How To Paraphrase In Apa Format With Step-by-step Examples
Paraphrasing in APA format is all about rewriting someone else’s ideas in your own words while giving proper credit to the original author. Here’s how you can do it effectively:
- Understand the Source: Read the original text carefully to fully grasp its meaning.
- Rewrite in Your Own Words: Change both the words and sentence structure while keeping the original meaning intact.
- Cite Properly: Always include in-text citations with the author’s name and publication year (e.g., Smith, 2023).
Quick Steps to Paraphrase in APA
- Read and Take Notes: Highlight key points and rewrite them in your own words.
- Change Words and Structure: Use synonyms and rearrange sentences without altering the meaning.
- Check for Accuracy: Compare your paraphrase with the original text to ensure it’s accurate.
- Add APA Citations: Use parenthetical or narrative citations to credit the source.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Minimal Changes: Don’t just swap out a few words; rewrite the entire sentence.
- Missing Citations: Always include a citation to avoid plagiarism.
- Keeping Original Structure: Restructure the sentences for a fresh take.
APA Citation Format for Paraphrasing
- Single Author: (Author, Year) or Author (Year)
- Multiple Authors: Use "&" for two authors (Smith & Jones, 2023) or "et al." for three or more (Smith et al., 2023).
- Optional Page Numbers: Add page numbers when referring to specific sections (e.g., Smith, 2023, p. 15).
By mastering these steps, you can paraphrase effectively while maintaining academic integrity. This skill is essential for summarizing complex ideas, avoiding plagiarism, and showcasing your understanding of the source material.
How To Paraphrase in APA 7
Before You Start Paraphrasing
Before diving into paraphrasing, follow these key steps to ensure accuracy and clarity:
Read the Source Text
Start by thoroughly reading the source material to grasp its meaning. Use a two-step approach:
- First pass: Focus on understanding the overall message.
- Second pass: Pay attention to specific details and subtle nuances.
Understanding the context is crucial, as it shapes the meaning of the text.
Identify Key Points
Once you’ve read the text, pinpoint the main ideas, including central arguments and supporting details. This involves:
- Highlighting important concepts
- Noting supporting details and how they connect
- Recognizing the author’s primary arguments
Take Initial Notes
Write down notes in your own words to capture the essence of the ideas. As EasyBib explains:
"Taking notes in your own words after reading the original source helps you to change the structure of the sentence as well as the vocabulary".
When taking notes, keep these tips in mind:
- Summarize main ideas briefly
- Use your own vocabulary and phrasing
- Preserve the original meaning
- Include any context that impacts the ideas
These notes serve as a foundation for crafting your final paraphrase. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to create a well-structured and accurate paraphrase.
How to Paraphrase in APA Format
Change the Words
When paraphrasing, focus on rewriting the content in your own words while keeping the key technical terms intact. Here’s how:
- Replace descriptive words with precise synonyms.
- Keep specialized terminology as it is to maintain accuracy.
For example, take this line from Roosevelt’s inaugural address in January 1933: "This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly." A paraphrased version could read: "Roosevelt stressed that the moment called for complete honesty and straightforward communication with the nation".
Change the Structure
Changing the structure means rearranging sentence elements without altering the meaning. You can do this by:
- Switching between active and passive voice.
- Breaking long sentences into shorter ones for clarity.
- Combining shorter sentences into a longer one.
- Rearranging the order of ideas.
Here are some examples:
| Original Structure | Restructured Version |
|---|---|
| "This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper." | "The country would overcome its challenges, just as it had done before, and return to prosperity." |
| "This is preeminently the time to speak the truth." | "The moment demanded complete candor." |
Always ensure your revised version reflects the original meaning.
Keep Original Meaning
After changing the words and structure, double-check your paraphrase to ensure it stays true to the source material. Here’s what to do:
- Compare your version with the original to confirm all key points are included.
- Maintain the context and intent of the original text.
If your paraphrase spans multiple paragraphs, include a citation in the first paragraph and reintroduce it in subsequent ones. For longer works, adding page numbers can help readers locate specific sections, though it’s not a strict requirement in APA format.
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APA Citation Rules for Paraphrasing
APA In-text Citations
When paraphrasing, always include in-text citations with the author’s last name and the publication year. These can appear within the sentence or at its end.
-
Single author:
- Within the sentence: Smith (2023) discussed the impact of…
- At the end of the sentence: The research showed significant results (Smith, 2023).
-
Multiple authors:
- Two authors: (Smith & Jones, 2023)
- Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2023)
"When you paraphrase, cite the original work using either the narrative or parenthetical citation format." – American Psychological Association
Types of APA Citations
APA format supports two main styles for in-text citations:
-
Parenthetical: (Author, Year)
Example: Falsely balanced news coverage can distort the public’s perception of expert consensus on an issue (Koehler, 2016). -
Narrative: Author (Year)
Example: Koehler (2016) noted the dangers of falsely balanced news coverage.
