrasing a quote in an essay would involve rephrasing it in a way that still conveys the original meaning, while summarizing a news article would involve highlighting the main points in a few sentences.

What are the similarities and differences between summarizing and paraphrasing?

Both summarizing and paraphrasing involve rephrasing information in your own words. However, summarizing involves condensing a larger text into a shorter version, while paraphrasing involves restating a passage in your own words. Both techniques are useful for avoiding plagiarism and presenting information in a clear and concise way.

How do you paraphrase a quote in an essay?

To paraphrase a quote in an essay, you should rephrase the quote in your own words while still maintaining its original meaning. This involves understanding the main idea of the quote and expressing it in a way that fits with the rest of your essay. It is important to properly cite the original source of the quote to avoid plagiarism.

When using a source, should you quote, paraphrase, or summarize it?

The choice between quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing a source depends on the purpose of your writing. If you want to include a specific passage word-for-word, you should quote it. If you want to restate a passage in your own words, you should paraphrase it. If you want to condense a larger text into a shorter version, you should summarize it.

What is the definition of summarizing?

Summarizing is the act of condensing a larger text into a shorter version that highlights the main points of the original. This technique is useful for presenting information in a clear and concise way and can be applied to a variety of texts, such as news articles, research papers, and books.

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Paraphrase and Summary

Paraphrase and summary are different writing strategies that ask you to put another author’s argument in your own words. This can help you better understand what the writer of the source is saying, so that you can communicate that message to your own reader without relying only on direct quotes. Paraphrases are used for short passages and specific claims in an argument, while summaries are used for entire pieces and focus on capturing the big picture of an argument. Both should be cited using the appropriate format (MLA, APA, etc.).  See KU Writing Center guides on APA Formatting , Chicago Formatting , and MLA Formatting for more information. 

When you paraphrase, you are using your own words to explain one of the claims of your source's argument, following its line of reasoning and its sequence of ideas. The purpose of a paraphrase is to convey the meaning of the original message and, in doing so, to prove that you understand the passage well enough to restate it. The paraphrase should give the reader an accurate understanding of the author's position on the topic. Your job is to uncover and explain all the facts and arguments involved in your subject. A paraphrase tends to be about the same length or a little shorter than the thing being paraphrased.

To paraphrase:

• Alter the wording of the passage without changing its meaning. Key words, such as names and field terminology, may stay the same (i.e. you do not need to rename Milwaukee or osteoporosis), but all other words must be rephrased. 
• Retain the basic logic of the argument, sequence of ideas, and examples used in the passage. 
• Accurately convey the author's meaning and opinion. 
• Keep the length approximately the same as the original passage. 
• Do not forget to cite where the information came from. Even though it is in your own words, the idea belongs to someone else, and that source must be acknowledged. 

A summary covers the main points of the writer’s argument in your own words. Summaries are generally much shorter than the original source, since they do not contain any specific examples or pieces of evidence. The goal of a summary is to give the reader a clear idea of what the source is arguing, without going into any specifics about what they are using to argue their point.

To summarize:  

• Identify what reading or speech is being summarized. 
• State the author’s thesis and main claims of their argument in your own words. Just like paraphrasing, make sure everything but key terms is reworded. 
• Avoid specific details or examples. 
• Avoid your personal opinions about the topic. 
• Include the conclusion of the original material. 
• Cite summarized information as well. 

In both the paraphrase and summary, the author's meaning and opinion are retained. However, in the case of the summary, examples and illustrations are omitted. Summaries can be tremendously helpful because they can be used to encapsulate everything from a long narrative passage of an essay, to a chapter in a book, to an entire book.

When to Use Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing 

Updated June 2022  

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How to Paraphrase and Summarize Work

Summing up key ideas in your own words.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Imagine you're preparing a presentation for your CEO. You asked everyone in your team to contribute, and they all had plenty to say!

But now you have a dozen reports, all in different styles, and your CEO says that she can spare only 10 minutes to read the final version. What do you do?

The solution is to paraphrase and summarize the reports, so your boss gets only the key information that she needs, in a form that she can process quickly.

In this article, we explain how to paraphrase and how to summarize, and how to apply these techniques to text and the spoken word. We also explore the differences between the two skills, and point out the pitfalls to avoid.

What Is Paraphrasing?

When you paraphrase, you use your own words to express something that was written or said by another person.

Putting it into your own words can clarify the message, make it more relevant to your audience , or give it greater impact.

You might use paraphrased material to support your own argument or viewpoint. Or, if you're putting together a report , presentation or speech , you can use paraphrasing to maintain a consistent style, and to avoid lengthy quotations from the original text or conversation.

Paraphrased material should keep its original meaning and (approximate) length, but you can use it to pick out a single point from a longer discussion.

What Is Summarizing?

In contrast, a summary is a brief overview of an entire discussion or argument. You might summarize a whole research paper or conversation in a single paragraph, for example, or with a series of bullet points, using your own words and style.

People often summarize when the original material is long, or to emphasize key facts or points. Summaries leave out detail or examples that may distract the reader from the most important information, and they simplify complex arguments, grammar and vocabulary.

Used correctly, summarizing and paraphrasing can save time, increase understanding, and give authority and credibility to your work. Both tools are useful when the precise wording of the original communication is less important than its overall meaning.

How to Paraphrase Text

To paraphrase text, follow these four steps:

1. Read and Make Notes

Carefully read the text that you want to paraphrase. Highlight, underline or note down important terms and phrases that you need to remember.

2. Find Different Terms

Find equivalent words or phrases (synonyms) to use in place of the ones that you've picked out. A dictionary, thesaurus or online search can be useful here, but take care to preserve the meaning of the original text, particularly if you're dealing with technical or scientific terms.

3. Put the Text into Your Own Words

Rewrite the original text, line by line. Simplify the grammar and vocabulary, adjust the order of the words and sentences, and replace "passive" expressions with "active" ones (for example, you could change "The new supplier was contacted by Nusrat" to "Nusrat contacted the new supplier").

Remove complex clauses, and break longer sentences into shorter ones. All of this will make your new version easier to understand .

4. Check Your Work

Check your work by comparing it to the original. Your paraphrase should be clear and simple, and written in your own words. It may be shorter, but it should include all of the necessary detail.

Paraphrasing: an Example

Despite the undoubted fact that everyone's vision of what constitutes success is different, one should spend one's time establishing and finalizing one's personal vision of it. Otherwise, how can you possibly understand what your final destination might be, or whether or not your decisions are assisting you in moving in the direction of the goals which you've set yourself?

The two kinds of statement – mission and vision – can be invaluable to your approach, aiding you, as they do, in focusing on your primary goal, and quickly identifying possibilities that you might wish to exploit and explore.

We all have different ideas about success. What's important is that you spend time defining your version of success. That way, you'll understand what you should be working toward. You'll also know if your decisions are helping you to move toward your goals.

Used as part of your personal approach to goal-setting, mission and vision statements are useful for bringing sharp focus to your most important goal, and for helping you to quickly identify which opportunities you should pursue.

How to Paraphrase Speech

In a conversation – a meeting or coaching session, for example – paraphrasing is a good way to make sure that you have correctly understood what the other person has said.

This requires two additional skills: active listening and asking the right questions .

Useful questions include:

• If I hear you correctly, you're saying that…?
• So you mean that…? Is that right?
• Did I understand you when you said that…?

You can use questions like these to repeat the speaker's words back to them. For instance, if the person says, "We just don't have the funds available for these projects," you could reply: "If I understand you correctly, you're saying that our organization can't afford to pay for my team's projects?"

This may seem repetitive, but it gives the speaker the opportunity to highlight any misunderstandings, or to clarify their position.

When you're paraphrasing conversations in this way, take care not to introduce new ideas or information, and not to make judgments on what the other person has said, or to "spin" their words toward what you want to hear. Instead, simply restate their position as you understand it.

Sometimes, you may need to paraphrase a speech or a presentation. Perhaps you want to report back to your team, or write about it in a company blog, for example.

In these cases it's a good idea to make summary notes as you listen, and to work them up into a paraphrase later. (See How to Summarize Text or Speech, below.)

How to Summarize Text or Speech

Follow steps 1-5 below to summarize text. To summarize spoken material – a speech, a meeting, or a presentation, for example – start at step three.

1. Get a General Idea of the Original

First, speed read the text that you're summarizing to get a general impression of its content. Pay particular attention to the title, introduction, conclusion, and the headings and subheadings.

2. Check Your Understanding

Build your comprehension of the text by reading it again more carefully. Check that your initial interpretation of the content was correct.

3. Make Notes

Take notes on what you're reading or listening to. Use bullet points, and introduce each bullet with a key word or idea. Write down only one point or idea for each bullet.

If you're summarizing spoken material, you may not have much time on each point before the speaker moves on. If you can, obtain a meeting agenda, a copy of the presentation, or a transcript of the speech in advance, so you know what's coming.

Make sure your notes are concise, well-ordered, and include only the points that really matter.

The Cornell Note-Taking System is an effective way to organize your notes as you write them, so that you can easily identify key points and actions later. Our article, Writing Meeting Notes , also contains plenty of useful advice.

4. Write Your Summary

Bullet points or numbered lists are often an acceptable format for summaries – for example, on presentation slides, in the minutes of a meeting, or in Key Points sections like the one at the end of this article.

However, don't just use the bulleted notes that you took in step 3. They'll likely need editing or "polishing" if you want other people to understand them.

Some summaries, such as research paper abstracts, press releases, and marketing copy, require continuous prose. If this is the case, write your summary as a paragraph, turning each bullet point into a full sentence.

Aim to use only your own notes, and refer to original documents or recordings only if you really need to. This helps to ensure that you use your own words.

If you're summarizing speech, do so as soon as possible after the event, while it's still fresh in your mind.

5. Check Your Work

Your summary should be a brief but informative outline of the original. Check that you've expressed all of the most important points in your own words, and that you've left out any unnecessary detail.

Summarizing: an Example

So how do you go about identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and analyzing the opportunities and threats that flow from them? SWOT Analysis is a useful technique that helps you to do this.

What makes SWOT especially powerful is that, with a little thought, it can help you to uncover opportunities that you would not otherwise have spotted. And by understanding your weaknesses, you can manage and eliminate threats that might otherwise hurt your ability to move forward in your role.

If you look at yourself using the SWOT framework, you can start to separate yourself from your peers, and further develop the specialized talents and abilities that you need in order to advance your career and to help you achieve your personal goals.

SWOT Analysis is a technique that helps you identify strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats. Understanding and managing these factors helps you to develop the abilities you need to achieve your goals and progress in your career.

Permission and Citations

If you intend to publish or circulate your document, it's important to seek permission from the copyright holder of the material that you've paraphrased or summarized. Failure to do so can leave you open to allegations of plagiarism, or even legal action.

It's good practice to cite your sources with a footnote, or with a reference in the text to a list of sources at the end of your document. There are several standard citation styles – choose one and apply it consistently, or follow your organization's house style guidelines.

As well as acknowledging the original author, citations tell you, the reader, that you're reading paraphrased or summarized material. This enables you to check the original source if you think that someone else's words may have been misused or misinterpreted.

Some writers might use others' ideas to prop up their own, but include only what suits them, for instance. Others may have misunderstood the original arguments, or "twisted" them by adding their own material.

If you're wary, or you find problems with the work, you may prefer to seek more reliable sources of information. (See our article, How to Spot Real and Fake News , for more on this.)

Paraphrasing means rephrasing text or speech in your own words, without changing its meaning. Summarizing means cutting it down to its bare essentials. You can use both techniques to clarify and simplify complex information or ideas.

To paraphrase text:

• Read and make notes.
• Find different terms.
• Put the text into your own words.
• Check your work.

You can also use paraphrasing in a meeting or conversation, by listening carefully to what's being said and repeating it back to the speaker to check that you have understood it correctly.

To summarize text or speech:

• Get a general idea of the original.
• Check your understanding.
• Make notes.
• Write your summary.

Seek permission for any copyrighted material that you use, and cite it appropriately.

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2.7: Summarizing and Paraphrasing

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• Lumen Learning

Learning Objectives

• Summarize a passage of reading
• Paraphrase a passage of reading

Have you ever heard, “the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else”?

