Rephrasing an idea — reuse it in speaking and writing

Rephrasing an idea: progressive explanation, topic-specific examples, guided exercises and a corrected assessment.

Duration: 25 minPrerequisites: reformulation-pratiquerPass mark: 80%

1. Objective

By the end, you will produce your own content using “Rephrasing an idea” clearly and accurately.

2. I discover

These rephrasings are freer. Identify what absolutely has to remain: contrast, lack of response, or degree of probability.

3. I understand

Rephrasing means keeping the same meaning with different wording or structure. You may replace words or reorganise the sentence, but you must not add or remove an essential idea.

Le projet est intéressant, mais son coût reste élevé.Même si le projet présente un intérêt, il demeure coûteux.Nous n’avons reçu aucune réponse pour le moment.À ce jour, personne ne nous a encore répondu.Ce changement devrait faciliter les démarches.On peut s’attendre à ce que les démarches deviennent plus simples.

Watch out

Changing a single word is not always enough. Compare meaning before and after: cause, intensity, certainty and chronology must remain the same.

4. Guided practice

5. Independent practice

6. I write / I speak

Rephrase each idea in a slightly different register without changing its degree of certainty.

7. Check-up

8. Remember

A successful rephrasing says it differently, not something different. Check what must remain unchanged: information, logical relation and degree of certainty.

Download the worksheet (PDF)

9. Now I can…

I can identify useful clues in “Rephrasing an idea”.
I can explain my choice instead of guessing.
I can reuse this skill in a real text or exchange.