What does it mean to "paraphrase" in APA writing?

Paraphrasing in APA writing involves restating someone else's ideas in your own words while giving proper credit to the original source. This process demonstrates your understanding of the material and allows you to integrate others' insights into your work without directly quoting them. Proper credit in paraphrasing typically involves citation, which acknowledges the contributions of the original author and avoids issues of plagiarism.

In distinguishing paraphrasing from other actions, it's essential to note that simply repeating someone else's words directly is considered quoting, not paraphrasing. Additionally, summarizing would involve condensing the information to its essential points, which is different from the more detailed approach of paraphrasing. Criticizing another author's work involves subjective interpretation and evaluation, which is not the focus of a straightforward paraphrase. Thus, the definition and practice of paraphrasing are crucial for academic integrity and effective writing in APA format.