In a world where academic writing has become an integral part, mastering paraphrasing has become crucial, especially when citing references. There are four key components that make up effective paraphrasing – two citation styles, practical application examples, and tips for proper citation usage.
Let’s delve into the two main types of citations:
Numerical citations at the end of the citation-for example, Henninger (2016), which are associated with the source sentence; and “stated perspective forms,” which include the author’s name, the year of publication (Henningers’ take on SFC (2016) ‘s comprehensive definition), which are noted directly after the cited article. For broader sentence structures, numerical references are often helpful. For large numbers of literature references, characterised by a few contributors or a few works by a specific author, the ‘stated perspective form’ contributes to clarity.
Practical examples of both citation methods are shown. These include single-authored manuscripts, such as Henninger (2016), which articulates a detailed definition of SFC in 2016, and multi-authored papers, such as Min&Ko (2017), which show that the concept and industry of SFC in China has been emerging since 2015;
and complex multi-paper publications, including Henninger et al. (2016; 2020; 2021)
Be sure to keep in mind the following guidelines for citation symbol placement and when to use each style: both formatting (“stated perspective”) and numbers should be located at the end of the citation, preceded by a blank space if multiple sources are cited.
It is important to note the subtle but crucial distinction between “stated perspective format” and “indexing”;
While the former is a broad summary of the source material and provides information to the author, the validity of accuracy is encapsulated in the square brackets of the index.
While accuracy remains critical, remember to avoid redundant citations that may overwhelm the reader.
Citations are best suited to convey insights succinctly and amplify points made in the original text.
To summarise, trust us when we say that successfully applying paraphrasing can significantly improve your written output. Whether it’s in your academic research or everyday writing, mastering these techniques can help you express yourself effectively and fully.
