paraphrasing music meaning

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• Rhett Schmeler
• 2 minutes on read

Table of Contents

• paraphrase term description
• Additional information about the term paraphrase
• Questions related to term paraphrase
• Video related to term paraphrase

Meaning of Paraphrase in Music

In the context of music, paraphrase refers to the adaptation, alteration, or elaboration of existing musical material to create a new composition or arrangement. It involves taking a pre-existing musical theme, melody, or motif and reworking it in a different way while retaining its recognizable elements.

Paraphrase can be used as a technique in various musical genres and styles. For example, in the 16th century, paraphrase was a common technique for constructing masses. Composers like Palestrina used paraphrase technique in their masses, often basing them on hymns presented in a condensed form.

Paraphrase in music allows composers to explore and reinterpret existing musical ideas, adding their own creative touch to the original material. It provides a way to create new compositions while maintaining a connection to familiar musical elements.

Paraphrase in music involves the adaptation, alteration, or elaboration of existing musical material to create new compositions or arrangements. It is a technique that allows composers to explore and reinterpret pre-existing musical ideas while adding their own creative touch.

(19th century) A virtuoso composition using popular melodies , usually from operas , in an elaborated manner such as the Carmen Fantasy by Pablo de Sarasate . (14th - 16th century) A melody borrowed from another source (usually chant ) and then elaborated freely such as Missa l' hom arme by Guillaume de Machaut . (18th century) A rhythmic version of scripture or psalms in the native language of the composer such as Estro poetico-armonico: Parafrasi sopra li primi (secondi) venticinque salami by Benedetto Marcello .

Popular questions related to paraphrase

What do we mean by paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing means 'to state something written or spoken in different words, especially in a shorter and simpler form to make the meaning clearer' (Cambridge Online Dictionary, 2022). Paraphrasing is 'a restating of someone else's thoughts or ideas in your own words.

What is a paraphrase in rhetoric?

Paraphrases allow you to describe specific information from a source (ideas from a paragraph or several consecutive paragraphs) in your own words. Paraphrases are like translations of an author' original idea. You retain the detail of the original thought, but you express it in your own way.

What is a paraphrase definition and example?

/ˈpær.ə.freɪz/ A paraphrase of something is the same thing written or spoken using different words, often in a simpler and shorter form that makes the original meaning clearer: She gave us a quick paraphrase of what had been said. I am sure that he will tell me if my paraphrase is inaccurate. More examples.

What does paraphrasing in listening mean?

“ - The literal definition of paraphrasing means to summarize a message with fewer words. This active listening technique does two things. It tells the speaker that you're listening attentively, and it allows you to check your understanding and focus on the core of the message.

What is paraphrase characteristics?

Characteristics of Effective Paraphrases: ✓ Accurately relays the information from the original text in your own words. ✓ Provides the reader with the source of the information. ✓ Paraphrases, unlike summaries, should be as long as the original document.

How does paraphrasing help in listening?

Paraphrasing is the most direct way to show someone that their thoughts and feelings were understood. Paraphrasing helps people feel that their ideas are valid and respected because there is no judgment involved. Paraphrasing allows speakers to hear how their ideas are being interpreted by others.

Why is paraphrasing important in the listening process?

Paraphrasing and questioning are useful techniques for empathetic listening because they allow us to respond to a speaker without taking “the floor,” or the attention, away for long.

What does paraphrasing mean in active listening?

Paraphrasing is when a person reads or actively listens to a message and is able to clearly express it back in their own words (written or spoken).

What are examples of paraphrasing?

Sometimes you only need to paraphrase the information from one sentence. Here are some examples of paraphrasing individual sentences: Original: Her life spanned years of incredible change for women as they gained more rights than ever before. Paraphrase: She lived through the exciting era of women's liberation.

How do you paraphrase when listening?

Paraphrasing is restating the speaker's thought, in your own words. For instance, "I think you're saying that..." or "It sounds like you're saying ...". This is so they know you understand, or don't understand, in which case they can clarify for you.

How do you paraphrase listening?

Paraphrasing is not just repeating what the other person said with different words; it requires active listening and careful word choice. To paraphrase effectively, listen carefully to the main points and underlying message, and use your own words to match the tone and level of formality of the speaker.

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Songwriting Starters: Lyrical Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing, or the rewording of something written or spoken by someone else, is a great skill to learn. Often a deeper meaning of the work is achieved through the basic steps of paraphrasing. I have found this to be an exciting songwriting technique when working with individuals with special needs. Often my students have a specific artist or group of songs that they want to listen to or perform repeatedly. For some of my student’s, teaching them about lyrical paraphrasing is a great way to validate their song “favorites” while incorporating new skills into their session. Here are some basic skills to address when paraphrasing lyrics:

• Select one or two phrases or lyrical sentences from the song. Read it until you understand it’s meaning or overall message.
• Take away the visual or written line. Jot down the key words or points on a piece of paper or white board.
• Create synonyms for the main key words by using a thesaurus or other resource, or look for new words within a category.
• Look for ways to shorten or lengthen the phrases or sentences. Write out or type your new ideas and lyrics.
• Repeat these steps as you move throughout the song.