Writing a summary of a source is a very similar process to teaching someone the content—but in this case, the student you’re teaching is yourself.

Summarizing , or condensing someone else’s ideas and putting it into your own shortened form, allows you to be sure that you’ve accurately captured the main idea of the text you’re reading. When reading, summarizing is helpful for checking your understanding of a longer text and remembering the author’s main ideas. When writing, summarizing is critical when reviewing, writing an abstract, preparing notes for a study guide, creating an annotated bibliography, answering essay questions, recording results of an experiment, describing the plot of a fictional work or film, or writing a research paper.

How to Write Summary Statements

Use these processes to help you write summary statements:

• Underline important information and write keywords in the margin.
• Record ideas using a two-column note-taking system. Record questions you have about the text concepts in the left column and answers you find in the reading in the right column.
• Identify how concepts relate to what you already know.
• Add examples and details

For retaining key ideas as you read, write a summary statement at the end of each paragraph or section. For capturing the major ideas of the entire work, write a summary paragraph (or more) that describes the entire text.

Tips for Summary

For longer, overall summary projects that capture an entire reading, consider these guidelines for writing a summary:

• A summary should contain the main thesis or standpoint of the text, restated in your own words. (To do this, first find the thesis statement in the original text.)
• A summary is written in your own words. It contains few or no quotes.
• A summary is always shorter than the original text, often about 1/3 as long as the original. It is the ultimate fat-free writing. An article or paper may be summarized in a few sentences or a couple of paragraphs. A book may be summarized in an article or a short paper. A very large book may be summarized in a smaller book.
• A summary should contain all the major points of the original text , and should ignore most of the fine details, examples, illustrations or explanations.
• The backbone of any summary is formed by crucial details (key names, dates, events, words and numbers). A summary must never rely on vague generalities.
• If you quote anything from the original text, even an unusual word or a catchy phrase, you need to put whatever you quote in quotation marks (” “).
• A summary must contain only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.

Watch this video to see a walk-through explanation on how to summarize.

You can view the transcript for “Summarizing” here (opens in new window).

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20213

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is the act of putting an author’s ideas into your own words. When reading, paraphrasing is helpful for checking your understanding of what you read as well as remembering what you read. When writing, paraphrasing is an important skill to have when constructing a research paper and incorporating the ideas of others alongside your own.

Click to view the transcript for “Paraphrasing” here (opens in new window) .

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20214

paraphrasing : rewriting a passage of text in your own words

summarizing : condensing someone else’s ideas and putting it into your own shortened form

Contributors and Attributions

• Modification, adaptation, and original content. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• PQRST Script. Provided by : Lethbridge College. Located at : www.lethbridgecollege.net/elearningcafe/index.php/pqrst-script. Project : eLearning Cafe. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Summarizing. Provided by : Excelsior College. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/orc/what-to-do-after-reading/summarizing/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Why Use Quotes?. Authored by : The News Manual. Provided by : Media Helping Media. Located at : www.mediahelpingmedia.org/training-resources/journalism-basics/659-how-to-use-quotes-in-news-stories-and-features. License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
• How to Write an A-plus Summary of a Text. Authored by : Owen M. Williamson. Provided by : The University of Texas at El Paso. Located at : http://utminers.utep.edu/omwilliamson/engl0310/summaryhints.htm . License : Public Domain: No Known Copyright

Knowledge for Professional and Personal Development

Paraphrasing vs. Summarizing: Mastering the Art of Information Processing

Paraphrasing and summarizing are two key tools for incorporating information from your sources into written work. Although often confused, these processes serve distinct functions and require different skills.

Paraphrasing entails restating the author’s ideas in your own words, whereas summarizing distills the key points into a condensed form. Regardless of their length, both must be properly attributed to avoid plagiarism.

Defining the Techniques: Paraphrasing and Summarizing Explained

Key differences between paraphrasing and summarizing, similarities in paraphrasing and summarizing techniques, essential skills for effective paraphrasing and summarizing, practical applications of paraphrasing and summarizing in learning.

Whether you’re an academic student writing an essay for a class or a professional writer creating informative content for your business, paraphrasing and summarizing are crucial tools to have. Both involve rewriting content from a source in order to convey its key ideas and message, but they differ in some important ways.

Paraphrasing involves putting passages from a source into your own words while keeping their essential meaning. It also requires attribution to the original source. Paraphrased material is typically shorter than the original passage and may be based on a broader section of a source.

When practicing paraphrasing, it’s important to take a bit of time to consider each sentence before attempting to rewrite it. Removing unnecessary phrases and omitting repetitive information can help shorten the text, and it’s often helpful to substitute difficult-to-pronounce words with synonyms. However, it’s important to note that specialized subject vocabulary can be retained as long as it is accurate and clearly explains the same idea.

Summarizing is the process of taking a large chunk of text and condensing it into a brief paragraph or two. It should include only the most critical information and avoid introducing your own interpretation or opinion. This is particularly useful for providing an overview of the information found in a longer source. For example, a summary of an article about a species of sea snails would likely include the population decline and how this could be attributed to climate change. The author of the text may also choose to highlight specific evidence and examples to support these main points. This can be particularly effective in a written document, as it is often quicker to read than the full text.

While paraphrasing and summarizing both involve rewriting a passage into your own words, the two techniques differ in their length and information that is included. Paraphrasing tries to maintain the same meaning of the original text in your own words, while a summary shortens it to highlight only key points.

When you are writing a book report, for example, it may be helpful to paraphrase the plot and characters without revealing too many details. This technique can also be useful in presentations when you want to provide a concise overview of the main ideas and supporting evidence without going into too much detail.

For both paraphrasing and summarizing, it is important to be able to read the original passage and understand its meaning so that you can rewrite it in your own words. Avoid simply using the same words from the source in your new sentence or paragraph, as this is plagiarism. If you are unsure whether or not your paraphrased passage is a direct quotation, you can always check for plagiarism with various online tools.

Paraphrasing and summarizing are useful tools to have when creating academic writing, but it is important to be able to distinguish between the two in order to use them effectively. By understanding when to paraphrase and when to summarize, you will be able to improve your own writing skills and help others do the same.

Paraphrasing and summarizing are essential skills for any writer, but they are particularly useful when preparing academic papers or presenting research findings to an audience. By knowing the difference between these two methods, you will be able to write more effectively and efficiently for all of your assignments and projects.

While paraphrasing and summarizing are different writing techniques, they both involve restating information from a source in your own words. The goal of both strategies is to make the original text easier for your audience to understand without copying its exact wording, which could be considered plagiarism.

Both techniques require a thorough reading of the original text to fully grasp its meaning and then carefully rewrite it in your own words. You will need to use synonyms (words or expressions that have a similar meaning) and may also change the grammar and sentence structure. Specialist subject vocabulary should not be changed, and phrases that are unique to the original text must remain intact. You may also need to change the voice and/or form (e.g., active to passive or adverb to adjective).

When to Paraphrase and When to Summarize

In general, paraphrasing is used when the original material is lengthy, and you need to include important ideas from the source in your writing, but without using full sentences that directly copy the idea. For example, if you are using an entire chapter of a book as a resource for one point in your paper, you will need to paraphrase the ideas into your own words and keep the length of the writing appropriate for your paper.

On the other hand, if you are simply trying to reduce the length of a passage for your purposes, summarizing is an effective strategy. This will allow you to shorten the material while keeping key points and critical ideas intact. Summaries are particularly useful when you need to provide a quick overview of a topic, such as for a class presentation.

Paraphrasing and summarizing are essential skills for any writer. They allow you to incorporate the ideas of others into your own writing while maintaining your own voice and style. Using these techniques correctly can help you avoid plagiarism and ensure that your work is original. In addition, paraphrasing and summarizing are critical tools for ensuring that your writing is persuasive and clear.

Both processes require that you understand the meaning and message of the original source text. Paraphrasing requires that you rephrase the original text in your own words and sentence structure. This is often done by rereading the source text and then making notes on paper or a note card about the ideas that you want to include in your own writing. Summarizing, on the other hand, involves taking the main concepts and ideas of the source text and presenting them in a short passage. Summaries are usually shorter than paraphrases, but can be as long as the original source text.

Effective paraphrasing and summarizing can be used for a variety of purposes, including book reports, writing assignments, presentations, and research papers. When writing a book report, paraphrasing can help you convey the key themes and points of the story without revealing too many details. For presentations, a summary can provide a brief overview of the source material that you can use to get your audience’s attention and highlight the most important information. Finally, in research, paraphrasing and summarizing can help you organize the results of your research and make them easier to read and understand for others.

The skills of paraphrasing and summarizing are key tools for the effective integration of your sources into your writing. Along with proper citation, they help you to craft writing that is flowing and clear without committing plagiarism.

Paraphrasing involves putting the ideas of another writer into your own words while maintaining their original organization and structure. This technique can be helpful for clarifying complex concepts or explaining information contained in charts, tables and figures. The ability to paraphrase is also valuable in demonstrating the deeper comprehension of a subject you have gained through reading and research.

When you paraphrase, it is important to reread the original passage several times in order to fully understand its meaning and make sure your interpretation accurately reflects the ideas and words used by the author. It is also a good idea to use a highlighter or pen to mark the areas you have reworded so that it’s easy to identify where you’ve used your own words versus those of the original text.

In general, a paraphrase should be shorter than the original passage, although it can be roughly the same length as well. It is also important to check your paraphrase for repetition of words and phrases in order to reduce these occurrences as much as possible.

A summary is a condensed version of the original source material, and it should contain only the most essential elements of the work. A summary may be slightly longer than a paraphrase, but it should not be significantly longer, as this can detract from its effectiveness. When writing a summary, you should include a brief but descriptive sentence at the beginning of the passage to give readers context and provide them with a sense of the scope of the work.

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > The Difference Between Summarizing & Paraphrasing

The Difference Between Summarizing & Paraphrasing

Summarizing and paraphrasing are helpful ways to include source material in your work without piling on direct quotes. Understand the differences between these approaches and when to use each.

Summarizing vs. Paraphrasing: The Biggest Differences

Though summarizing and paraphrasing are both tools for conveying information clearly and concisely, they help you achieve this in different ways. In general, the difference is rooted in the scale of the source material: To share an entire source at once, you summarize; to share a specific portion of a source (without quoting directly, of course), you paraphrase.

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What is Summarizing?

Summarizing is simplifying the content of a source to its main points in your own words. You literally sum up something, distill it down to its most essential parts. Summaries cover whole sources rather than a piece or pieces of a source and don’t include direct quotes or extraneous detail.

How to Summarize

• Understand the original thoroughly. You may start by scanning the original material, paying close attention to headers and any in-text summaries, but once you’re sure that this source is something you’re going to use in your research paper , review it more thoroughly to gain appropriate understanding and comprehension.
• Take notes of the main points. A bulleted list is appropriate here-note the main idea of each portion of the source material. Take note of key words or phrases around which you can build your summary list and deepen your understanding.
• Build your summary. Don’t just use the list you’ve already created—this was a first draft . Craft complete sentences and logical progression from item to item. Double check the source material to ensure you’ve not left out any relevant points and trim anything extraneous. You can use a bulleted or numbered list here or write your summary as a paragraph if that’s more appropriate for your use. Make sure to follow the rules of parallelism if you choose to stay in list form.

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is rephrasing something in your own words; the word comes from the Greek para -, meaning “beside” or “closely resembling”, 1 combined with “phrase,” which we know can mean a string of words or sentences. 2 Paraphrasing isn’t practical for entire sources—just for when you want to highlight a portion of a source.

How to Paraphrase

• Read actively . Take notes, highlight or underline passages, or both if you please-whatever makes it easiest for you to organize the sections of the source you want to include in your work.
• Rewrite and revise. For each area you’d like to paraphrase, take the time to rewrite it in your own words. Retain the meaning of the original text, but don’t copy it too closely; take advantage of a thesaurus to ensure you’re not relying too heavily on the source material.
• Check your work and revise again as needed . Did you retain the meaning of the source material? Did you simplify the language of the source material? Did you differentiate your version enough? If not, try again.

Summarizing and paraphrasing are often used in tandem; you’ll likely find it appropriate to summarize an entire source and then paraphrase specific portions to support your summary. Using either approach for including sources requires appropriate citing, though, so ensure that you follow the correct style guide for your project and cite correctly.

