8 Paraphrasing Toolkit

Build a Paraphrasing Toolkit

This toolkit gives you strategies to change words and sentence structure in academic writing. You do not have to use them all at the same time, but you should change the vocabulary and the overall structure.

Use a Combination of Techniques

1. use synonyms (college → university)
2. change word form (e.g. change part of speech from an adjective to noun: collaborate → collaboration)
3. change verb to negative (stayed the same → did not change)
4. move phrases (chunks) to change sentence structure
5. change from active to passive voice (conducted → was conducted)
6. use connecting words to combine shorter sentences (and, so, but)

Use a Checklist for Choosing Synonyms

• Definition: Have I chosen the most accurate definition?
• Context: Does the word make sense in this sentence? Is it appropriate?
• Collocation: Does the word effectively collocate (go together) with the words before and after it? For example, we write “to conduct research,” not “to make research.”
• Register: Is the word too casual or too formal? Is it written in academic style?
• Alternatives: Is it possible that there is no good synonym for the word? For example, some words do not have obvious synonyms like proper names or specialized words related to your topic.

Use Collocations Resources to Confirm Synonyms

Collocations are words that often go together naturally in English. Native speakers expect to hear these word combinations.

Example:

For more information, see English Club Website on Collocations

Apply: Practice using the Paraphrasing Toolkit

EXERCISE 1: Select appropriate synonyms.

Directions: Use the original sentence below to practice using websites to choose a synonym for “used to.” Then try again with a word of your choice.

“As more and more people have become increasingly used to sharing and collaborating outside the workplace via social networks, they are coming to expect firms to be more open and collaborative places too.” From Author Unknown, “Yammering away at the office,” (2010), p. 1.

Example with “used to”

1. 1. Type “used to” into a Thesaurus
   2. Choose one possible synonym, such as accustomed
   3. Check the synonym in a learner dictionary such as Oxford Learner’s Dictionary
   4. Read the definition and examples.
   5. Check the synonym in a collocations website (see options above).
   6. See how the word is used in real sentences by typing it in Skell Sketch Engine Corpus
   7. Decide if the synonym works in the context of the sentence.

Your turn: Repeat the steps above with a word of your choice.

EXERCISE 2: Compare AI-paraphrasing Tools

Directions: After your write the paraphrase in your own words, use an AI-paraphrasing tool to improve your work.

1. Experiment with different tools to find one that works for you.
2. Consider upgrading to a “premium” membership so that you can use the “shorten” feature (which allows you to combine the skills of paraphrasing and summarizing).
3. Note common grammar errors you make and take notes on how to fix them.
4. Note vocabulary replacements in an online vocabulary “notebook” to expand your vocabulary.