How to Cite an Author When Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is a crucial skill for students and researchers alike, as it allows for the inclusion of information from other sources while maintaining originality in one’s own work. However, accurately citing the author when paraphrasing is equally important to give proper credit to the original source. This article will provide guidance on how to cite an author when paraphrasing, ensuring that you adhere to academic integrity and avoid plagiarism.
Understanding Paraphrasing
Before delving into the specifics of citation, it’s essential to understand what paraphrasing entails. Paraphrasing involves expressing an idea or argument from another source in your own words, while still retaining the original meaning. This process helps to demonstrate your understanding of the material and can enrich your own analysis.
Using In-text Citations
When paraphrasing, it’s important to use in-text citations to acknowledge the original source. In-text citations are brief references to the source within your text, typically placed in parentheses after the paraphrased information. Here’s how to format in-text citations:
– For a single author, use the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example: (Smith, 2020).
– For multiple authors, include the last names of the first two authors followed by “et al.” and the year of publication. For example: (Johnson, Smith, & Brown, 2020).
– If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, only include the year of publication in parentheses.
Creating a Reference List
In addition to in-text citations, you must also include a reference list at the end of your document. The reference list provides the full details of each source cited in your work. Here’s how to format a reference list entry:
– Start with the author’s last name, followed by their first name.
– Include the publication year in parentheses.
– Provide the title of the source, italicized for books or articles.
– For books, include the publisher and publication city.
– For journal articles, include the volume, issue number, and page numbers.
Example
Suppose you are paraphrasing a sentence from a book by John Doe (2020). The original sentence is: “The economy is currently experiencing a downturn.” To paraphrase this sentence, you might write: “Currently, the economy is facing a downturn.” In your in-text citation, you would write: (Doe, 2020). At the end of your document, your reference list entry would be:
Doe, J. (2020). The Economy. New York: XYZ Publishing.
Conclusion
Accurately citing an author when paraphrasing is essential for maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can ensure that you give proper credit to the original source while demonstrating your understanding of the material. Remember to use in-text citations and create a comprehensive reference list to provide readers with the necessary information to locate the source material.