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What's The Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing?

Have you ever read an article and struggled to understand the key ideas? Or maybe you've tried explaining a complex topic to someone else and realized you weren't quite sure of the main points yourself. Paraphrasing and summarizing are useful skills that can help. In this article, we'll explore some strategies and examples to help strengthen your paraphrasing and summarizing skills. Read on to become an expert at restating ideas in your own words.

Defining Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Paraphrasing and summarizing are two useful skills, but what exactly do they mean? Let's break it down:

What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing involves restating something in your own words while keeping the original meaning intact. When you paraphrase, you rephrase the way ideas or information are expressed, using synonyms and rearranging the structure of sentences and paragraphs. The key is to not copy word-for-word.

Some tips for effective paraphrasing:

• Read the original text multiple times to fully understand the meaning
• Identify the main ideas and arguments
• Restate those ideas and arguments in your own words using synonyms and restructuring sentences
• Double check that the paraphrased version accurately captures the meaning of the original
• Cite or reference the original source to avoid plagiarism

Paraphrasing allows you to explain concepts and share information in a personalized, easy to understand way. It demonstrates your understanding and ability to communicate ideas.

To enhance your content creation process, you can explore the use of tools like the Hypotenuse AI paraphrasing tool , which provides assistance in generating paraphrased content effortlessly.

What is Summarizing?

Summarizing involves briefly restating the main ideas, themes, or plot points of something in a concise way. The key is to condense longer pieces of information into a high-level overview by extracting only the most important elements.

Some tips for effective summarizing:

• Focus on the overall meaning and key takeaways, not specific details
• Identify the main subject, topic, setting, characters, events, etc. depending on what you're summarizing
• Keep summaries under 10% of the original length
• Use your own words and sentence structure
• Omit unnecessary examples, anecdotes, descriptions, and repetitions

Summarizing allows you to quickly share the essence of complex information in a simplified way. It shows you can synthesize and evaluate information to determine what's most significant. To summarize content effortlessly, one can try the Hypotenuse AI tool for summarization .

How To Paraphrase?

When paraphrasing, you convey the same ideas as the original text but in your own words and sentence structure. Here are some helpful tips to successfully paraphrase:

1. Read the original text thoroughly

Make sure you understand the full meaning and context of the original text. Read it more than once if needed. Look up any unfamiliar words or terms so you have a solid grasp of the ideas and details.

2. Identify the key ideas

Determine the central theme or message, as well as any important supporting ideas. These are what you will restate in your own words. Leave out insignificant details and examples.

3. Put the text aside and write in your own words

Do not look at the original text while you are writing your paraphrase. This will allow you to articulate the ideas in the way that feels most natural to you. Refer to your notes about the key ideas to make sure your restatement is accurate.

4. Use synonyms and reorganize

Replace words and phrases from the original text with synonyms and synonymous expressions. Also, reorganize or restructure sentences and paragraphs. For example, you can combine some sentences or split long sentences into shorter ones. Change the order of ideas or examples.

5. Vary your sentence structure

Avoid simply rearranging the words in the original sentences. Instead, create entirely new sentences in your own unique style. To maintain a smooth flow, use a mixture of simple and complex sentence structures. Remember to keep your language concise, but don't make it sound choppy.

6. Compare with the original

Once you have completed your paraphrase, review the original text again. Make sure that your version conveys all of the same key ideas, examples, and details. Look for any passages that seem too similar to the original—if there are any sentences or phrases that are verbatim or nearly verbatim, rephrase them in your own words.

Paraphrasing Examples

Here's an example of paraphrasing using AI:

Paraphrasing Example #1

The increased use of technology in the classroom continues to be a controversial issue in education. While some studies have found that technology can be distracting and negatively impact learning, other research has found that technology, when used appropriately, can enhance learning and engage students.

Paraphrase:

The use of technology in classrooms is a topic that sparks debate in education. Some studies suggest that technology can be a distraction and hinder learning, while others argue that when used properly, it can actually improve learning and capture students' attention.

Paraphrasing Example #2

The ability to paraphrase demonstrates several higher-order thinking skills including comprehension, abstraction, and reorganization of ideas. Paraphrasing requires understanding the essence and meaning behind a message, relating new ideas to familiar ones, and reconstructing the message in a new yet faithful way.

Paraphrasing is a skill that shows advanced thinking abilities like understanding, abstract thinking, and rearranging ideas. When you paraphrase, you need to grasp the main point and significance of a message, connect new ideas to ones you already know, and reconstruct the message in a fresh but accurate way.

Paraphrasing Example #3

Understanding the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing is crucial in academic writing. While both involve restating information in one's own words, they serve different purposes. Paraphrasing focuses on expressing the original text in a new way, maintaining the same level of detail and length. Summarizing, on the other hand, aims to condense the main ideas and key points of the text into a shorter version.

In academic writing, it's important to grasp the distinction between paraphrasing and summarizing. Although both involve rephrasing information using your own words, they serve different purposes. Paraphrasing is all about expressing the original text in a fresh manner while keeping the same level of detail and length. On the other hand, summarizing aims to condense the primary ideas and key points of the text into a shorter version.

How To Summarize?

Summarizing information effectively is a useful skill that can help in many areas of life. Here are some tips to keep in mind when summarizing:

1. Focus on the main ideas

Read through the entire piece you want to summarize and identify the most important concepts and themes. Ignore minor details and examples. Focus on capturing the essence of the key ideas.

If it's an article or book, read introductions, headings, and conclusions to get a sense of the central themes. As you read, ask yourself "What is the author trying to convey here?" to determine what's most significant.

2. Keep it short

A summary should be considerably shorter than the original work. Aim for about 1/3 of the length or less. Be concise by eliminating unnecessary words and rephrasing ideas efficiently. Use sentence fragments and bulleted lists when possible.

3. Maintain objectivity

Summarize the work factually without putting your own personal spin or opinions on the information. Report the key ideas in an impartial, balanced manner. Do not make judgments about the quality or accuracy of the content.

4. Check your work

Review and edit your summary to ensure it's clear, coherent, and captures the essence of the most significant themes and concepts in the source material—all in your own words. Get feedback from others if possible. Revise as needed to improve the summary.

Summarizing Examples

Here are some summarizing examples:

Summary Example #1

Regular exercise has been shown to have numerous positive effects on mental health. It can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, boost self-esteem, and enhance cognitive function. Exercise also promotes better sleep and stress management, contributing to overall well-being.

Regular exercise has many mental health benefits. It reduces anxiety and depression, improves mood, boosts self-esteem, and enhances cognitive function. Exercise also helps with sleep and stress management, promoting overall well-being.

Summary Example #2

Effective communication is essential in the workplace. It builds strong relationships among team members, enhances productivity, and promotes a positive work environment. Good communication involves active listening, clear and concise expression of ideas, and providing constructive feedback. It also involves understanding non-verbal cues and adapting communication styles to different individuals and situations. By fostering effective communication, organizations can minimize misunderstandings, resolve conflicts, and achieve their goals efficiently.

Effective workplace communication is vital. It builds relationships, increases productivity, and fosters a positive environment. It involves active listening, clear expression of ideas, and constructive feedback. Understanding non-verbal cues and adapting to others is important. It minimizes misunderstandings, resolves conflicts, and helps achieve goals efficiently.

Summary Example #3

Social media has become a pervasive part of modern society. It allows people to connect, share information, and engage with others across the globe. With platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, individuals can stay updated on current events, follow their favorite celebrities, and express their opinions freely. Social media has also revolutionized the way businesses operate by providing a platform for advertising, customer engagement, and brand building.

Social media is now an integral part of society, enabling people to connect, share information, and engage globally. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer updates, celebrity updates, and the freedom to express opinions. It has also transformed businesses, offering advertising, customer engagement, and brand building opportunities.

Summarize and Paraphrase with Hypotenuse AI

Now you know the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing and how to apply these skills in your own writing. Being able to restate ideas in your own words is such an important ability, and these techniques will make you a stronger writer and communicator. Next time you read an article or have a conversation, challenge yourself to paraphrase the main points to reinforce your understanding. And when you want to distill lots of information into a compact message, work on crafting a high-level summary.

Give Hypotenuse AI a try and witness the positive impact it can have on your writing journey. Happy writing!

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Module 2: Reading Strategies

Summarizing and paraphrasing, learning objectives.

• Summarize a passage of reading
• Paraphrase a passage of reading

Have you ever heard, “the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else”?

Writing a summary of a source is a very similar process to teaching someone the content—but in this case, the student you’re teaching is yourself.

Summarizing , or condensing someone else’s ideas and putting it into your own shortened form, allows you to be sure that you’ve accurately captured the main idea of the text you’re reading. When reading, summarizing is helpful for checking your understanding of a longer text and remembering the author’s main ideas. When writing, summarizing is critical when reviewing, writing an abstract, preparing notes for a study guide, creating an annotated bibliography, answering essay questions, recording results of an experiment, describing the plot of a fictional work or film, or writing a research paper.

How to Write Summary Statements

Use these processes to help you write summary statements:

• Underline important information and write keywords in the margin.
• Record ideas using a two-column note-taking system. Record questions you have about the text concepts in the left column and answers you find in the reading in the right column.
• Identify how concepts relate to what you already know.
• Add examples and details

For retaining key ideas as you read, write a summary statement at the end of each paragraph or section. For capturing the major ideas of the entire work, write a summary paragraph (or more) that describes the entire text.

Tips for Summary

For longer, overall summary projects that capture an entire reading, consider these guidelines for writing a summary:

• A summary should contain the main thesis or standpoint of the text, restated in your own words. (To do this, first find the thesis statement in the original text.)
• A summary is written in your own words. It contains few or no quotes.
• A summary is always shorter than the original text, often about 1/3 as long as the original.  It is the ultimate fat-free writing. An article or paper may be summarized in a few sentences or a couple of paragraphs. A book may be summarized in an article or a short paper. A very large book may be summarized in a smaller book.
• A summary should contain all the major points of the original text , and should ignore most of the fine details, examples, illustrations or explanations.
• The backbone of any summary is formed by crucial details (key names, dates, events, words and numbers). A summary must never rely on vague generalities.
• If you quote anything from the original text, even an unusual word or a catchy phrase, you need to put whatever you quote in quotation marks (” “).
• A summary must contain only the ideas of the original text. Do not insert any of your own opinions, interpretations, deductions or comments into a summary.

You can view the transcript for “Summarizing” here (opens in new window) .

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is the act of putting an author’s ideas into your own words. When reading, paraphrasing is helpful for checking your understanding of what you read as well as remembering what you read. When writing, paraphrasing is an important skill to have when constructing a research paper and incorporating the ideas of others alongside your own.

Click to view the transcript for “Paraphrasing” here (opens in new window) .

paraphrasing : rewriting a passage of text in your own words

summarizing : condensing someone else’s ideas and putting it into your own shortened form

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• An Introduction to Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Quoting

by jleemcga | Sep 6, 2023 | Resources for Students , Writing Resources

Whenever we’re assigned an essay or writing project that asks us to reference others’ ideas, it can be difficult to determine when to use our own words, the author’s words, or an overview of the text instead. These are all ways of integrating external source material into our own writing. It is important to feel comfortable paraphrasing, summarizing, and directly quoting within our writing in order to effectively and meaningfully reference our research and enhance our own credibility as writers.

Why Should I Paraphrase, Summarize, and Quote in My Writing?

The purpose for referencing external source material is to strengthen the evidence and reasoning within our own writing. If we’re writing an essay, reflection, discussion board post, or any written assignment that responds to other texts or a course topic, it is important that we know how to integrate credible and relevant information from other authors and sources on the same topic.

Doing so allows us to enter the scholarly conversation, which consists of the existing publications, discussions, and work surrounding a particular topic within a discipline. Think of it as pulling your chair up to the table where others are already seated and having a conversation; there is a topic laid out on the table, and several folks are already offering their perspectives and thoughts on the topic. You pull up your chair, listen to what others have to say first to help inform your own understanding of the topic (even though you may have an opinion already!), and then thoughtfully and carefully offer up your own point of view on the same topic for others to listen to. Just like with any conversation, we listen and respond to what others have to say before us in order to show respect, understanding, and objectivity. This is where paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting directly comes in handy— we can reference what others have said before us and respond. Being able to reference other source material allows us to:

• Provide credible support for our ideas
• Give a variety of examples and different perspectives on our topic
• Emphasize significant and interesting ideas from our research
• Acknowledge the ongoing scholarly conversation surrounding our topic

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Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing

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This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.

