VerbEdit
Common Paraphrasing
Mistakes (With Examples)
We have all been there: staring at a sentence, right-clicking for synonyms, and hoping the result makes sense. But more often than not, this approach leads to sentences that sound robotic, awkward, or just plain wrong.
As we've discussed, paraphrasing is the art of restating ideas using your own words and sentence structure. However, "using your own words" is harder than it sounds. In this guide, we’ll break down the top 3 mistakes writers make and show you exactly how to fix them.
Mistake #1: The "Thesaurus Trap" (Synonym Stuffing)
This is the most common error. It happens when you replace words one-by-one with "fancier" synonyms without considering the context.
Remember the first of the "4 R's" is Reword, but words have specific connotations. You cannot simply swap "house" for "dwelling" or "said" for "exclaimed" in every situation.
"The student worked hard to pass the difficult exam."
"The pupil functioned rigid to overtake the heavy test."
Mistake #2: Accidental "Patchwriting"
Patchwriting occurs when you keep the same sentence structure (syntax) but just swap out a few nouns or verbs. As noted in our definition of paraphrasing, you must change the sentence structure as well as the words.
If the rhythm of your sentence matches the original exactly, it might still be flagged by plagiarism detectors.
"Global warming is caused primarily by the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."
"Climate change is created mainly by the rise of carbon emissions in the sky."
Mistake #3: Drifting from the Original Meaning
In an effort to make the text look unique, writers sometimes accidentally change the facts. This violates the core rule: retain the original meaning.
Watch out for "Quantifiers"
Words like many, most, some, all, and few are crucial. If you change "many people" to "everyone," you have created a false statement.
"The medication may cause drowsiness in some patients."
"The drug will produce sleepiness in all users."
How to Fix These Mistakes
The solution is simple: Read, Hide, Write.
Don't look at the original sentence while you write your version. Read the paragraph, look away from your screen, and explain the concept out loud to an imaginary friend. Then, write down exactly what you said. This forces your brain to generate natural syntax rather than just swapping synonyms.
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