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How To Paraphrase

For Internet Articles & Beyond

This page has practical advice about how to paraphrase but remain original in your writing.

It focuses on rewriting your own content when producing Internet articles, but the principles can be applied to many other contexts.

It also explains how to rewrite your existing web articles and avoid getting stung for duplicate content by the search engines.

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Break It Down

The first step is to see each sentence in terms of the parts that make it up: noun, verb, adjective etc. For example:

If you want to get a promotion, you should to think proactively
We are going to paraphrase want, get a promotion, think proactively

If you need to get a promotion, you should think proactively
If you need to get promoted, you should think proactively
If you need to get promoted, you should take the initiative

If this seems difficult, then keep at it. It does get easier with practise. This quick mini guide should start you off in the right direction:

Love (verb): enjoy, derive pleasure from, really like
Try: attempt, endevour to, make headway with, start
Want: need, aspire to, cannot manage/do without, desire, are attracted to, wish for
Work (noun): job, business, endevour, industry, occupation

Important!

Some of the paraphrased words above don't have exactly the same meaning as the original (e.g. want - need). This is usually not a problem with web articles. In more formal writing, it does matter - so use your judgement.

How To Paraphrase Existing Articles

Step 1
In your text editor (Notepad for example), copy & paste the whole article (I find pasting it below the original easiest, as you can keep every version in the same document). At the top of the pasted version, type the name of the article directory (Goarticles.com for example) that you will submit this new version to.

Step 2
Paraphrase the title, making 1 or 2 changes. If you are producing multiple articles based on the same keyword/keyword phrase, DO NOT alter this. For example:
Home Business - Quit Your Job In 90 Days Or Less
Follow Your Home Business Dream - Quit Your Job Within 3 Months

Step 2
Now go through your article, deleting various words/phrases and replacing them with alternatives.

Feeling daunted? The first time you do this, you may want to print the original out and go through it with a highlighter and pen, writing the replacement words/phrases in the margin.

When rewriting Internet articles, how much should you paraphrase?
Every sentence? (Please say no!)
No. One or two words/phrases per paragraph is sufficient. (I am assuming your paragraphs are pretty short - 1 or 2 sentences). However, it is sometimes a good idea to get rid of one of your paragraphs and write a completely new one - as long as it still makes sense.

Step 3
Don't forget to create a new version of your resource box (also called bio box) every time you produce a new article. I find it easiest to have a few adjectives in my original resource box - this provides good scope for paraphrasing. For instance:
Joanne Bloggs runs www.website.com, a useful resource for working parents

Joanne Bloggs edits www.website.com, a practical resource for busy parents

This page has shown you how to paraphrase in a relatively straightforward and painless way. Like every skill, it gets easier the more you do it.

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