What are the differences among quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing?

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.

Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.

Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source material.

Why use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:

• Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing
• Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing
• Give examples of several points of view on a subject
• Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with
• Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original
• Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not your own
• Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams , Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).

How to use quotations, paraphrases, and summaries

Practice summarizing the essay found here , using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:

• Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
• Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.
• Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
• Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.

There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.

• Peterborough

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

Putting it in your own words, summarizing and paraphrasing, step one: skim the source, step two: take point-form notes, step three: close or put away the source, step four: turn your point-form notes into sentences.

• Step Five: Test What You Have Written to Ensure You Have Avoided Plagiarism

Step Six: Make Any Necessary Corrections

When writing a research paper, you, the writer, must incorporate into the paper the information and ideas you have learned in the course of your research that come from primary and secondary sources. Occasionally, it is appropriate to quote, but, usually, it is better to either paraphrase or summarize what you have learned. This task may seem simple; how often have we heard a teacher or instructor tell us to put what we have read “into our own words”? Yet, while easy to say, it is not so easy to do. 

It is important to be able to summarize and paraphrase correctly in order to effectively integrate your research into your essay without relying on direct quotation or committing plagiarism.

Summarizing – means rewriting something in your own words but shortening it by stating only the main idea and the supporting points you need for your purposes. A summary can be just one sentence or it can be much longer, depending on whether you are presenting a broad overview or a more thorough outline.

Paraphrasing – means rewriting something in your own words, giving the same level of detail as the source and at roughly the same length as the original. You may choose to paraphrase details or particular evidence and/or examples.

The choice between summarizing and paraphrasing depends on how much detail from the source you need for your paper. When you need the source’s main argument and/or supporting points, summarize. Or, you may summarize a section or part of a source, by identifying the section’s main point or idea. When you want all the details from a particular passage or section of a source, paraphrase. (Don’t try to paraphrase an entire source.)

Whether you decide to summarize or paraphrase a source, the process is similar. You just can’t cut and paste a chunk of text   into your essay draft and then change a few words here and there. You will remain too close to the source’s organization, sentence structure and phrasing. Instead follow these six steps.

Skim a source to determine what you need from it: its argument, a specific supporting point, and/or particular evidence. Identify exactly what information you want to go into your paper. This decision will help you decide how detailed your notes about this source should be.

For a paraphrase, the notes will be more detailed and extensive. For a summary, the notes will focus on the main points of a reading. Either way, taking notes is an acquired skill and takes practice.

The first stage in the note-taking process is illustrated below. The note-taker has decided to paraphrase the passage as it has lots of detailed information relevant to the paper being written. The note-taker then reads the passage, bolding the important information and ideas he or she wishes to capture for the paper, and then pauses to jot down notes.

In America today, millions of people leave their homes in a protracted and often futile search for healthy food for their families. Many walk out their front doors and see nothing but fast-food outlets and convenience stores selling high-fat, high-sugar processed foods; others see no food vendors of any kind . Without affordable fresh food options, especially fruit and vegetables, adults and children face fundamental challenges to making the healthy food choices that are essential for nutritious, balanced diets. And without grocery stores and other viable fruit and vegetable  merchants, neighborhoods lack a critical ingredient of vibrant, livable communities: quality food retailers that create jobs, stimulate foot traffic, and bolster local commerce .

(From: Bell.J. & Standish, M. (2009). Building healthy communities through equitable food access. Community Development Investment Review, 5 (3), 75-87.)

• For millions in the US: looking for healthy food to buy difficult. Why?
• Many neighbourhoods have no grocery stores: only fast-food and convenience stores

Convenience Stores:

• Sell high-fat, high-sugar candy, junk and processed food (anything healthy is more expensive?)

No grocery stores = fund. challenges to healthy eating

Neighbourhoods lack grocery stores, any kind of fruit and vegetable vendors that create jobs

• stimulate foot traffic (how? Usually surrounded by parking lots?)
• bolster local commerce

Overall effect:

• Hard to eat in healthy manner (lack of health? obesity?)
• Breakdown of vibrancy and livability of communities

The note-taker first identifies the main point of the passage. The notes are in point-form: the reason for not writing out full sentences is to break the connection with the original’s sentence structure. The note-taker also occasionally inserts questions for further analysis or follow-up.  Doing all of these things filters the information and ideas of the source through the note-taker’s own understanding.

If, instead of paraphrasing, you make the decision to summarize the passage, the notes would include only the major points of the passage.

This is a fairly self-explanatory step, but the point is that when you try to write about the information you have learned from this source, you do so without the source in front of you.

How to do this? Keep in mind that both paraphrasing and summarizing are about showing that you have internalized what you have read to the point where you can say it yourself. So, read over your notes two or three times, put those out of sight too, and, perhaps pretending you are explaining what you have just read to a fellow student or your instructor, write either your paraphrase/summary. Remember that, for a summary all you have to do is convey the main point and key supporting points of the passage, not the details.  

You need to make clear where the information and arguments come from, so it can be a good idea to start off with the author’s or authors’ name(s).  Writing “Bell and Standish argue that...” or “Bell and Standish’s main point is that...” is often a good way to get the words to start to flow. Remember you can rearrange the information, group it differently, or change the sequence slightly to suit your purposes; all of these actions will help you to write the paraphrase or summary in “your own words.”

Step Five: Test What You Have Written To Ensure You Have Avoided Plagiarism

If you followed the first four steps rigorously, you should pass this test. The way to test your writing is to go through your passage and the original passage and underline, highlight or put in bold the words that appear in both passages. There is no way to write a paraphrase or a summary that does not have some of the same words as the original, but doing this test will show you any places where you have lifted whole phrases or sentences and put them in your text.

Words appearing in both passages are in bold:

Bell and Standish (2009) make the point that, for millions of Americans, buying healthy, fresh food such as fruits and vegetables , takes a major effort because many neighbourhoods do not have grocery stores close by but only fast-food outlets and convenience stores . Convenience stores do not sell much healthy food but, instead, sell junk food , candy, and processed food hi gh in fat and sugar . Some neighbourhoods do not have food vendors of any kind .  Bell and Standish argue that these kinds of neighbourhoods are not just places in which it is difficult to buy and eat healthy food , they are also less vigorous and energetic, and less comfortable to live in because grocery stores and other healthy food vendors may encourage walking, create jobs , and support the local economy in other ways as well.

The test shows that while the two passages share many common words, there are very few exact copies of phrases in the paraphrase. Phrases such as “grocery store,” “healthy food,” “convenience store,” or “food vendors” are not unique turns of phrase that belong to one writer; they are common terms, so changing these words is not necessary. For example, “convenience store” is the best and most commonly used phrase for that particular kind of retail outlet; changing it would be artificial and less clear. (The same rule applies to technical and scientific terminology. These terms don’t belong to anyone, and there is no reason to try to find synonyms for them.)

Precisely how long can a phrase that is identical to one in the original source be before it becomes a problem? A phrase of three words is usually too long; it should be changed or included as a direct quotation. Based on this criteria, in the paraphrase, there are a couple of problematic phrases that should be changed:  “fast-food outlets and convenience stores,” and “food vendors of any kind.”

Words common to the original source and to the paraphrase are in bold:

Bell and Standish (2009) argue that for millions of Americans, healthy eating is a difficult task because many neighbourhoods do not have grocery stores close by, only fast-food restaurants or convenience stores . These neighbourhoods lack the jobs and economic support that grocery stores bring, thus making them less “vibrant” and “livable” (75).

The words in bold show that the summary passes the test. It’s usually a little easier to write a summary in your own words than to write a paraphrase in your own words because condensing and shortening will automatically ensure some change in organization, sentence structure and wording. In this case, the decision was made to quote the two final adjectives, “vibrant” and “livable”, as none of the synonyms were as descriptive in as few words.  

You may find a few exact phrases from your test; it is important to change them. In the paraphrase, “fast-food outlets and convenience stores” can be changed to “convenience stores or fast-food restaurants.” Similarly, “food vendors of any kind” can be changed to “any type of food vendor.”

Another technique to keep in mind is to occasionally quote a short phrase in the midst of your summary or paraphrase. For example, in the final sentence of the original passage, the authors used two adjectives, “vibrant” and “livable.” These appear in the paraphrase as “vigorous and energetic” and “comfortable for its residents to live in.” However, the authors are here using a distinctive turn of phrase to describe ideal communities as opposed to using common terms such as “convenience store” or “healthy food”. So, in this instance, another good choice would be to quote the authors:

...Bell and Standish argue that these kinds of neighbourhoods are not just places in which it is difficult to buy and eat healthy food, they are also less “vibrant” and less “livable” (75) because grocery stores and other healthy food vendors may encourage walking, create jobs, and support the local economy in other ways as well.

As you can see, learning how to paraphrase and to summarize your sources takes practice and patience. Following the six steps suggested here should ensure that you are successful in conveying information and ideas learned from your sources “in your own words”.

Paraphrasing VS Summarizing: Differences and Examples

• Smodin Editorial Team
• March 7, 2022

Composing a piece of text for an assignment or a blog can require you to perform thorough research, compose content, and ensure its uniqueness. That brings the need for paraphrasing the content and summarizing. However, the terms paraphrasing and summarizing are mistaken as synonyms. They are both related, but they are not the same. To clarify the concepts in this blog, we will focus on paraphrasing vs summarizing and their differences.

What is paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing refers to writing a piece of content again without changing its actual meaning. It would require you to read the text and present that in your own words. A paraphrased text can take the major part of the original text and can be generally shorter.

The need to paraphrase

From blogs to assignments, paraphrasing can be the call for creating content in different situations. For a broader picture, here is the set of reasons why you need to paraphrase:

• To refine the specific text from a short passage.
• To save from the overuse of quotations.
• To explain the word without focusing on wordings.
• To report statistics and numerical data.
• To share the crucial part of a passage.
• To avoid plagiarism.

How to paraphrase without the occurrence of any plagiarism issue?

Plagiarism refers to presenting the work of some other author as one’s. With many benefits and usage of paraphrasing, using content without plagiarism is another. Either through adding synonyms or changing the speech, there are different ways to paraphrase without plagiarizing. To facilitate it for you, here are the steps you can proceed with:

• Understand the meaning

Before you begin to compose the content in your own words, it is necessary for you to understand it properly. For this, you can read the resource several times, and you can even look for multiple references. It can allow you to have several sources and a lot of information.

• Note down the major points

  Whether you consider single or multiple references, you should note down the important points. With this, you can take the information and still not copy the same notion of the writer. You can use the material and phrase it in your words.

• Write your content

  Once you understand the meaning and take the major points, you can compose fresh content. While doing so, you must make sure that you do not have to look at the original passage and prepare for what you have understood.

• Compare the content

After writing your content, the next step should be comparing it with the original passage. It can allow you to evaluate the authenticity of the facts and check if you have missed any crucial information.

• Cite the Source

  Even if you write the content in your own words, citation helps track the original idea. It also gives the credit to the original source.

What does paraphrased content look like?

To get a clearer idea of paraphrased content, you can take a look at these examples of paraphrasing:

Original Content

Digital marketing has been a growing field in the past decades. It includes using different platforms to promote businesses. Its purpose is to connect to its target audience present in digital mediums.

Paraphrased Content

Over the past decades, digital marketing has become a booming field. It consists of promoting a brand while availing of the different digital platforms. It paves the way for businesses to reach their potential customers on various platforms.

Both of these passages have the same meaning but are written differently. The choices of the words are not the same, and in the first sentence only, there is a change in the sentence structure. That is how you can paraphrase the content.

What Is Summarizing?

Summary refers to a short review, a restatement of the major points, which is a conclusion of the work in most cases. With this, summarizing refers to composing a summary of the content or other resources. It has to communicate the most crucial part for the writer. You have to prepare it in your own words, and it has to state the information you want to emphasize.

