Is Paraphrasing Illegal?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Sometimes you like the content of a paragraph or section of something you read, and want to paraphrase, or restate it in your own words for your paper. Although it is not illegal , paraphrasing in scholarly papers must be cited as a professional courtesy.

What is unacceptable paraphrasing?

The following is an example of UNACCEPTABLE paraphrasing — or — of the above passage: To paraphrase without plagiarizing, writers must – – Use their own words to convey the information – Use their own sentence structure – Cite the source and page number .

Can you get in trouble for paraphrasing?

If the wording, or even the sentence structure, of the paraphrased text is too close to the wording of the original content , it will look like you are trying to pass off someone else's words as your own. This is plagiarism, which is unethical and even illegal in some cases.

Are there consequences for paraphrasing?

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). ... Paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you put the author's ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source.

What should you not do when paraphrasing?

  1. Avoid switching out or changing around of a few words in an author's sentence(s) for use in your paper.
  2. Avoid failing to acknowledge (through an in-text citation or direct quotes) the outside source from which you obtained your information or ideas.

What are the rules for paraphrasing?

  • Start your first sentence at a different point from that of the original source.
  • Use synonyms (words that mean the same thing)
  • Change the sentence structure (e.g. from active to passive voice)
  • Break the information into separate sentences.

What are three types of unacceptable paraphrasing?

  • ORIGINAL SOURCE. ...
  • UNACCEPTABLE PARAPHRASE: WORDING TOO CLOSE. ...
  • UNACCEPTABLE PARAPHRASE: SENTENCE STRUCTURE TOO CLOSE. ...
  • ACCEPTABLE PARAPHRASE.

Is paraphrasing just changing words?

Paraphrasing is when you take an original idea from an author's work and reword, or rephrase, it so that the words are your own . It is important to remember that no matter how successful you are at paraphrasing, only the words are your own.

Does paraphrasing count as evidence?

Paraphrased material must be cited . Even though paraphrasing means that you are restating information in your own words, you must give credit to the original source of the information. Citations for paraphrased material should always include both the author and the year.

Can paraphrasing be detected?

Another way to detect paraphrasing is to have the content read by another person – preferably someone who knows you well. They can detect when your phrasing sounds too unlike the usual phrasing. This, in turn, offers the student the ability to change the placing of the paraphrase or to simply add a citation.

What are the 4 R's of paraphrasing?

Review the graphic below that explains the 4 R's: Read, Restate, Recheck, and Repair and use the attached graphic organizer to help you practice paraphrasing by using this strategy.

Why is paraphrasing so hard?

Why is Paraphrasing Such a Problem? ... Paraphrasing or using more than a few direction quotations interferes with the “flow” of your own writing. It is often difficult for the reader to see how the paraphrased or quoted ideas fit with your broader discussion because they have not read the same source material you have.

Can you paraphrase too much?

Just as with quotes, it is possible to paraphrase too often or too much . In fact, there are many times when a simple summary is preferable to a paraphrased passage. The difference between the two is that the summary focuses on several important points, while the passage is concerned with only one.

What are the three types of paraphrasing?

As you recall, Thinking Collaborative teaches three levels of paraphrasing – acknowledging, organizing, and abstracting .

When can paraphrasing be used?

Paraphrasing is used with short sections of text , such as phrases and sentences. A paraphrase offers an alternative to using direct quotations and allows you to integrate evidence/source material into assignments. Paraphrasing can also be used for note-taking and explaining information in tables, charts and diagrams.

Why is paraphrasing important?

Paraphrasing is important because it shows you understand the source well enough to write it in your own words . ... It is important because it shows you and your reader (i.e. your lecturer) that you have understood the source sufficiently enough to write it in your own words.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.