What does the word paraphrasing mean?

Paraphrasing means expressing someone else's ideas or thoughts in your own words. It involves taking the original meaning and presenting it in a different way, using different vocabulary and sentence structure.

Here are some key points about paraphrasing:

* It's not just changing a few words. You need to understand the original text and rephrase it completely while maintaining the same meaning.

* It's important to cite the original source. Even though you are using your own words, you still need to give credit to the original author.

* It can be used for a variety of purposes. You might paraphrase to simplify complex information, make a text more concise, or avoid plagiarism.

Example:

Original text: "The weather was extremely hot and humid, making it uncomfortable to be outside."

Paraphrased text: "The oppressive heat and humidity made it unbearable to stay outdoors."

Here's a tip: When paraphrasing, imagine explaining the text to someone who doesn't understand it. You'd need to use your own words to convey the same meaning.