When to Summarize?

Several benefits come with the need to summarize. First of all, it allows you to understand the structure in which the content has been organized and then combine them into the major parts. With this, you can focus on putting lights in the most crucial part of the text. Here are the conditions that require summarizing:

• To reduce the source material and bring out the major and relatable points.
• To remove extra information from the crucial source material.
• To make the material simple and easy to understand.

How to Summarize?

Summarizing involves taking the ideas from a text, which can be some other author. You must also add the citation information for sharing the source of the concept. You can use Smodin Summarizer to summarize all the texts you want. Like we did for paraphrasing, here is the step-by-step explanation of summarizing:

Find and Read

The first step you need to do is select the text. It can be four to five lines and can support the idea. After that, you have to thoroughly read it to get a detailed idea and understanding of the topic. You must prepare notes, and add the keywords, terms, and keywords you can use to understand it better.

Filter the Content

Once done with this, you have to filter the content you will compose into the summary. For this, you have to select the text you want to keep and eliminate the unnecessary. After sorting the material you have to include, you can write the summary in your own words.

Revise and Edit

After completing your summary, you have to read it and correct any mistakes. You also have to verify the facts presented over there. To attain that, you can compare it with the text and make sure that there are no aspects left for you to make changes.

Before submitting your summary, you must check if it can identify the writer of the actual text. It has to consist and combine the ideas initially written and present unbiased information.

What does summarizing look like?

To get a clear picture of what summarization can look like, let us present an example of the summary.

Here are a few paragraphs on the importance of language:

Language plays a crucial role in communication among people. After becoming a master in it, you can become well-versed with its grammar, the system of words, and structure to facilitate the exchange of thoughts and emotions. It is also essential to express the ideas and customs in societies and cultures. When you choose to learn the concepts of a new language, you can connect with new thoughts and ideas. You can also make yourself familiar with customs and the manner in which people greet each other.

The role of learning a language also encompasses professional growth as a person with a command of the global language can find more career possibilities. Several sectors and industries need professionals well-versed in common languages.

(Anonymous)

This is an anonymous paragraph, but it is necessary to identify the writer. So, let us assume that Dr. A has written it for a paper presented at University Y in 2020. The title is The influence of language on an individual . In that case, here is how you will present the summary of the paragraph:

In the paper on The influence of language on an Individual at Y University, Z, Dr. A presented his thoughts on language. It allows people to exchange their thoughts and ideas. Learning a new language can allow people to connect to new thoughts and ideas and learn about new customs. It can also pave the way for your growth at a professional level. This is because industries often look for professionals who master a commonly-spoken language.

About the Summary

This summary has the source, time, and writer while expressing the essential points. It also states the perception presented by the author but in a different and neutral manner.

Final Thoughts

Paraphrasing and summarizing are somehow different from each other. This blog has focused on putting some light on paraphrasing vs summarizing . Where paraphrasing is about conveying the same messages without shortening the length, summarizing explains the crucial points more succinctly. However, the need is to create plagiarism-free content through both the methods you prefer to go ahead with. Talking of composing unique content, Smodin.io can provide you with the tools to prepare an assignment/blog for you. All you need to do is copy your content, use it, and wait for fresh and distinct content.

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Paraphrasing and summarizing

Part 3: Chapter 9

Questions to consider

A. What are the qualities of a strong summary?

B. What, when, and why do scholars summarize?

A summary is a condensed version of a longer text. Summaries of different lengths are useful in research writing because they provide readers with an explanation of supporting material. The first step in writing a good summary is to do a thorough reading of the text. Even the strongest readers sometimes find very new, very complex, or very dense work difficult to process.

Read for comprehension by remaining engaged. Continuously ask and answer a few basic questions.

A. What is the unique point here?

B. Which ideas come from the author; which material is support cited from other sources?

C. How are the ideas connected (e.g. cause and effect? chronologically?)?

D. What is the likely conclusion?

Three steps to producing a strong summary

• Read for main ideas;
• articulate the primary message without relying too heavily on the original language (including vocabulary and sentence structure); then,
• draft a paraphrase that includes a citation giving credit to the source in the appropriate format.

Other summarizing guidelines

A quote is a direct restatement of the exact words from the original source. Using three or more words exactly as they appear in the original source is a quote. In contrast, a paraphrase is a restatement of the information or point of the original source. Paraphrases and quotes must always accompanied by a proper citation of the source.

Long and direct quotations are discouraged in research writing, especially in the STEM fields. Material incorporated from an outside source should be paraphrased in almost all situations. The use of direct quotes should be limited to when

• the exact words of the source are important, particularly with technical language, terms, or very specific word choices; or
• the author or speaker of the original language is uniquely powerful.

In higher level summaries, source information is generally restricted to the citation; it is not necessary to mention the author or their credentials, the article title, or the publication name in the summary. This is contrary to what many students learn in earlier writing instruction.

Following the order of the original source information is often tempting, as it seems well organized and effective (indeed, it has been published). However, summary writers may omit what they do not need and reorganize material to suit their purposes. These efforts can contribute to the freshness of the paraphrase when they are implemented well.

Finally, research writers must only summarize from an original source (the primary source ) and NOT the reference material (the secondary sources ) included for support.

Exercise #1 – Practice Summary

Read this discussion section from Does international work experience pay off? The relationship between international work experience, employability and career success: A 30-country, multi-industry study and then respond to the questions below.

1 Adopting a HCT perspective (Becker, 1993, 2008; Tan, 2014), we proposed and found that IWE, as an investment in human capital, is associated with higher perceived external employability, which in turn is positively related to promotions and subjective financial success. 2 Although this mediated relationship was not moderated by economic freedom as hypothesised, supplementary analyses that differentiated between short-term and long-term IWE however showed that, in countries with low economic freedom, the indirect relationships between short-term IWE and career success indicators through perceived external employability were more pronounced. 3 The present study thus highlights the role of perceived external employability as a core mediator underlying the IWE–career success link. 4 Including promotions and subjective financial success as indicators of both OCS and SCS provides a more nuanced picture of how IWE relates to career success. 5 Although the study focuses on specific indicators of OCS and SCS, the empirical findings have greater generalisability compared to much of research that precedes our study given that our results hold across a large-scale sample of employees in four broad occupational groups from 30 countries and more than 20 industries. 6 While empirical evidence overrepresents countries from the Anglo, Latin European and/or Germanic European clusters, our study incorporates a sample that includes countries from all GLOBE clusters (House et al., 2004) and thus many countries that have never been researched with respect to international assignments and career outcomes. [1]

HCT: human capital theory suggests education and training contribute to a person’s earning power IWE: international work experience OCS: objective career success SCS: subjective career success

• What is the main idea here? Is there only one?
• What language (words or phrases) cannot be paraphrased without compromising meaning?
• What material should not be included in the summary? Why?
• Draft two versions of a complete summary of this material including a citation in an appropriate format. Strive to make them grammatically distinct from each other and from the original.

The opinions or interpretation of the summary writer do not belong in a summary. When the assignment is an evaluative review, the author may inject information beyond the main idea of the summarized material.

Writers quote and paraphrase from research in order to support their points and to persuade their readers. A quote or a paraphrase from a piece of evidence in support of a point answers the reader’s question, “Says who?” This is especially true in academic writing since scholarly readers are most persuaded by effective research and documented evidence. For example, readers of an article about a new cancer medication published in a medical journal will be most interested in the research and statistics that demonstrate the effectiveness of the treatment. Conversely, they will not be as persuaded by emotional stories from individual patients about how a new cancer medication improved the quality of their lives. The real art to research writing is using evidence effectively to support the point. Certain rules of style are applied as prescribed by academic departments and publication editors, including which citation system to use.

Language in Action

A. How common are direct quotations in scholarly publications found in academic journals? Are they more or less common in publications meant for general consumption, like newspapers or internet blogs?

B. What is the strongest incentive for including and citing material from other sources?

Plagiarism awareness

Plagiarism is the unauthorized or uncredited use of the writings or ideas of another. While it might not be as tangible as stealing a car or robbing a bank, plagiarism is still a form of theft. The use of artificial intelligence programs (like Chat GPT ) does not produce original writing a researcher can call their own. As these resources become increasingly available, it is important for writers to focus on producing their own sentences, paragraphs, theses and ideas that they can explain and defend.

In the academic world, plagiarism is a serious matter because ideas in the forms of research, creative work, and original thought are highly valued. As it is a form of academic dishonesty, most schools have strict rules about what happens when someone is caught plagiarizing.

Like theft, plagiarism can take several different forms. The most well-known, purposeful plagiarism is submitting work written by someone else or material copied word for word from a source.

Both purposeful and accidental plagiarism are wrong, violate established rules, and often result in harsh punishments. Ignoring or not knowing the rules of how to properly cite evidence might be explanations, but they are not acceptable excuses.

Here are examples that use quotations and paraphrases from this original text from Cyberculture as translated by Robert Bononno:

1 Those who denounce cyberculture today strangely resemble those who criticized rock music during the fifties and sixties. 2 Rock started out as an Anglo-American phenomenon and has become an industry. 3 Nonetheless, it was able to capture the hopes of young people around the world and provided enjoyment to those of us who listened to or played rock. 4 Sixties pop was the conscience of one or two generations that helped bring the war in Vietnam to a close. 5 Obviously, neither rock nor pop has solved global poverty or hunger. 6 But is this a reason to be “against” them? (ix).

Source: Lévy, P. (2001). Cyberculture. Minneapolis, Minn.: University of Minnesota Press.

Examples of plagiarized work

First, an obvious example of plagiarism from that article.

1 Those who denounce cyberculture today strangely resemble those who criticized rock music during the fifties and sixties.

The writer has literally taken one of Lévy’s sentences and represented it as her own.

Another example:

1 The people who criticize cyberculture are the same kind of people who criticized rock and roll music back in the fifties and sixties. But both cyberculture and rock music inspire and entertain young people.

While these aren’t Lévy’s exact words, they are certainly close enough to constitute a form of plagiarism.

Examples of acceptable paraphrasing

These are stronger paraphrases, although the use of a direct quotation is not ideal.

1 Pierre Lévy suggests that people who criticize cyberculture are the same kind of people who criticized rock and roll music back in the fifties and sixties. But both cyberculture and rock music inspire and entertain young people (ix).

1 In the introduction of his book Cyberculture, Pierre Lévy observes that “Those who denounce cyberculture today strangely resemble those who criticized rock music during the fifties and sixties” (ix).

Note that changing these passages from examples of plagiarism to acceptable examples of a quotation and a paraphrase is only achieved by properly citing the source.

Often, students are unclear as to whether they need to cite a piece of evidence because they believe it to be common knowledge or because they are not sure about the source of information. What is common knowledge in a field is typically seen without a citation in a range of publications (from journal articles to dissertations and textbooks). [2]

Review and Reinforce

A. How does the research of others influence readers?

B. How much material from outside sources is required to support a message or thesis statement?

Exercise #2

1 In Taiwan, the delayed graduation of graduate students has become an important educational issue of social concern (Ho et al., 2020). 2  Gardner (2009) found that the reasons for the low graduation rate of doctoral students include being unable to complete their degree theses, among others. 3 The completion of the degree thesis is an important milestone and the biggest obstacle for graduate students (Blum, 2010).  4 Muszynski (1990) found that graduate students who fail to graduate in time may be uninterested in the research topic, have low academic confidence, or have too many research papers to complete.  5 Spaulding and Rockinson-Szapkiw (2012) interviewed 76 doctoral graduates and found that motivation, persistence factors, and completion strategies were necessary to complete their dissertations. [3]

1. Consider the above opening paragraph from A Study of Graduate Students’ Achievement Motivation, Active Learning, and Active Confidence Based on Relevant Research .

2. Then look at a paragraph from one of its primary sources (sentence #4 above), Hearing their Voices: Factors Doctoral Candidates Attribute to their Persistence .

