Re-phrase

To express an idea or statement in a different way, often to clarify, simplify, or improve the original wording. Re-phrasing involves finding alternative word choices and sentence structures while retaining the core meaning of the initial thought. It's a crucial skill in communication, writing, and translation, ensuring clarity and understanding. The goal is to effectively convey the same information with enhanced precision, impact, or suitability for a specific audience. This can also involve changing the emphasis or tone, but the essential message should remain unchanged. Effective re-phrasing considers the context, target audience, and desired outcome.

Re-phrase meaning with examples

• The teacher asked the student to re-phrase their answer to make it easier for the class to understand. The student, initially using complex vocabulary, simplified their explanation, breaking down the concept. They restructured their sentences, using more common terms and shorter phrases to clearly present the information so the whole class benefited and understood the concept, thus making the teacher pleased.
• During the negotiation, the mediator helped the parties re-phrase their demands to find common ground. The original proposals were presented aggressively, causing friction. By softening the language and focusing on underlying needs, the mediator facilitated constructive dialogue. This enabled compromise and helped them better understand each others viewpoints.
• After receiving feedback on her essay, the writer decided to re-phrase several sentences. The original phrasing was ambiguous and could be misinterpreted by the reader. She revised the unclear passages, focusing on precision and making her arguments clearer. This helped improve the essay's clarity, making it more convincing and coherent for the reader.
• When translating a technical document, the translator must carefully re-phrase each sentence. Literal translations can often sound awkward. The translator adopted clearer, more natural sounding phrases. This ensured the document was both accurate and accessible to the target audience, and they understood the correct meaning of the document.