Paraphrasing and summarizing are two important aspects of text comprehension that can be of immense help for students. Whether it is to improve their writing or understanding of complex material, understanding the difference between paraphrasing and summarizing can give them a boost. Let us explore the difference between them in the following article.

Defining Paraphrasing And Summarizing

Paraphrasing involves expressing the same meaning of a text as the original author in one’s own words. It is important to use our initial understanding of the text, as well as contextualizing it, to write our paraphrase. Summarizing, on the other hand, involves condensing the text into a few sentences that capture the overall essence of the original text.

In the context of academic writing, both skills are equally important. Apart from helping comprehend the source material better, they also can act as complementary in various instances. For example, when writing a research paper, one can use summarizing to condense lengthy texts, while one can resort to paraphrasing to make sure that there is no plagiarism.

The Role Of In-Depth Knowledge

When summarizing a text, it is important to have comprehensive knowledge about the author’s intent, along with the themes, audience, and any other form of contextualizing information. This step helps the readers to determine which pieces in the text are crucial, and which ones can be left out. Paraphrasing, on the other hand, is more linear and should adhere to the primary structure of the original text.

It is important to note here that the target audience is generally taken into account for both paraphrasing, as well as summarizing. The writing style may vary, depending upon the target audience, making sure that the text is comprehendible to them.