Introduction

Paraphrasing and plagiarism are concepts people often confuse. But they are really different ideas. In this blog, I will explain what paraphrasing and plagiarism are and highlight the main differences between them. Also give examples of each one. This will help show how they are different.

Explaining Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing means rewriting someone else's ideas or information in your own words. It is used to express the original information or ideas in a new way. It's important to restate the original source completely in your own words when paraphrasing. 

Don't change a few words. Use your own style of writing and vocabulary. The paraphrased content should still credit the original author properly. Cite your source so others know where the ideas came from.

Paraphrasing Examples

Here is some examples given below

Example 1

Original Source 

A flower is a plant that has petals.

Paraphrase

A flower is a plant that has colorful parts that surround the reproductive organs.

Example 2

Original Source 

The Eiffel Tower is a 324-meter tall wrought iron tower in Paris, France.

 Paraphrase 

The Eiffel Tower is a tall, metal tower in Paris, France.

Example 3

Original Source

The Mona Lisa is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci.

Paraphrase

The Mona Lisa is a famous painting of a woman by Leonardo da Vinci.

Explaining Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is when we use someone’s work or ideas and not giving credit to the author. It copies the exact text and does not cite your sources. Plagiarism is actually illegal and breaking academic rules.

Plagiarism Examples

Here is some examples shown below

Example 1

Original Source

The lion is the king of the jungle because he is the strongest animal.

Plagiarism

The lion is the king of the jungle because he is very strong.

Example 2

Original Source

A flower is a plant that has petals because they help to attract pollinators.

Plagiarism

A flower has petals to attract pollinators.

Example 3

Original Source

A plant is a living organism that makes its own food through photosynthesis. It has roots, stems, and leaves.

Plagiarism

A plant makes its own food through photosynthesis.

Paraphrasing vs Plagiarism

There are some key differences between properly paraphrasing content and plagiarizing

Here is a description of each point in the differences table

Purpose

Paraphrasing aims to aid comprehension and restate ideas in new words. Plagiarism intends to dishonestly take credit for someone else's work.

Rewriting 

Paraphrasing rewrites the entire passage using the author's own words and style. Plagiarism only changes some words and syntax here and there.

Quotations 

Paraphrasing uses quotation marks to indicate any verbatim text taken from the source. Plagiarism fails to use proper quotation marks.

Citations 

Paraphrasing credits the original author through proper citations. Plagiarism does not provide citations.

Meaning 

Quality paraphrasing retains the core meaning of the original text. Plagiarism may retain too much of the original phrasing and style.

Legality 

 Paraphrasing is an ethical and legal way to incorporate sources. Plagiarism is illegal and violates academic integrity standards.

Amount of content 

Paraphrasing should be judicious and strategic, not overuse large verbatim sections. Plagiarism may copy large sections word-for-word.

Synonyms 

Merely swapping synonyms is insufficient for paraphrasing. Plagiarism relies on basic synonym substitutions.

Formatting 

 Paraphrase citations follow proper formatting like MLA or APA. Plagiarism often ignores formatting rules.

Comprehension 

 Paraphrasing demonstrates comprehension of source ideas. Plagiarism does not reflect understanding.

Intent 

Paraphrasing aims to clarify ideas in a new way. Plagiarism intends to mislead readers about authorship.

Tone/perspective 

Paraphrasing may alter tone or perspective from the original. Plagiarism usually retains the original voice.

Conclusion

Paraphrasing and plagiarism are very different. Paraphrasing restates source ideas in your own words and credits the source. Plagiarism copies words or ideas without crediting the source. 

Students should learn to paraphrase properly to use research ethically. They need to cite sources and express ideas in their own style, not just swap words. 

This allows using others' work to enrich writing without compromising honesty or academic standards. The key is to paraphrase ideas in your own words, not just take another's work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you paraphrase without plagiarizing?

To paraphrase without plagiarizing, rewrite the source information completely in your own words instead of just changing a few terms. Also, be sure to properly cite the original source each time you paraphrase content from it.

Is it illegal to paraphrase?

No, paraphrasing itself is not illegal, as long as you are properly citing the original source you are paraphrasing from. 

Paraphrasing becomes plagiarism, which is illegal, if you fail to credit the source and give the impression that the paraphrased ideas are your own original thoughts.

Can you get caught using a paraphrase?

You can get caught paraphrasing without attribution. Reusing large portions of your own work requires citing the original source. Changing some words isn't enough - you need to add new analysis and substance.