What is the difference between quotation,

paraphrase, and summary?

Writing in college often means using ideas from other sources. There are times when it may be best
to quote the sources directly, while other times may be better served by paraphrasing or summary.
In order to decide which technique to use, it is helpful to think about how you are using the
information in your paper.

Definitions

 Quotation reproduces a statement word-for-word as it appears in its original source

 Paraphrase explains a statement by using your own words and sentence structure
 Summary explains a statement using your words, but typically condenses a larger
statement into a shorter explanation

How to decide which approach to use

Direct quotations can be useful when the exact wording of a statement is important. The exact
wording of a quotation may be significant to your claim. In example 1 below, the contrast between
adjectives are important to the claim. Also, direct quotation may be important when you want to
make sure you are being precise in representing the author’s position. Finally, you might choose to
use a direct quotation when the original statement is particularly well written or structurally
persuasive. If a statement uses elements such as parallelism or alliteration, you might not be able to
recreate that same effect. An important element of the quotation in example 1 is the parallel
structure between "lowest and vilest alleys" and "smiling and beautiful countryside."

Example 1:

When Sherlock tells Watson "the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful
record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside,” he intensifies suspense by equating
innocence with evil ("The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" 502).

Paraphrasing is usually expected in research and argumentative essays. These type of papers
benefit from paraphrasing because it shows that you understand the source and are therefore a
reliable voice on that source. Paraphrasing can make the evidence more straightforward. Another
reason to paraphrase is to adjust your tone for your audience. If the assignment asks you to write a
presentation for your classmates, you do not want to quote scientific jargon. Your source is only
persuasive and supportive if your readers understand it. The paraphrase of the quotation below is
shorter, and more direct.

Example 2:

Original quotation: “In the case of Facebook, it has changed its format multiple times, and merged
other literacy practices – email, instant messaging, games – into its structure in an attempt to keep
users on the site” (Keller 2014, 74).
Paraphrase: Facebook has tried to hold on to its users by incorporating new functions like games
and email (Keller 2014).

Summaries can also be used in reviews, research papers, and argumentative essays. They have a
similar purpose as paraphrasing, but they condense a large work (i.e. an entire chapter, article, or
book) into a shorter text such as a paragraph or a short essay. Summaries allow you to focus your
description on the parts that are relevant to your discussion. Example 3 briefly summarizes Anne of
Green Gables, focusing on Anne as a strong female character and could lead into a discussion of
how the series teaches girls self-respect while also cherishing romance.

Example 3:

Anne of Green Gables is a book series that follows the life of an unruly red-headed orphan as she
grows from an romantic adolescent into an independent young woman.

What can the Writing Center do to help?

Writing Center consultants can help you if you aren't sure what style of source integration works best
for an assignment. Some essays require a mix of methods. Consultants can help you determine if
your writing needs a better balance of integration methods. If you are less familiar with one of the
three uses of sources, the Writing Center can give you additional pointers.

See our section on how to incorporate sources for more on punctuating and introducing quotations.
Also see our section on avoiding plagiarism to learn how to paraphrase and summarize.
https://louisville.edu/writingcenter/for-students-1/common-writing-questions-1/what-is-the-difference-
between-quotation-paraphrase-and-summary

Quoting, Paraphrasing, and

Summarizing
This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions
among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three
terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES AMONG QUOTING, PARAPHRASING, AND

SUMMARIZING?

These three ways of incorporating other writers' work into your own writing differ according to
the closeness of your writing to the source writing.

PARTNER CONTENT
 Check for plagiarism & grammar mistakes
Wipe out writing errors that can affect your grade
Paste paper

Check my paper

Using paper checkers responsibly

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of the source. They must
match the source document word for word and must be attributed to the original author.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your own words. A
paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source. Paraphrased material is usually shorter
than the original passage, taking a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it
slightly.
Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words, including only the main
point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute summarized ideas to the original source.
Summaries are significantly shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source
material.
WHY USE QUOTATIONS, PARAPHRASES, AND SUMMARIES?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You might use them to:
  Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing

 Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing

 Give examples of several points of view on a subject

 Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with

 Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by quoting the original

 Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue readers that the words are not

your own

 Expand the breadth or depth of your writing

Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations. As part of a summary of

an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might include paraphrases of various key points blended
with quotations of striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund

Freud argues that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious" (page #),
expressing in coded imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a
process known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud, actual
but unacceptable desires are censored internally and subjected to coding
through layers of condensation and displacement before emerging in a kind
of rebus puzzle in the dream itself (page #).
HOW TO USE QUOTATIONS, PARAPHRASES, AND SUMMARIES

Practice summarizing the essay found here, using paraphrases and quotations as you go. It might
be helpful to follow these steps:
 Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.

 Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the essay is.

 Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.

 Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe should be quoted directly.

There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a short quotation works well
when integrated into a sentence. Longer quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting
should be done only sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct quotation
when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing sources and punctuating citations at
our documentation guide pages.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/
quoting_paraphrasing_and_summarizing/index.html

https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/quoting-paraphrasing-summarizing

Quoting, Paraphrasing,
& Summarizing
Explore 3 ways of including the ideas of others into your academic
writing
Quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing are all different ways of including
evidence and the ideas of others into your assignments. Using evidence from
credible sources to support your thesis is an important part of academic writing.
Citing the source of any quote, paraphrase, or summary is an important step
to avoid plagiarism.

Should I quote, paraphrase, or

summarize?
Quoting is common in lower levels of academic writing, but at the college level,
quoting directly should be done sparingly and only when paraphrasing will not
justify the meaning of the original author. It is not uncommon to have only 1 or 2
(or even zero) direct quotes in an academic paper, with paraphrased
information being used instead.
Some common examples of when you might quote instead of paraphrase
include:

 using exact statistics or numerical data

 when writing about literature and providing textual evidence from the
poem, story, etc.
 including a judge’s decision or reasoning on a court case
 providing a definition
*Overquoting is a common problem in academic writing and as you move
further into your education, you will be expected to paraphrase instead of
quote.

Paraphrasing is what you should do most commonly in academic writing.

Paraphrasing is preferred over quoting (other than in the specific examples
provided above) because it shows that you understand the outside material you
are using and it gives you more agency over your paper by allowing you to
explain the expert opinions, research studies, or other evidence to your reader
as it relates to your topic and thesis. Paraphrasing will also provide a lower
Turnitin score than quoting since it incorporates your own academic voice

Summarizing is reserved for when you need to provide your reader with broad
background information or a general overview of a topic, theory, practice, or a
literary work or film. A short summary might be included in an introductory
paragraph or in the first body paragraph, which may focus on providing a
general overview of the topic. Most body paragraphs will include paraphrases
and/or quotes rather than a summary.
How do I properly integrate
and cite a quote, paraphrase,
or summary?
A direct quote or a paraphrase is most commonly used in the body paragraphs
of a paper and more specifically, in the supporting sentences of the body
paragraph.

*Quotes should be reserved only as needed, paraphrasing whenever possible.

See information above on whether you should quote, paraphrase, or
summarize.

Using the ICE method (Introduce, Cite, and Explain) will help you to integrate
and cite your evidence from outside sources.

Introduce
Cite
Explain

Tips to help you put others’

words into your own words
Paraphrasing

When you paraphrase, you keep the same meaning of the original text, but
you restate the meaning in a way that it makes sense to you. Paraphrasing
should be the primary way of presenting information from a source.
When paraphrasing:

 DO NOT use paraphrasing software--it does not create accurate

paraphrases and can create meaningless communications.
 Read the text carefully. Be sure you understand the text fully.
 Put the original text aside and write your paraphrase in your own words.
Considering each point of the original text, how could you rephrase it if
you were explaining it to one of your classmates who hadn’t read it?
 Do not simply replace every third or fourth word of the original
passage. This is a form of plagiarism.
 Review your paraphrase. Does it reflect the original text but is in your
own words and style? Did you include all the main points and essential
information?
 Include an in-text citation in the expected formatting style (APA, MLA,
etc.)
 Explain why the paraphrased information is important. To do so, ask
yourself the following questions:
o What am I trying to show or prove with this information?
o Why is it important to what I am saying? What is its significance?
o How does this information add to what I am trying to prove in this
paragraph?
For Example
Original paragraph from Nancy Woloch's book, Women and the American
Experience: A Concise History:
“The feminization of clerical work and teaching by the turn of the century
reflected the growth of business and public education. It also reflected
limited opportunities elsewhere. Throughout the nineteenth century,
stereotyping of work by sex had restricted women's employment. Job options were
limited; any field that admitted women attracted a surplus of applicants
willing to work for less pay than men would have received. The entry of women
into such fields—whether grammar school teaching or office work—drove down
wages.”