1 When participants were interviewed, they worked in different states and professional settings across the United States and earned their degrees from varying institutions across the span of five decades (Participant 3 – 1976; Participant 36 – 2011); however, each participant shared one common experience—doctoral persistence, evidenced by the completion of an educational doctorate. 2 Though the contexts differed and motivations for pursuing the degree varied, participants all cited various personal sacrifices along the way, often found their completion expectations to be unrealistic due to a myriad of intervening factors, and largely found the dissertation to be the most challenging aspect of the degree completion process. 3 However, because they were both personally and professionally motivated to begin the degree, had compelling reasons to persist, developed an array of resilience mechanisms, and generated strategies for dissertation completion, these participants evaded becoming an attrition statistic, unlike presumably half of their peers (Ivankova & Stick, 2007; Nettles & Millet, 2006), and currently hold a terminal degree in their discipline. [4]

3. Evaluate how and why the supporting material was incorporated.

Media Attributions

• masks © Edmonton Economic Development Corporation is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike) license
• Andresen, M., Lazarova, M., Apospori, E., Cotton, R., Bosak, J., Dickmann, M., Kaše, R., & Smale, A. (2022). Does international work experience pay off? The relationship between international work experience, employability and career success: A 30-country, multi-industry study. Human Resource Management Journal , 32(3), 698–721. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12423 ↵
• Adapted from Krause, S. (2021, March 23). The Process of Research Writing Retrieved June 2, 2021, from https://human.libretexts.org/@go/page/6460 ↵
• Chang, J.-C., Wu, Y.-T., & Ye, J.-N. (2022). A Study of Graduate Students’ Achievement Motivation, Active Learning, and Active Confidence Based on Relevant Research . Frontiers in Psychology,  13, 915770–915770. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915770 ↵
• Spaulding, L. S., & Rockinson-Szapkiw, A. (2012). Hearing their Voices: Factors Doctoral Candidates Attribute to their Persistence.  International Journal of Doctoral Studies , 7, 199-219. https://doi.org/10.28945/1589 ↵

a condensed version of a longer text

a direct restatement of the exact words from the original source

a restatement of the information or point of the original source in entirely new wording

a reference presenting their own data and information

reference material used and cited by a primary source

to act of presenting another source of information or ideas as one's own work; literary theft

Sourcing, summarizing, and synthesizing:  Skills for effective research writing  Copyright © 2023 by Wendy L. McBride is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Summarizing and Paraphrasing in Academic Writing

“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.” – Ernest Hemingway

Plato considers art (and therefore writing) as being mimetic in nature. Writing in all forms and for all kinds of audience involves thorough research. Often, there is a grim possibility that an idea you considered novel has already been adequately explored; however, this also means there are multiple perspectives to explore now and thereby to learn from.

Being inspired by another’s idea opens up a world of possibilities and thus several ways to incorporate and assimilate them in writing, namely, paraphrasing , summarizing, and quoting . However, mere incorporation does not bring writing alive and make it appealing to readers . The incorporation of various ideas must reflect the writer’s understanding and interpretation of them as well.

What is Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing in Academic Writing?

Purdue OWL defines these devices of representation quite succinctly:

Therefore, paraphrasing and summarizing consider broader segments of the main text, while quotations are brief segments of a source. Further, paraphrasing involves expressing the ideas presented from a particular part of a source (mostly a passage) in a condensed manner, while summarizing involves selecting a broader part of a source (for example, a chapter in a book or an entire play) and stating the key points. In spite of subtle variations in representation, all three devices when employed must be attributed to the source to avoid plagiarism .

Related: Finished drafting your manuscript? Check these resources to avoid plagiarism now!

Why is it Important to Quote, Paraphrase, and Summarize?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve the purpose of providing evidence to sources of your manuscript. It is important to quote, paraphrase, and summarize for the following reasons:

• It adds credibility to your writing
• It helps in tracking the original source of your research
• Delivers several perspectives on your research subject

Quotations/Quoting

Quotations are exact representations of a source, which can either be a written one or spoken words. Quotes imbue writing with an authoritative tone and can provide reliable and strong evidence. However, quoting should be employed sparingly to support and not replace one’s writing.

How Do You Quote?

• Ensure that direct quotes are provided within quotation marks and properly cited
• A Long quote of three or more lines can be set-off as a blockquote (this often has more impact)
• Short quotes usually flow better when integrated within a sentence

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is the manner of presenting a text by altering certain words and phrases of a source while ensuring that the paraphrase reflects proper understanding of the source. It can be useful for personal understanding of complex concepts and explaining information present in charts, figures , and tables .

How Do You Paraphrase?

• While aligning the representation with your own style (that is, using synonyms of certain words and phrases), ensure that the author’s intention is not changed as this may express an incorrect interpretation of the source ideas
• Use quotation marks if you intend to retain key concepts or phrases to effectively paraphrase
• Use paraphrasing as an alternative to the abundant usage of direct quotes in your writing

Summarizing

Summarizing involves presenting an overview of a source by omitting superfluous details and retaining only the key essence of the ideas conveyed.

How Do You Summarize?

• Note key points while going through a source text
• Provide a consolidated view without digressions for a concrete and comprehensive summary of a source
• Provide relevant examples from a source to substantiate the argument being presented

“Nature creates similarities. One need only think of mimicry. The highest capacity for producing similarities, however, is man’s. His gift of seeing resemblances is nothing other than a rudiment of the powerful compulsion in former times to become and behave like something else.” –Walter Benjamin

Quoting vs Paraphrasing vs Summarizing

Research thrives as a result of inspiration from and assimilation of novel concepts. However, do ensure that when developing and enriching your own research, proper credit is provided to the origin . This can be achieved by using plagiarism checker tool and giving due credit in case you have missed it earlier.

Source: https://student.unsw.edu.au/paraphrasing-summarising-and-quoting

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What is the Difference Between Summarizing and Paraphrasing?

Welcome, avid readers and students! In our journey through learning and understanding, it’s crucial to grasp the difference between summarizing and paraphrasing. Why? Because knowing how to use each skill can make your studies and reading more effective. This article is your guide to distinguishing between the two and applying them smartly in your learning process.

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Contents of the Article

Is Paraphrasing the Same as Summarizing?

• Here, we’ll explore the basic definitions and common confusions between paraphrasing and summarizing.

How Is Paraphrasing Different from Summarizing?

• This section dives into the distinct characteristics that set paraphrasing and summarizing apart.

What Is the Difference Between Paraphrasing and Summarizing?

• We’ll look closely at the unique purposes and methods of each approach.

Paraphrase vs Summary Examples

• Practical examples will be provided to help you see these concepts in action.
• Discover how Mindgrasp AI can be your ally in mastering these skills for academic and professional success.

Get ready to enhance your understanding and make your study sessions more productive with the insights from this article!

 summary vs paraphrase

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• Getting Straight A's Easily with Canvas Chrome Extensions
• How to Write a Summary and Analysis Essay

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Understanding whether paraphrasing is the same as summarizing is vital for students and readers alike. Here are four key points to consider:

• Paraphrasing involves rewording a text to clarify meaning.
• Summarizing condenses the main ideas of a text into a brief overview.
• Paraphrased content usually remains close to the original length.
• Summaries are significantly shorter, capturing only the essence.

Detail Level

• Paraphrasing retains most original details but changes the language.
• Summarizing distills only the most crucial points.

Originality

• Paraphrasing requires using different words while maintaining the original message.
• Summarizing focuses on presenting the core ideas in a compact form.

Explaining the Differences with Examples:

• When you paraphrase, you might rephrase a complex theory in simpler terms for better understanding. 
• In contrast, summarizing a theory would mean giving a quick snapshot of its key concepts, possibly in one or two sentences.
• If a scientific article is paraphrased, the new version would still detail all essential points but with different wording. 
• A summary, however, would only highlight the article’s main findings or conclusions, leaving out specific details.
• Paraphrasing a historical event would involve describing it with new words, keeping all significant facts. 
• Summarizing the same event might only focus on the outcome and its historical significance.
• Paraphrasing a speech involves changing words and sentence structures while keeping the speaker’s original intent. 
• In summarizing, you’d condense the speech to its key messages or takeaways.

 is paraphrasing the same as summarizing

Mindgrasp can serve as an effective tool in both paraphrasing and summarizing. Whether you’re working on essays, research papers, or just trying to understand complex texts, Mindgrasp’s AI technology helps reword content for clarity or condense it for brevity, making your learning and writing process more efficient and effective.

“Upload everything from powerpoint's to books or videos and generate anything from summaries to notes, flash cards and quizzes.”

Understanding when to use paraphrasing versus summarizing is key to effective communication and learning. Here’s a guide on specific circumstances where each technique is most appropriate:

• Academic Writing
• Paraphrasing: Ideal for discussing a source’s ideas in detail. Use it to explain, expand, or comment on specific points without altering the original meaning.
• Summarizing: Best for literature reviews or conclusions where you need to present the gist of various sources concisely.
• Research and Reports
• Paraphrasing: Useful when presenting complex data or theories. It helps simplify these concepts while keeping the essential details.
• Summarizing: Effective in abstracts or executive summaries where a brief overview of the entire content is required.
• Studying and Note-Taking
• Paraphrasing: Helps in understanding and remembering detailed information by rephrasing it in your own words.
• Summarizing: Great for quick revision or when creating an outline of the studied material.
• Communication and Presentations
• Paraphrasing: Beneficial in discussions or meetings to restate others’ points for clarity or to show comprehension.
• Summarizing: Useful in presentations or briefings to convey the main points of a topic or discussion quickly.

Each technique has its unique strengths. Mindgrasp, with its advanced AI, supports both paraphrasing and summarizing, aiding in better understanding, retaining, and communicating information effectively, whether you’re a student or a professional.

how is paraphrasing different from summarizing

Understanding the specific details to include in a summary versus a paraphrase is crucial for effective writing and comprehension. Here’s how the details differ in each method:

• Main Ideas vs. Specifics
• Summary: Focuses on the central theme or main ideas of the text. It’s essential to identify and include only the key concepts or arguments.
• Paraphrase: Covers specific details and explanations. While the words are changed, the detailed content and meaning of the original text are preserved.
• Brevity vs. Comprehensiveness
• Summary: Requires condensing the material. This involves omitting examples, illustrations, and secondary information to keep it brief.
• Paraphrase: Maintains the comprehensive nature of the source. All the original points, including examples and detailed explanations, are rewritten but kept intact.
• Author’s Intent vs. Interpretation
• Summary: Captures the author’s intent and purpose. It’s about reflecting the original message in a condensed form without personal interpretation.
• Paraphrase: Allows for some degree of interpretation, as the writer rephrases the 

content in their own words while staying true to the original message.

• Structure and Flow
• Summary: Often follows a different structure from the source. It’s a standalone version that distills the source material into a cohesive, brief format.
• Paraphrase: Mimics the structure and flow of the original text, providing a detailed, point-by-point restatement.

In summary, the details in a summary are about condensation and focus on main ideas, while paraphrasing retains all details but changes the wording. Mindgrasp can help you master these skills, offering tools to summarize and paraphrase texts effectively, enhancing your academic and professional toolkit.

what is the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing

Finding examples of paraphrasing and summarizing can greatly aid in understanding their applications and differences. Here are some sources where you can find such examples and why they’re beneficial:

• Academic Textbooks and Journals
• Textbooks: Often contain examples of both paraphrased content and summaries, especially in research methodology sections.
• Journals: Reading research papers provides real-world examples of how complex information is paraphrased or summarized for academic purposes.
• Benefit: Helps in understanding how to apply these techniques in academic writing and research.
• Educational Websites and Online Forums
• Websites: Sites dedicated to writing skills or academic resources often provide practical examples.
• Forums: Places like academic forums or writing communities share and critique paraphrasing and summarizing efforts.
• Benefit: Offers a diverse range of examples and peer insights, enhancing understanding through community learning.
• Writing Guides and Workshops
• Guides: Writing handbooks and guides typically include sections with annotated examples.
• Workshops: Writing workshops or seminars often provide exercises that include examples of both techniques.
• Benefit: Provides structured learning and professional advice on using each method effectively.
• Mindgrasp AI Tool
• AI Examples: Mindgrasp can generate examples of both paraphrased and summarized content from any given text.
• Interactive Learning: Offers the opportunity to see how the AI interprets and applies these techniques to various texts.
• Benefit: Assists in learning through interactive and AI-driven examples, tailored to individual learning styles and needs.

