Library DIY (beta)

Quoting and paraphrasing

Quote & Paraphrase

When you use someone else's research or information, you will need to paraphrase or quote it. Quoting and paraphrasing add evidence to your research, and give credit where credit is due:

  • Quotation - When you use the exact words from the source, put quotation marks around the words that are not your own and cite it.
  • Paraphrasing - When you use ideas from another source in your own words, then you need to cite where the idea or facts came from.

Simply changing a few words from the original source is plagiarism. If you cannot state an idea in your own words, you should quote the original source. 

Ideally, papers will contain a good balance of direct quotations, paraphrasing, and your own thoughts. Use quotes and paraphrasing to support your own ideas, rather than relying solely on another's work.

Always properly cite an author's original idea whether you have directly quoted or paraphrased it. If you have questions about how to cite properly in a citation style (APA, MLA, or Chicago), check out the PSU Library Citation Guide.

The PSU Writing Center

The PSU Writing Center provides helpful guidance on quoting and paraphrasing. If you have any questions about quoting or paraphrasing, schedule an appointment with the Writing Center. The Writing Center will help you at any point in the writing process.