To Quote or Paraphrase?Paraphrasing refers to using an authors original ideas and restating them into one’s own words. Despite changing the sentence structure, words and organization, a paraphrase bears the same meaning as the original text. On the other hand, quoting a source refers to the use of an author’s exact language and putting them in block quotation or quotation marks. A quote usually matches the exact words that have been spoken or written. Quotes should be used when words in a passage are odd, original and too useful to loose when paraphrased. A paraphrase should be used when the information or idea from a source, and not the language used are of importance to an argument.

Example

Original Source Woloch, N. (2002). Women and the American experience: A concise history. New York, NY: McGraw–Hill Higher Education.

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.

Acceptable paraphrase

Nancy Woloch (2002) states that in the nineteenth century, the feminization of jobs brought about two effects: inadequacy of compensation for available positions and lack of opportunities for employment. Even though teaching and clerical jobs showed a boom in these sectors, women were still left to apply for jobs that were less paying compared to their male counterparts.

Unacceptable paraphrase

The feminization of teaching and clerical jobs by the need of the nineteenth century was a reflection of a growth in business and public education. However, it also showed limited opportunities in other areas. In the nineteenth century there has been stereotyping by sex that restricted women’s employment. There were limited job opportunities; any field were women were accepted attracts many applicants who were willing and ready to work for less pay as compared to what men would receive. Women going into these filed either office work or school teaching pushed wages down.