Utilizing these resources to view examples of paraphrasing and summarizing can significantly enhance your understanding of their distinct uses and benefits, particularly in academic and professional contexts.

paraphrase vs summary examples

Use This AI to Learn and Implement the Differences: Paraphrase vs Summary

In conclusion, here are the key points we’ve covered:

• Purpose and Use: Understanding when to paraphrase or summarize is crucial in academic writing, research, studying, and communication.
• Length and Detail: Paraphrasing retains length and detail, while summarizing condenses the text to its essence.
• Main Ideas vs. Specifics: Summaries focus on central themes; paraphrases include specific details.
• Structure and Flow: Summaries often have a different structure; paraphrases mirror the original text’s flow.
• Real-World Examples: Academic textbooks, educational websites, and Mindgrasp AI provide practical examples.
• Mindgrasp AI’s Role: This tool offers tailored paraphrasing and summarizing, enhancing understanding and application.

Paraphrasing and summarizing are invaluable skills, especially for students and professionals who deal with extensive information. Mastering these techniques improves comprehension, communication, and efficiency in academic and professional settings. Mindgrasp emerges as a powerful ally in this learning journey. Its advanced AI technology not only provides real-time examples of paraphrasing and summarizing but also guides users in applying these techniques effectively. Whether you’re drafting a research paper, preparing study notes, or engaging in thoughtful discussions, Mindgrasp is the efficient and effective solution for your paraphrasing and summarizing needs. 

Check out the Mindgrasp blog to learn more about our tool! Everything from student use-cases, to how lawyers and medical professionals use AI. All that and more is there as we take a deep dive into the future of AI.

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How to summarize an article

Table of contents

Have you ever had to write a summary of an article for a school assignment, a business report, or a personal project?

Summarizing an article is an important skill that can help you to extract the most relevant information from a text, present it in a concise and clear way, and avoid plagiarism.

But how to summarize an article effectively? What are the steps involved? How long should a summary be? And how can you use an AI writer like Writesonic to simplify and speed up the process?

This blog post will answer these questions and give you some tips to summarize an article like a pro. So, let’s get started.

Table Of Contents

What is a summary.

A summary is a brief statement of the main points and ideas of an article in your own words.

A summary does not include your opinions, interpretations, or analysis of the article. It only focuses on what the author has said and how they have said it.

In a nutshell, a summary is a short, concise explanation of a text. A summary should include the most important points of the text and should be accurate, objective, and coherent. A good summary should be able to stand on its own and should not require the reader to go back and read the original text in order to understand it.

How to summarize an article - step by step

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for summarizing an article, but here are some general steps that you can follow:

Read the entire piece

The first step is to read the article carefully and thoroughly without skipping or skimming any parts. Reading the entire piece will help you get a full understanding of the author's argument and allow you to summarize the main points of the article. Also learn how to write an article first in order to come up with a summary.

So, as you read, pay attention to the title, the introduction, the headings, the conclusion, and any keywords, phrases, or examples that the author uses to support their arguments.

Try to understand the main purpose, audience, and tone of the article because that’s what you need to convey in your summary.

Finally, keep in mind that a summary should be shorter than the original text, so try to include all the points in a very crisp and clear way.

List out the important points

After reading the article, make a list of the important points that the author has made. These are the points that you will include in your summary.

To make sure you don’t miss out on any important pointers, prepare a list. Use bullet points, numbers, or keywords to organize your list. You can also highlight, underline, or take notes on the article as you read, to help you remember the important points.

Remember, the goal is to provide a clear and concise overview of the information that is already known.

Understand the main idea of the article

In order to write a summary of an article, it is important to first understand the main idea of the piece. To do this, one must read the article and take note of the key points. Once the main idea is understood, it becomes easier to identify the most important information to include in the summary. When writing the summary, you can use the paraphrasing tool as it would help you maintain the same tone as the original article.

Next, try to identify the main idea of the piece or article. You can take help from a blog idea generator to help with topics. This is the central message or argument that the author wants to convey to the readers. It is usually stated in the introduction or the conclusion of the article or implied throughout the text.

To do this, one must read the article and take note of the key points. Once the main idea is understood, it becomes easier to identify the most important information to include in the summary.

Also, keep in mind when writing the summary, it is also important to maintain the same tone as the original article. Learn how to rewrite a sentence to maintain the originality.

Write the summary

After reading, understanding, and listing out the main points, comes the most important part - writing the actual summary!

So, start with a sentence that introduces the title, the author, and the main idea of the article. Then, write one or two paragraphs summarizing the important points you have listed, using your own words and paraphrasing the author's expressions.

Avoid adding any new information, opinions, or details that are not mentioned in the article. You can use transitional words and phrases to connect your sentences and make your summary flow. Finally, end with a sentence that wraps up the summary and restates the main idea of the article.

Review for clarity

Finally, review your summary for clarity, accuracy, and completeness.

Check if you have included all the essential points and ideas of the article and if you have expressed them clearly and objectively. Make sure there are no grammatical errors, and the summary is plagiarism-free.

Check if your summary is coherent, logical, and concise. You can also ask someone else to read your summary and give you feedback.

Once you have the summary ready and you want to distrute it on different platforms, you can use a paragraph rewriter to generate a different version of the summary keeping the meaning intact.

How to use Writesonic to summarize an article

Looking to save time and effort and still produce a high-quality summary of an article? Use an AI writing tool like Writesonic. From blog posts and landing pages to ad copy and social media posts, it can help with various types of content.

Writesonic’s text summarizer is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that can generate summaries of articles. Here is how you can use Writesonic to summarize an article:

• Go to writesonic.com and sign up for a free account or log in if you already have one.
• Click on the "Article Summarizer" option on the dashboard.
• Paste the URL or the text of the article that you want to summarize in the input box.
• Choose the language and quality type (Premium, good, average, or economy - it is recommended to select Premium for better results).
• Click on the "Generate" button and wait for a few seconds. And ta-da! Here’s your summary, generated by Writesonic.
• You can edit, copy, or download the summary as you wish. You can also generate more summaries by clicking on the "Generate more" button and comparing them to choose the best one.

Here’s a glimpse:

How long a good summary needs to be?

There is no definitive answer to how long a summary needs to be, as it depends on the purpose, the audience, and the length of the original article.

However, a general rule of thumb is that a summary should be about 10% of the length of the article. For example, if the article is 1000 words, the summary should be around 100 words.

Of course, this is not a strict rule, and you can adjust the length of your summary according to your needs and preferences.

Tips for summarizing an article

Here are some tips to help you summarize an article more effectively:

• Read the article more than once, if necessary, to fully understand it.
• Use the inverted pyramid style, which means starting with the most important information and ending with the least important.
• Use direct quotations sparingly and only when they are essential or powerful.
• Use reporting verbs, like states, argues, claims, explains, etc., to introduce the author's points and ideas.
• Compare your summary with the original article, and make sure you have not missed or distorted anything.
• Proofread your summary for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
• To make your summary more appealing, add an image. Try using Photosonic to generate unique and catchy images.

Summarizing…

Summarizing an article is a useful skill that can help you to understand, remember, and communicate the key information and ideas of a text.

To summarize an article, you need to read the entire piece, list out the important points, understand the main idea, write the summary, and review for clarity. You can follow the above-listed tips, such as using your own words, using the inverted pyramid style, and using reporting verbs. Or you can quickly generate a summary with the help of Writesonic .

It can help you to create summaries that are accurate, concise, and coherent and that suit your purpose and tone. Try Writesonic today and see how it can boost your writing productivity and creativity.

Pragati Gupta

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• Student Generative AI Usage Guidance
• Artificial Intelligence Guidelines and Resources
• Specific Usage Guidelines

Last edited on January 18, 2024

Responsible use of generative AI

We invite students to explore and innovate with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. However, such tools must be used ethically and you must understand their limitations. The principles and guidelines below aim to ensure both academic integrity and a productive, ethical engagement with advanced AI technologies.

• Leverage AI for brainstorming, research (in line with the second guideline), and problem analysis. However, never use it as a shortcut for assignments.
• For instance, don’t feed assignment questions into AI tools and simply copy the output as your response.
• Approach AI with a critical mindset, evaluating its results for potential biases, limitations, and ethical ramifications.
• Be mindful of privacy, intellectual rights, and confidentiality when working with AI.
• Always ensure the data used adheres to pertinent standards and regulations.
• You're in charge. Any error on the AI's part that you adopt becomes your error.
• If you're uncertain about the authenticity of any output, validate it through research. If you can't confirm its accuracy, omit it.
• Essentially, you must treat AI-produced content as if you authored it, ensuring proper attributions, factual accuracy, and source verifications.
• Any use of AI in your work should be transparently mentioned in your submissions.
• Further guidance on citing AI usage is provided subsequently.
• Abide by these guidelines unless I provide explicit directives for a particular assignment or test.
• You must ascertain adherence to the appropriate guidelines.
• Refrain from inputting personal or confidential details (like your One Card information) into AI platforms.
• Such actions risk significant data breaches, so avoid them.

AI usage guidance:

Specific examples of how AI can be used in different writing assignments (e.g., research papers, essays, presentations).

• Example 1: Using AI-powered writing tools to check for grammar and plagiarism.
• Example 2: Using AI to generate outlines and topic ideas for writing assignments.
• Example 3: Using AI to translate text from one language to another.

Plagiarism and academic integrity issues associated with using AI

• Direct copying without citation: AI can generate text that resembles plagiarism unless properly cited and used responsibly.
• Paraphrasing without understanding: AI paraphrasing tools can result in unintentional plagiarism if not used with critical thinking and proper attribution.
• Creating "original" work with unoriginal ideas: AI-generated text can lack originality and depth, leading to superficial work that fails academic standards.
• Over-reliance on AI tools: Over-dependence on AI tools can hinder the development of critical thinking, writing, and research skills.
• Use AI for inspiration and support, not as a substitute for original thinking and writing.
• Always fact-check and verify information generated by AI.
• Properly cite all sources, including AI-generated content.
• Paraphrase and summarize information in your own words and understanding.
• Focus on developing and demonstrating your own analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Seek guidance and clarification from instructors if unsure about proper AI usage.
• Maintain a strong understanding of academic integrity policies and uphold ethical conduct.

Additional resources

• Scan for Plagiarism
• The 7 best AI paraphrasing tools in 2024

For more information, please contact us at  [email protected]

We would love to hear your thoughts. Please   share your feedback   on Student Generative AI Usage Guidance

This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.

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Key takeaways from the Biden administration executive order on AI

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Key takeaways from the biden administration executive order on ai (pdf), biden ai eo key deadlines (pdf).

O n 30 October, President Biden issued a sweeping  executive order  (“Executive Order” or EO) on artificial intelligence (AI) with the goal of promoting the “safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of artificial intelligence.” A White House fact sheet on the order can be found  here .

This Executive Order represents a significant contribution to the subject of accountability in how AI is developed and deployed across organizations. Given the breadth of recommendations and actions provided, it is likely to have an effect on organizations across all sectors of the economy, from the most mature AI implementers to first-time adopters. The Executive Order’s definition of AI systems is also broad; it is not limited to generative AI or systems leveraging neural networks but is inclusive of systems which have been built over the last several years.

Determining the extent to which the EO affects an organization will involve careful assessment of not only an entity’s own use of AI, but also the extent to which its products and services incorporate or are reliant on third-party vendors’ AI-enabled capabilities.

Importantly, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will be foundational in the development of guidelines and best practices for “developing and deploying safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems,” and companies may consider evaluating their existing AI risk management frameworks against the  NIST AI Risk Management Framework  to develop a baseline and prepare for additional guidance to be released from relevant agencies and regulatory bodies.

Download our timeline: key deadlines - Biden administration EO on AI

The executive order is guided by eight principles and priorities:.

