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What’s the difference between quoting and paraphrasing?
Quoting is when you copy text directly from a source and use quotation marks (‘ and ‘). For example:
‘Prosecuting, like policing, can theoretically be done by anyone. All Australian jurisdictions generally allow private prosecutions, where a prosecution is brought in that person’s name rather than that of the Crown or a government prosecuting agency.’8
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8 Jeremy Gans, Modern Criminal Law of Australia (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2017) 68.
Paraphrasing is rewriting text using different words with the same (or very similar) meaning. For example, instead of quoting word-for-word from Modern Criminal Law of Australia, you could paraphrase the same idea:
In Australia, it is possible for ordinary citizens to privately prosecute someone in court without relying on a government agency.8
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8 Jeremy Gans, Modern Criminal Law of Australia (Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed, 2017) 68.
Notice how even the paraphrased text includes an appropriate citation? That’s because taking someone else’s idea without crediting them–even if you express it in your own words–is still plagiarism. So remember: No matter whether you’re quoting or paraphrasing, you must reference every idea you didn’t originate yourself.
How do I paraphrase?
When you want to paraphrase some text, the first step is to understand the material you’re planning to use. Don’t concentrate on the way the text has been written (the exact words used), but instead focus on the meaning (the idea being expressed). Ask yourself: what is the text actually saying?
Once you have isolated the meaning of the text, try re-writing this meaning in your own words. Try to use as few words as possible while retaining the original idea.