A paraphrase restates an author's idea in your own words. Paraphrasing is an effective writing strategy because it allows authors to summarize and synthesize information from one or more sources, focus on significant information, and compare and contrast relevant details. You should paraphrase the majority of the time, using direct quotes sparingly, if at all.
Narrative in-text citation
Smith (2018) noted that the majority of the users were satisfied with the service they received.
Parenthetical in-text citation
The majority of the users were satisfied with the service they received (Smith, 2018).
When a paraphrase continues for several sentences, cite the work being paraphrased on first mention. Once the work has been cited, it is not necessary to repeat the citation.
Velez et al. (2018) found that for women of color, sexism and racism in the workplace were associated with poor work and mental health outcomes. However, self-esteem and organizational support mediated these effects. These findings underscore the importance of considering multiple forms of workplace discrimination in clinical practice and research with women of color.
Adapted from American Psychological Association publication manual (7th ed.).