Page Numbers in Paraphrasing
Although page numbers aren’t required when paraphrasing, they can be useful in certain cases. Consider including them when:
- Referring to specific sections of long or complex texts
- Helping readers locate particular passages
- Working with detailed or lengthy sources
If page numbers are unavailable, use alternative locators like paragraph numbers or section headings:
- Paragraph numbers: (Smith, 2023, para. 4)
- Section headings: (Smith, 2023, Methods section)
- Both combined: (Smith, 2023, Methods section, para. 2)
"When you include a paraphrase in a paper, you are required to include only the author and date in the citation. You are encouraged (but not required) to also provide the page number (or other location information) for a paraphrased citation when it would help the reader locate the relevant passage in a long or complex text." – American Psychological Association
When citing multiple sources or switching between them, ensure each is clearly attributed to avoid confusion. Next, explore sample paraphrasing examples to see these guidelines in action.
Sample APA Paraphrasing
Before and After Examples
Here are some examples that rephrase original text while keeping the main ideas intact.
Example 1: Research on Parental Stress
Original text:
"As expected, parents who reported higher levels of acculturation stress showed a decrease in positive parenting, suggesting that external acculturation stressors may deplete immigrant parents’ emotional resources, making it more difficult to sustain positive parenting approaches."
Effective paraphrase: Parents facing acculturation stress showed a decline in positive parenting. Studies indicate that the emotional strain of adjusting to a new culture can reduce immigrant parents’ ability to maintain supportive parenting methods (Miao, Costigan, & MacDonald, 2018).
Example 2: Combining Multiple Sources
Original text:
"Play therapists can experience many symptoms of impaired wellness, including emotional exhaustion or reduced ability to empathize with others, disruption in personal relationships, decreased satisfaction with work, avoidance of particular situations, and feelings or thoughts of helplessness."
Effective paraphrase: Research highlights that play therapists often face wellness challenges such as emotional exhaustion, strained personal relationships, reduced job satisfaction, avoidance of stressful situations, and feelings of helplessness (Elwood et al., 2011; Figley, 2002; O’Halloran & Linton, 2000).
The next section highlights common paraphrasing mistakes and how to fix them.
Mistakes to Avoid
The examples above show effective paraphrasing, but many errors can weaken your efforts. Below is a table of common mistakes and their corrected versions:
| Common Mistake | Poor Paraphrase Example | Corrected Version |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal word changes | "Evidence suggests that newsmakers are becoming especially smart about putting items on the media agenda" | "Political figures have developed sophisticated strategies for influencing media coverage (Severin & Tankard, 1992)" |
| Missing citation | "School staff can close the achievement gap between high-poverty and low-poverty students by building key partnerships" | "School staff can reduce educational disparities through strategic community and family partnerships (Bryan et al., 2020)" |
| Maintaining original structure | Simply replacing words while keeping the same sentence pattern | Completely restructuring sentences while preserving meaning |
Complete Example with Citation
Using the examples and avoiding common pitfalls, here’s a detailed paraphrasing example:
Original text:
"When school counselors and other school staff develop academic enrichment, leadership, mentoring, and college readiness programs in partnership with family and community members and organizations, they provide students in urban, high-poverty schools with the supports, information, networks, opportunities, and resources that middle-class and affluent children in low-poverty schools typically have."
Paraphrased version: Bryan et al. (2020) illustrated how partnerships between school staff and community organizations can improve educational opportunities for students in high-poverty urban schools. By creating programs focused on academic enrichment, leadership, mentoring, and college readiness, these collaborations offer disadvantaged students access to resources and opportunities often reserved for their wealthier peers. Such efforts help close the resource gap between urban and suburban schools, promoting a more equitable learning environment.
"A paraphrase restates another’s idea (or your own previously published idea) in your own words." – American Psychological Association
Summary
Quick Steps Review
To effectively paraphrase in APA style, follow these steps:
- Read the original text several times to fully understand its meaning.
- Take thorough notes in your own words, making sure to track your sources.
- Alter both the vocabulary and sentence structure of the original text.
- Compare your paraphrased version with the original to ensure accuracy.
- Cite the author’s name and year in APA format.
These steps help ensure that your paraphrasing is accurate and aligns with academic writing standards.
Academic Writing Standards
Adhering to academic standards means combining precise citation with effective paraphrasing. Proper citation not only avoids plagiarism but also demonstrates a clear understanding of the source material. Instead of simply swapping out words, focus on rephrasing both the language and structure while staying true to the original meaning.
| Element | Purpose | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Understand the Source | Ensures accurate representation | Read the material multiple times before paraphrasing. |
| Express in Your Own Words | Demonstrates comprehension | Use your own vocabulary and sentence structure. |
| Citation Accuracy | Maintains academic integrity | Include the author’s name and year for all paraphrased content. |
| Length Consistency | Preserves original scope | Keep the paraphrase similar in length to the source text. |
Writing Tools
In addition to manual techniques, digital tools can make APA paraphrasing more efficient. Modern AI writing tools assist by checking grammar, suggesting style improvements, restructuring sentences, formatting citations, and even providing translation support. These tools can enhance your process, ensuring APA compliance and delivering a polished final product.
