What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
paraphrase
Example
Can you paraphrase this paragraph for me? [paraphrase: verb]
Example
The teacher asked the students to write a paraphrase of the poem. [paraphrase: noun]
rephrase
Example
Could you rephrase your question, please? [rephrase: verb]
Example
I had to rephrase the sentence to make it more understandable. [rephrase: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Rephrase is more commonly used than paraphrase in everyday language. Rephrase is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while paraphrase is less common and refers to a more formal and academic technique.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between paraphrase and rephrase?
While paraphrase is typically associated with a formal and academic tone, rephrase is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts, allowing it to be used in everyday conversation and writing.
