Which approach best ensures a paraphrase is properly attributed?

• A. Always copy exact sentences and claim it as your own.
• B. Restate ideas in your own words and structure; cite if required.
• C. Never cite sources when paraphrasing.
• D. Paraphrase by substituting synonyms while keeping the same sentence structure.

Answer: (B)

When you paraphrase, you must give credit to the original idea. The best approach is to restate the ideas in your own words and with your own sentence structure, and to cite the source when required. This shows you’ve understood the material and allows readers to locate the original. Paraphrasing this way demonstrates your own comprehension while still acknowledging where the idea came from, which is what attribution is for.

Why the other approaches don’t fit: copying exact sentences and claiming them as your own is plagiarism because the wording and ideas aren’t yours and there’s no attribution. Paraphrasing should involve genuine rewording and reorganization, not just swapping synonyms, and you still need to credit the source if the idea isn’t common knowledge. Skipping citations when you paraphrase leaves the source unacknowledged, which misrepresents your work.