Paraphrases & Summaries

Because you use your own words, paraphrases and summaries don’t need quotation marks, and there’s no need to format them as block quotes.

Paraphrases & Summaries

You may or may not need to include the author’s name in the text. The use of the author’s name will depend on the information you’re paraphrasing or summarizing, etc.

Paraphrases & Summaries

Be sure to keep the publication date with the author’s last name.

Paraphrases & Summaries

Here’s an example that includes the author’s name.

According to Davis (1978), when they learned of an ape's ability to use sign language, both linguists and animal behaviorists were taken by surprise.

Paraphrases & Summaries

Here’s an example that doesn’t include the author’s name.

When they learned of an ape's ability to use sign language, both linguists and animal behaviorists were taken by surprise (Davis, 1978).

Paraphrases & Summaries

When paraphrasing information from a work that is not originally from the source you have (also known as an indirect or secondary source), use the phrase “as cited in” with your in-text citation.

Paraphrases & Summaries

Here’s an example.

In their e-mail correspondence, Smith and Jones expressed their surprise about anape's ability to use sign language (as cited in Davis, 1978).