What does paraphrasing involve?

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else's message in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. This technique is particularly useful in communication, as it allows you to demonstrate understanding and clarity when discussing someone else's ideas or messages. By rewording the content, you ensure that the listener or reader grasps the essence of the original point without directly copying the phrasing or structure of the source.

Directly quoting another's words entails repeating them verbatim, which does not involve the reinterpretation or transformation that paraphrasing requires. Expressing your own opinion about a message is a different process that focuses on your personal viewpoint rather than reflecting the original message accurately. Summarizing a long discussion, while related, condenses the information instead of transforming it into different wording; thus, it is distinct from the act of paraphrasing.