Paraphrased version (using an APA in-text citation):

According to Nancy Woloch (2002) in Women and the American Experience:
A Concise History, the “feminization” of jobs in the nineteenth century had
two major effects: a lack of employment opportunities for women and inadequate
compensation for positions that were available. Thus, while clerical and
teaching jobs indicated a boom in these sectors, women were forced to apply for
jobs that would pay them less than male workers were paid.

Summarizing

If summarizing, state the overall main idea in your own words, but leave
out specific examples and details. A summary should provide general
information only and it is not commonly used for presenting evidence to support
your argument.

When summarizing:

 Start by reading the text and highlighting the main points as you read.
 Reread the text and make notes of the main points, leaving out
examples, evidence, etc.
 Without the text, rewrite your notes in your own words. Restate the main
idea at the beginning of your summary plus all major points. Include the
conclusion or the final findings of the work.
 Include an in-text citation in the expected formatting style (APA, MLA,
etc.)

https://www.port.ac.uk/student-life/help-and-advice/study-skills/research-
reading-referencing-and-citation/writing-about-others-works-using-direct-
quotations

You'll use direct quotes to support your arguments throughout your

degree. Learn how to reference your sources properly and show who
said what to save you time and stress later on.

Using direct quotes in your writing improves your work and shows evidence of
research and ideas in your assessments. Here, we explore how to use different
quotes in your assessments.
What is the difference between direct quotes, paraphrasing, citing and
referencing?

You'll need quoting, paraphrasing, citing and referencing to use work produced
by other people in your assignments and support or challenge your arguments.
You'll use a combination of these steps in your studies so it's important to
understand the differences between them.

These phrases mean:

 Quoting: copying the exact words of the original text, using quotation
marks and the author's name, for example, when taken from a book or an
article on a reading list.
 Paraphrasing: rephrasing and shortening the original text into your own
words without using quotation marks, then writing the author’s surname,
year of publication.
 Citing: writing the author’s surname, year of publication and, for direct
quotations, page number to show where you found your direct quotation
or paraphrased information.
 Referencing: refers to publications included in the list of references at
the end.
When to use direct quotes

There are various reasons to use direct quotations in academic writing. You'll
usually use them as an example of ideas in your assignment, but exactly how
you use them varies depending on your discipline. History or Sociology students
use quotes differently to Biology or Computing students, for example. You
should consult your course handbook, speak to your tutors and learn from your
previous assignment feedback to explore how direct quotations are used on
your course. Reading around your subject will also help you understand how
academics in your field write.

Direct quotes are useful for defining or describing specific concepts, whereas
paraphrasing or summarising information from other sources shows that you
understand the content and general idea. Try to summarise sources in most of
your work and use direct quotes when they'll have a strong impact. Make it clear
to the reader that you understand the quote and its context, and why you've
used a quote instead of paraphrasing.

Using quotes properly will support your points and improve your assignments.
Use quotes that back up your argument rather than quotes that 'look good' or
sound impressive. Make sure you understand what a quote is saying in its
context and explain its meaning in your work. Using quotes out of context or
misinterpreting them to support your point won't improve your marks.

Plan your work, its structure and the key points and then choose which quotes
to include. Choosing quotes beforehand means you're more likely to let your
quotes shape your writing as you try to link one quote to another. Trying to link
unrelated ideas because they sound good in isolation won't help you draw
accurate conclusions, and could negatively impact your assessment.

Using direct quotations

You'll often use direct quotes in the middle of a paragraph. Use double quotation
marks at the beginning and end of the quote, use the exact words from the
original text and show your source, or your work being could be considered as
plagiarism. For example:

According to Gross it is (open direct quotation marks) "not only the

vocabulary of a language that determines how and what we think and
perceive, but also the grammar."(close direct quotation marks) (1996,
p. 317).

Quotes must sit logically in your writing and make sense. Your marker shouldn't
feel like the quote stands out. Consider commenting on the quotation by
discussing its meaning or adding more information to it if you need to. For
example:

But it is not only the vocabulary of a language that determines how

and what we think and perceive, but also the grammar. In the Hopi
language, no distinction is made between past, present and future; it
is a (open direct quotation marks) "timeless language" (close direct
quotation marks) (Gross, 1996, p. 324), compared with English. In
European languages, time is treated as an objective entity, as if it were
a ruler with equal spaces or intervals marked off. There is a clear
demarcation between past, present and future corresponding to three
separate sections of a ruler.