• AI must be safe and secure by requiring robust, reliable, repeatable and standardized evaluations of AI systems, as well as policies, institutions, and, as appropriate, mechanisms to test, understand, and mitigate risks from these systems before they are put to use.
• The US should promote responsible innovation, competition and collaboration via investments in education, training, R&D and capacity while addressing intellectual property rights questions and stopping unlawful collusion and monopoly over key assets and technologies.
• The responsible development and use of AI require a commitment to supporting American workers though education and job training and understanding the impact of AI on the labor force and workers’ rights.
• AI policies must be consistent with the advancement of equity and civil rights.
• The interests of Americans who increasingly use, interact with, or purchase AI and AI-enabled products in their daily lives must be protected.  
• Americans’ privacy and civil liberties must be protected by ensuring that the collection, use and retention of data is lawful, secure and promotes privacy.
• It is important to manage the risks from the federal government’s own use of AI and increase its internal capacity to regulate, govern and support responsible use of AI to deliver better results for Americans.
• The federal government should lead the way to global societal, economic and technological progress including by engaging with international partners to develop a framework to manage AI risks, unlock AI’s potential for good and promote a common approach to shared challenges.

Notably, the EO uses the definition of “artificial intelligence,” or “AI,” found at 15 U.S.C. 9401(3):

“a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments.” 

Therefore, the scope of the EO is not limited to generative AI; any machine-based system that makes predictions, recommendations or decisions is impacted by the EO.

As expected, the NIST is tasked with a leading role in implementing many of the directives of the EO. The NIST is called upon to lead the development of key AI guidelines, and the  NIST AI Risk Management Framework  is repeatedly referenced in the Executive Order. However, the EO adopts the “all-of-government approach” that has become a trademark of the Biden administration, tapping agencies and offices across the entire administration to tackle the use of AI technologies in their areas of expertise with numerous actions specified in the near and medium term.

With Congress continuing to study the policy implications raised by AI technologies, this Executive Order and the actions that follow will be the cornerstone of the federal regulatory approach in the space for now. Of course, these actions are limited to the authorities of the executive branch, so this EO concentrates its mandates on programs administered by federal agencies, requirements for AI systems procured by the federal government, mandates related to national security and critical infrastructure, and launching potential rulemakings that govern regulated entities. This EO, like all executive orders, cannot create new laws or regulations on its own, but can trigger the beginning of such processes.

Key provisions of the EO are summarized below.

What you need to know: Biden Executive Order on AI

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

EU Artificial Intelligence Act

The world’s first comprehensive legal framework regulating artificial intelligence (AI) brings new obligations for organizations to strengthen trust.

Key highlights

Safety and security.

• First, the NIST is directed to establish guidelines and best practices for “developing and deploying safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems.”
• Additionally, the NIST is called upon to develop standards and procedures for developers of AI (outside of national security applications) to conduct AI red-teaming tests (structured testing to identify potential flaws and vulnerabilities).
• The Department of Energy (DoE), also within 270 days, is directed to develop and implement “a plan for developing the Department of Energy’s AI model evaluation tools and AI testbeds” including evaluating AI tools where outputs “may represent nuclear, nonproliferation, biological, chemical, critical-infrastructure, and energy-security threats or hazards.”
• The Commerce Department will establish requirements (within 90 days) for “companies developing or demonstrating an intent to develop potential dual-use foundation models” to report certain information and activities to the federal government.
• Entities will also be required to provide the federal government with specific information about any large-scale computing cluster.
• The secretary of Commerce shall (within 270 days), solicit input from the private sector, academia, civic society, and other stakeholders through a public consultation process on potential risks, benefits and other implications. 
• Based on consultations, the secretary of Commerce shall submit a report to the president on the potential benefits, risks and implications as well as policy and regulatory recommendations pertaining to these models.
• US IaaS providers will be further prohibited from permitting foreign companies to resell their services or open accounts for foreign persons unless they agree to make similar disclosures in the future.
• The Treasury Department is required to issue a report within 150 days on best practices for financial institutions to manage AI-specific cybersecurity risks for financial institutions.
• The EO also outlines a process to mandate the adoption by critical infrastructure owners and operations of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework via “appropriate regulatory action.”
• The EO also recognizes the potential for AI technologies to promote cybersecurity defenses, calling on the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense to conduct studies and issue reports on how AI can be used to aid in cyber defense.
• Likewise, the Department of Defense (DoD) – working with the administration, OSTP and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine – will conduct a 120-day study on the ways AI can both increase and counter biosecurity risks.
• Additional mandates are set forth regarding the risk of misuse of synthetic nucleic acids and to “improve biosecurity measures for the nucleic acid synthesis industry.”
• Finally, the EO calls for the drafting of an interagency National Security Memorandum on AI to “address the governance of AI used as a component of a national security system or for military and intelligence purposes” through a coordinated executive branch effort.

Federal procurement of AI systems

As the largest customer in the US economy, the federal government’s own purchasing requirements often become industry standard – making procurement policy a very strong tool for promoting policy goals.

• Requiring the designation of a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer at each agency
• At some agencies, the creation of an internal Artificial Intelligence Governance Board
• Risk management practices for government use of AI that impacts “people’s rights or safety” (utilizing, as appropriate, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework)
• Recommendations regarding AI testing, labeling AI output, and the “independent evaluation of vendors’ claims concerning both the effectiveness and risk mitigation of their AI offerings.”
• OMB is further tasked with establishing systems to ensure agency compliance with guidance on AI technologies, including ensuring that agency contracts for the purchase of AI systems align with all requirements and a yearly cataloging of agency AI use cases.
• The administrator of General Services, along with OMB, is tasked with developing a framework for the use of generative AI by the federal workforce.
• The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is authorized to consider hiring tools for these AI professionals, including direct hire authority for AI roles, pay flexibilities, personnel vetting requirements, pooled hiring and incentive pay programs.
• Agencies are also required to implement (or increase) training programs to educate the current federal workforce on AI issues.
• A separate study of the AI personnel needs of the DoD is required within 180 days, with DoD and the DHS encouraged to “work together to enhance the use of appropriate authorities for the retention of certain noncitizens of vital importance to national security.”

AI-generated content

• The Department of Commerce is directed to complete a 240-day study of the existing tools and methods to detect AI-generated content, track its provenance and prevent AI technology from producing Child Sexual Abuse Material.
• Using that information, the Department will have 180 days to develop guidance on “digital content authentication and synthetic content detection measures.”
• Finally, following up on that guidance, the OMB is required to issue guidance to federal agencies for labeling and authenticating official US government content.
• The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is required by the EO to provide guidance to patent examiners on issues of “inventorship and the use of AI” and, potentially, issues of patent eligibility.
• To combat intellectual property crimes through AI technologies, DHS is directed to develop a training, analysis, and evaluation program” and share information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection and other agencies.

Promoting innovation

• The secretaries of State and Homeland Security are further directed to consider rulemakings and efforts to expand existing programs for highly skilled foreign talent.
• The Department of Labor is tasked with identifying AI and other STEM-related occupations for which there are insufficient US workers.
• The NSF is also called on to establish, within 150 days, at least one NSF Regional Innovation Engine that prioritizes work on AI technology, as well as four new National AI Research Institutes (within 540 days).
• DoE (to enhance existing training programs for AI scientists; utilize AI to combat climate change; report on the potential for AI to improve the electric grid infrastructure)
•  Department of Health and Human Services (to prioritize programs to support responsible AI development and use in programs that improve “clinical care, real-world-evidence programs, population health, public health, and related research,” including in underserved communities)
• Department of Veterans Affairs (to use AI to improve veterans’ health care and promote small business innovation)
• President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (to study the potential for AI to tackle “major societal and global challenges”)

Competition

• Included in the mandate are actions such as “addressing risks arising from concentrated control of key inputs, taking steps to stop unlawful collusion and prevent dominant firms from disadvantaging competitors, and working to provide new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs.”
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is required to consider using its rulemaking authority over the marketplace to “ensure that consumers and workers are protected from harms that may be enabled by the use of AI.”
• The Department of Commerce is directed to take measures that promote competition in the semiconductor sector, which is crucial to powering AI technologies.
• The EO requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to allocate funding for AI initiatives and ensure that grant programs are eligible for AI-related small businesses.

Worker protections

• A study by the Council of Economic Advisors on the “labor-market effects of AI”
• An evaluation by the secretary of Labor on the potential for AI-related displacements in the federal workforce
• The development of employer principles and best practices by the Department of Labor on militating the potential harm/maximizing the benefits of AI technologies for workers
• Additionally, NSF is required to prioritize AI-related workforce development through its existing programs.

Civil rights and equity

• Requires a study of the use of AI in the criminal justice system (sentencing, parole, bail, prison management, etc.) from the Attorney General within one year
• Recognizes the potential for AI to “enhance law enforcement efficiency and accuracy, consistent with protections for privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties”
• Calls on an interagency working group to promote the hiring and training of law enforcement AI professionals
• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is required to publish a plan on the use of AI systems by states and localities administering federal government programs to ensure the “access to benefits by qualified recipients; notice to recipients about the presence of such systems; regular evaluation to detect unjust denials; processes to retain appropriate levels of discretion of expert agency staff; processes to appeal denials to human reviewers; and analysis of whether algorithmic systems in use by benefit programs achieve equitable and just outcomes.”
• Similarly, the Department of Agriculture is directed to publish guidance for public benefits administrators who use AI systems in the implementation of their programs.
• The Department of Labor (DoL) has a mandate to publish guidance for federal contractors regarding nondiscrimination in hiring involving AI and other technology-based systems.
• The Federal Housing Authority and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are directed to use their authorities to prevent bias in the housing and consumer financial markets, including in the areas of underwriting and appraisals.
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the CFPB are also tasked with examining the use of AI in the property rental market, including AI systems for tenant screening and the advertising of housing and credit.
• The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is directed to ensure that people with disabilities are not subject to unequal treatment by AI systems that use biometric data.

Consumer protection, privacy and health care

• Protecting American consumers from fraud is a mandate of the EO, which directs agencies to consider “clarifying the responsibility of regulated entities to conduct due diligence on and monitor any third-party AI services they use, and requirements and expectations related to the transparency of AI models and regulated entities’ ability to explain their use of AI models.”
• Issue a strategy on whether AI technologies in the health and human services sector “maintain appropriate levels of quality.”
• Take appropriate actions to ensure that health care providers who receive federal funding comply with nondiscrimination requirements when utilizing AI technology.
• In the future, HHS policies are required to be issued regarding the occurrence of clinical errors when utilizing AI technology and the use of AI in the drug development process.
• The Department of Commerce and NIST are required to issue guidelines for agencies, within a year, to promote the use of privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs).
• DoE and the NSF are directed to create a Research Coordination Network dedicated to PET research and encourage the incorporation of privacy-enhancing technologies.

Global leadership

• The administration emphasizes the values of the voluntary commitments made by US technology companies, saying that the US should seek to “establish a strong international framework for managing the risks and harnessing the benefits of AI, including expanding and internationalizing voluntary actions made by United States companies.”
• The EO also requires the Secretaries of Commerce and State to work with key international partners on global technical standards, mandating a report within 270 days on a plan for global engagement.

The EO addresses a number of additional issues not summarized above, but which will be critically important to some developers and deployers of AI technology. Other topics covered by the EO include:

• Dual-use foundation models with widely available model weights (Section 4.6)
• Protections surrounding the use of federal data sets to train AI systems (Section 4.7)
• The creation of an Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Advisory Board at the DHS to provide “advice, information, or recommendations for improving security, resilience, and incident response related to AI usage in critical infrastructure.” (Section 4.3(a)(v))
• The creation of an interagency White House AI Council tasked with coordinating the activities across the federal government related to the implementation of this Executive Order.
• The use of AI in the transportation sector, including AI enhancements to autonomous vehicle systems. (Section 8(c))
• Education and AI, including the development of an AI Toolkit for education leaders (Section 8(d))
• The potential for AI to impact communications networks, improve spectrum management, network security, and interoperability. The EO singles out “efforts to combat unwanted robocalls and robotexts that are facilitated or exacerbated by AI” as an area for potential rulemaking. (Section 8(e))
• Priority use of the federal government’s Technology Modernization Fund for AI projects (Section 10.1(g))

For information on the US public policy debate surrounding AI, please see our EY publication US public policy spotlight: artificial intelligence. For a discussion of global AI policy trends, please see How to navigate global trends in Artificial Intelligence regulation.

Download Key takeaways from the Biden administration executive order on AI

The Biden administration has issued an executive order on AI to inform the safe, secure and trustworthy development and use of AI. This summary from EY US provides an overview of key points to consider.

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