Phrases to Use for Paraphrasing

Phrases to Use for Paraphrasing

Hi English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. We are going to look at the phrases for paraphrasing.

To paraphrase means to repeat something written or spoken using different words, often in a humorous form or in a simpler and shorter form that makes the original meaning clearer. (Cambridge English Dicitonary)

Here is the list of the phrases you can use for paraphrasing:

• In other words
• In a word
• Simply put/to put simply
• What I mean is…
• In a nutshell
• That is to say
• To put it differently
• To be specific

In other words

Meaning: to explain something more clearly.

• We do everything in our power to clear out the roads after last night’s storm; in a word, we are clearing them and spreading salt and sand to prevent slipping.
• It was very difficult sleeping in the noisy hotel; in other words, almost impossible.

In a word

Meaning: use the phrase to state your opinion in a few words.

• In order to make a research paper, you need to collect information; in a word, do interviews and surveys.
• We are usually very busy at the end of the year; in a word, we are snowed under with work.

Simply put/to put simply

Meaning: use it to explain something more simply and clearly.

• Taxes are beneficial for the development and improvement of public services, or, simply put, for social security.
• Scientists predict that by 2050 there will be more than 9 billion people in the world; to put it simply, the planet will be overpopulated.

What I mean is…

Meaning: use it to explain your statement more clearly.

• I’m afraid it won’t be easy to eliminate sugar from your diet. What I mean is that sugar is addictive and you’ll crave it.
• I didn’t mean to criticize you. What I meant was to prevent you from making a mistake.

In a nutshell

Meaning: use the idiom to explain something briefly.

• I can’t see the tour guide and other people from our group. In a nutshell, I think we’re lost.
• If you want to understand the lecture you need to have a laptop and pre-reading notes. In a nutshell, you need to be prepared.

That is to say

Meaning: use the phrase to state your opinion more clearly.

• The tourist agency is organizing our stay on the island, that is to say accommodation and food.
• The number of people going to the gym is growing, that is to say, the fitness industry is flourishing.

To put it differently

Meaning: in other words.

• My boss thinks I don’t do my job very well; or, to put it differently, he wants to let me go.
• The weather is changing rapidly these days. To put it differently, we can expect a drop in temperature and heavy snow.

To be specific

Meaning: to be more precise.

• Drinking water is no longer safe for use; to be specific, a significant amount of chemicals was found in it after the ecological disaster.
• Parents are supposed to provide care for a child; to be more specific, food, clothing, housing and healthcare.

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