Short quotes

Include short quotations of less than three lines in your main text. Use quotation
marks to separate the quote from your own writing. This could look like:

Furthermore, it is (open direct quotation marks) "not only the

vocabulary of a language that determines how and what we think and
perceive but also the grammar" (close direct quotation marks) (Gross,
1996, p. 317).

Longer quotations

Separate direct quotations that are more than three lines from your text by
leaving a line space above and below the quote and indenting it. These quotes
should be single line spaced (unlike the rest of your text, which is probably
double or 1.5 line spaced). Indented quotes don't need quotation marks. This
could look like:

Writing about Hopi, a native American language, Gross writes:

(indented)

In the Hopi language, no distinction is made between the past, present

and future; it is a timeless language’ compared with English, although
it does recognise duration, i.e., how long an event lasts. In European
languages, time is treated as an objective entity (Gross, 1996, p. 317).

(end of indent)

The distinction drawn between the languages and their treatment of

time is interesting and relevant to the argument because...

Omitting parts of a quotation

Use an ellipsis (three dots) to omit or remove parts of a quote and show where
you've removed text. Don't change the meaning of the quote when you do this.
For example:

Gross (1996, p.137) points out that in the language it is (open direct
quotation marks) "not only in the vocabulary…(dot dot dot), but also
the grammar" (close direct quotation marks) that influences how and
what we understand.

Clarifying a quotation

You can add words to a quote in square brackets to make its meaning clearer.
This is known as interpolation. For example:

Gross emphasises the contrast: (open the direct quotation marks) "In
the Hopi language, no distinction is made between past, present and
future (open square brackets) [whereas] (close square brackets) in
European languages …(dot dot dot) there is a clear demarcation
between (open square brackets) [them] (close square brackets)."(close
direct quotation marks) (Gross, 1996, p. 317).

Reference

Gross, R. (1996). Psychology: The science of mind and behaviour (3rd ed.).
Hodder & Stoughton
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/
quoting_paraphrasing_and_summarizing/index.html

Quotations must be identical to the original, using a narrow segment of

the source. They must match the source document word for word and
must be attributed to the original author.
Paraphrasing involves putting a passage from source material into your
own words. A paraphrase must also be attributed to the original source.
Paraphrased material is usually shorter than the original passage, taking
a somewhat broader segment of the source and condensing it slightly.
Summarizing involves putting the main idea(s) into your own words,
including only the main point(s). Once again, it is necessary to attribute
summarized ideas to the original source. Summaries are significantly
shorter than the original and take a broad overview of the source
material.
WHY USE QUOTATIONS, PARAPHRASES, AND SUMMARIES?

Quotations, paraphrases, and summaries serve many purposes. You

might use them to:

 Provide support for claims or add credibility to your writing

 Refer to work that leads up to the work you are now doing
 Give examples of several points of view on a subject
 Call attention to a position that you wish to agree or disagree with
 Highlight a particularly striking phrase, sentence, or passage by
quoting the original
 Distance yourself from the original by quoting it in order to cue
readers that the words are not your own
 Expand the breadth or depth of your writing
Writers frequently intertwine summaries, paraphrases, and quotations.
As part of a summary of an article, a chapter, or a book, a writer might
include paraphrases of various key points blended with quotations of
striking or suggestive phrases as in the following example:

In his famous and influential work The Interpretation of

Dreams, Sigmund Freud argues that dreams are the "royal
road to the unconscious" (page #), expressing in coded
imagery the dreamer's unfulfilled wishes through a process
known as the "dream-work" (page #). According to Freud,
actual but unacceptable desires are censored internally and
subjected to coding through layers of condensation and
displacement before emerging in a kind of rebus puzzle in the
dream itself (page #).
HOW TO USE QUOTATIONS, PARAPHRASES, AND SUMMARIES

Practice summarizing the essay found here, using paraphrases and

quotations as you go. It might be helpful to follow these steps:
 Read the entire text, noting the key points and main ideas.
 Summarize in your own words what the single main idea of the
essay is.
 Paraphrase important supporting points that come up in the essay.
 Consider any words, phrases, or brief passages that you believe
should be quoted directly.
There are several ways to integrate quotations into your text. Often, a
short quotation works well when integrated into a sentence. Longer
quotations can stand alone. Remember that quoting should be done only
sparingly; be sure that you have a good reason to include a direct
quotation when you decide to do so. You'll find guidelines for citing
sources and punctuating citations at our documentation guide pages.