What is a Paraphrase?
To restate someone else's words or ideas using different wording.
Put it in your own words: Understanding Paraphrase in Creative Writing
About Paraphrase
Paraphrasing is the art of taking someone else's ideas or words and expressing them in your own words.
Why Paraphrasing is Important in Creative Writing
Paraphrasing is crucial in creative writing as it allows writers to use other people's content without plagiarism concerns, while still being able to effectively incorporate it into their own writing while maintaining their unique voice.
How to Paraphrase Like a Pro
Writers who want to become proficient in paraphrasing should start by reading and getting a good grasp of the original text. Then, consider the main ideas and concepts you want to convey in your writing, and re-write them using your own words while still maintaining the original meaning.
Sonnet 130: My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun
William Shakespeare uses paraphrasing in Sonnet 130 to talk about his lover's beauty, comparing her to unflattering objects such as coral and snow, ultimately concluding that she is unique and unmatched in her own right.
'I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.'
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Chapter 31
Mark Twain uses paraphrasing in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to evoke the vernacular and dialects of the characters, using phrases such as:
'...everyone was talking about the row (riot) in the King Solomon Palace last night-right up town and the Opera-house to it-right up there yet...'
This demonstrates how authors can use paraphrasing not only for clarity and avoiding plagiarism concerns but also to evoke a certain style and tone in their work.