Paraphrasing means restating a source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. In Harvard referencing, a paraphrase still requires an in-text citation — the author and year — but including a page number is optional for paraphrases (though many lecturers recommend it). Unlike direct quoting, paraphrasing does not use quotation marks, because the words are entirely yours.
Paraphrasing vs. Quoting vs. Summarising
These three techniques all use other people's ideas — but they do so differently:
| Technique | What It Does | Quotation Marks? | Citation Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paraphrasing | Restates a specific passage in your own words and structure | No | Yes — (Author, Year) with optional page number |
| Direct quoting | Reproduces the source's exact words | Yes (single quotes for short; indent for block) | Yes — (Author, Year, p. X) with page number required |
| Summarising | Condenses the main argument of a whole work or large section | No | Yes — (Author, Year) |
Paraphrasing targets a specific idea or passage. Summarising covers a broad argument across many pages or an entire work. Direct quoting copies the exact words.
Most of your academic writing should be paraphrasing and summarising, with direct quotes used sparingly.
For quoting rules, see How to Use Direct Quotes in Harvard Referencing.
Citation Format for Paraphrases
Parenthetical Citation
Place the author and year in parentheses at the end of the sentence:
Sleep deprivation has a measurable impact on nearly every cognitive process, from attention to decision-making (Walker, 2017).
Narrative Citation
Name the author in the sentence, with the year in parentheses:
Walker (2017) argues that sleep deprivation affects nearly every measurable cognitive function.
Both formats are standard Harvard. Use whichever fits more naturally into your sentence.
With a Page Number
Including a page number is optional for paraphrases, but it helps your reader locate the specific passage you're restating. Many lecturers prefer it.
Sleep deprivation has a measurable impact on nearly every cognitive process (Walker, 2017, p. 40).
Walker (2017, p. 40) argues that sleep deprivation affects nearly every measurable cognitive function.
When to include page numbers:
- You're restating a specific claim from a particular page or passage
- Your lecturer or institution requires them for all citations
- The source is long (a whole book rather than a short article)
When you can omit them:
- You're summarising the source's overall argument rather than a specific passage
- The source is short (a brief web page or one-page article) and the claim is easy to find
Good Paraphrase vs. Patchwriting
Patchwriting is the most common paraphrasing mistake. It happens when you keep the original sentence structure and swap out individual words with synonyms — producing something that looks different on the surface but mirrors the source too closely. Most universities treat patchwriting as a form of plagiarism.
Original Source
'Sleep has been identified as a state that optimises the consolidation of newly acquired information in memory, depending on the specific conditions of learning and the timing of sleep within the consolidation period.' (Diekelmann and Born, 2010, p. 114)
Patchwritten Version (Incorrect)
✗ Sleep has been recognised as a condition that improves the consolidation of recently obtained information in memory, based on the particular conditions of learning and the timing of rest within the consolidation period (Diekelmann and Born, 2010).
This mirrors the original's sentence structure word for word — only swapping "identified" → "recognised," "optimises" → "improves," "newly acquired" → "recently obtained," and "sleep" → "rest." This is patchwriting, not paraphrasing.
Genuine Paraphrase (Correct)
✓ According to Diekelmann and Born (2010), how well new memories are consolidated during sleep depends on the learning context and when sleep occurs relative to the initial learning event.
This version:
- Changes the sentence structure — the original is passive ("has been identified as"); the paraphrase is active
- Uses different vocabulary — without simply swapping synonyms
- Keeps the meaning intact — the core idea is the same
- Includes a citation — attributing the idea to its source
Tips for Effective Paraphrasing
Read the passage, then close the source. Write the idea from memory in your own words. Then compare your version with the original to make sure the meaning is accurate and the wording is genuinely different.
Change the sentence structure first, then the vocabulary. If you start by swapping words, you'll almost certainly end up patchwriting. Restructure the sentence — change the order of clauses, switch from passive to active voice, or break one long sentence into two short ones.
Use your own voice. If your paraphrase sounds like something you'd never naturally write, it's probably too close to the original.
Don't paraphrase single sentences in isolation. Read the surrounding paragraph for context. Paraphrasing without understanding the broader argument often leads to distortion.
Check your paraphrase against the original. If more than three consecutive words match (excluding common phrases), rewrite those sections.
Multiple Paraphrases From the Same Source in One Paragraph
When you draw on the same source repeatedly within a paragraph, you don't need to cite it after every single sentence — but you do need to make the attribution clear. There are two common approaches:
Approach 1 — Cite on First Mention and Use Signal Phrases
Walker (2017) argues that sleep deprivation impairs nearly every cognitive function. He notes that even moderate sleep loss — six hours a night for two weeks — produces the same cognitive deficit as going without sleep entirely for two days. The effect is cumulative, and most people fail to notice how impaired they have become.
The citation appears on the first sentence. The pronoun "he" and the signal phrase "he notes" make it clear the entire paragraph still refers to Walker.
Approach 2 — Cite at the End of the Paragraph
Sleep deprivation impairs nearly every cognitive function. Even moderate sleep loss — six hours a night for two weeks — produces the same cognitive deficit as going without sleep entirely for two days. The effect is cumulative, and most people fail to notice how impaired they have become (Walker, 2017).
This works when the entire paragraph clearly paraphrases a single source. But be careful — if it's ambiguous whether certain sentences are your own analysis or the source's ideas, a marker may question which claims are supported.
The safer option: Cite on first mention (Approach 1) and use signal phrases throughout.
Narrative vs. Parenthetical Paraphrase Citations
Both formats are equally valid. The choice depends on what you want to emphasise:
| Format | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Parenthetical | When the idea matters more than the author | Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function (Walker, 2017). |
| Narrative | When the author's identity or expertise matters | Walker (2017), a neuroscience professor, argues that sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function. |
In practice, most paragraphs use a mix of both. Avoid using the same format for every citation — it creates a monotonous reading experience.
Common Paraphrasing Mistakes
| Mistake | Why It's Wrong | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Patchwriting | Mirrors the original structure with swapped synonyms | Change sentence structure first, then vocabulary |
| No citation | Paraphrasing without attribution is plagiarism — even if you changed the wording | Always include (Author, Year) |
| Distorting the meaning | Changing the words so much that the idea becomes inaccurate | Compare your paraphrase with the original to check accuracy |
| Over-paraphrasing a single source | Relying on one source for an entire section suggests limited research | Integrate multiple sources to show breadth |
| Paraphrasing when you should quote | Some language — definitions, technical terms, striking phrases — should be quoted directly | If the exact words matter, use a direct quote with quotation marks and a page number |
Summary: Paraphrase Citation Formats at a Glance
| Format | Citation |
|---|---|
| Parenthetical (no page number) | …idea expressed in your own words (Author, Year). |
| Parenthetical (with page number) | …idea expressed in your own words (Author, Year, p. X). |
| Narrative (no page number) | Author (Year) argues that…idea expressed in your own words. |
| Narrative (with page number) | Author (Year, p. X) argues that…idea expressed in your own words. |
What's Next?
Now that you understand how to paraphrase in Harvard style, explore these related guides:
- How to Use Direct Quotes in Harvard Referencing — formatting rules for short quotes, block quotes, and page locators
- Harvard In-Text Citations — the complete guide to parenthetical and narrative citations
- Common Harvard Referencing Mistakes — the most frequent errors and how to avoid them
