Which statement describes proper paraphrasing?

• A. Copy the exact wording and cite it.
• B. Quote everything; no paraphrase allowed.
• C. Restate in your own words with attribution and faithful to meaning.
• D. Paraphrase only when forced.

Answer: (C)

Paraphrasing means taking someone else’s idea and restating it in your own words and sentence structure while keeping the original meaning, and you still give credit to the source. This shows you understood the idea, lets you fit it into your own argument, and avoids copying the exact wording.

The best statement describes this process: restating in your own words, with attribution, and staying faithful to the meaning. That combination covers both how you express the idea and how you acknowledge its source, which is the essence of proper paraphrase.

Copying the exact wording and citing it is simply quoting, not paraphrasing. Quoting everything leaves little room for your own voice and analysis. Paraphrasing only when you’re forced implies you’d rarely paraphrase, which isn’t accurate for normal writing—paraphrase is a standard tool you use to integrate ideas smoothly.