Example:  Lyrical Paraphrasing of “Superman” by Taylor Swift

Tall, dark and super manly Puts papers in his briefcase and drives away To save the world or go to work It’s the same thing to me

He’s got his mother’s eyes, his father’s ambition I wonder if he knows how much that I miss him I hang on every word you say.

Here is the lyrical paraphrasing created by one of my students:

Athletic and smart and always a mystery. He zips up his jacket and walks away from me. He’s probably off to some sporting event, flying away on this private jet.

He’s got his mother’s smile, his father’s personality. Does he realize how much I love, will he look my way?

Wade is a board-certified music therapist and one of the directors at Spectrum Creative Arts.  He completed additional training programs in Orff-Schulwerk, Neurologic Music Therapy, and Performance Wellness.  As a songwriter and creative writer, Wade has authored several music resource books for music therapy and music education.

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Brahms consciously evokes the human voice in his piano music, notably in the slow movements of his second and third sonatas. His Intermezzo in A major Op 118 No 2 (available to view for free via the link) is in ‘ternary’ form, which consists of three sections: the ‘A’ section from bar 1, the ‘B’ section from bar 49, and a return to ‘A’ in bar 76. When this ‘A’ section returns again later in the piece, try using varied phrasing so while it is a return to a musical idea we have heard previously, it also sounds new.

The Intermezzo is mostly legato and features dynamic change. Two voices are singing in harmony in the right hand, as indicated by the stems pointing in separate directions. These voices should be differentiated, with slightly more prominence given to the top voice. Since that top voice is going to be at the forefront, try singing that voice to find how you’d like to phrase it.

How to incorporate this information into your playing

• Try singing sections and use that to help phrase the music
• Try to experiment with all the different ways you can play a particular passage
• Try thinking of a story the music is telling and use phrasing to help you bring that programmatic vision to life

Lastly, I think it’s beneficial to look at a pianist you admire, and listen to the phrasing decisions they make while playing. Listen along to the performance below of the Intermezzo from Seymour Bernstein as you look at the score. Scribble in any phrasing you might notice onto your score. 

Remember, making music is not just a matter of playing the notes dictated on the score, but rather how you play them and the intention behind it. 

This lesson segment comes from Leann Osterkamp’s course, 'The Core Elements of Learning Repertoire', on tonebase Piano . tonebase is an excellent resource for the classical musician that offers hundreds of lessons, courses, and interviews with renowned pedagogues and GRAMMY award-winning pianists. You can watch part of Leann Osterkamp's video on piano phrasing below.

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Definition of paraphrase

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of paraphrase  (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Did you know?

When we paraphrase, we provide a version that can exist beside the original (rather than replace it). We paraphrase all the time. When you tell a friend what someone else has said, you're almost always paraphrasing, since you're not repeating the exact words. If you go to hear a talk, you might paraphrase the speaker's main points afterward for your friends. And when writing a paper on a short story, you might start off your essay with a paraphrase of the plot. Paraphrasing is especially useful when dealing with poetry, since poetic language is often difficult and poems may have meanings that are hard to pin down.

• restatement
• translating
• translation

Examples of paraphrase in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'paraphrase.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Noun and Verb

Middle French, from Latin paraphrasis , from Greek, from paraphrazein to paraphrase, from para- + phrazein to point out

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

1598, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Cite this Entry

“Paraphrase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paraphrase. Accessed 7 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of paraphrase.

Kids Definition of paraphrase  (Entry 2 of 2)

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Nglish: Translation of paraphrase for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of paraphrase for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paraphrase

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• When & How to Use Paraphrase

I. What is a Paraphrase?

A paraphrase (pronounced par – uh -freyz) is a restatement or rewording of a paragraph  or text,  in order to borrow, clarify, or expand on information without plagiarizing. Paraphrasing is an important tool to use when writing research papers, essays , and pieces of journalism.

II. Examples of Paraphrasing

For examples of paraphrasing, consider these possible re-wordings of the same statement:

She angered me with her inappropriate comments, rumor-spreading, and disrespectfulness at the formal dinner table.

She made me angry when she was rude at dinner.

This paraphrase is an example of a rewording which shortens and simplifies while maintaining the same meaning.

Her impoliteness, gossiping, and general lack of respect at dinner infuriated me.

This rephrasing maintains the same meaning but is rearranged in a creative way.

I was mad when she started spreading rumors, making inappropriate comments, and disrespecting other guests at our dinner.

Another paraphrase, this rewording properly and interestingly rearranges the information provided in the original sentence.

III. Types of Paraphrasing

A. change of parts of speech.

Parts of speech ranging from verbs and nouns to adjectives and adverbs are replaced with new parts of speech in this type of paraphrasing. Here is an example:

Original Sentence:

The boy quickly ran across the finish line, seizing yet another victory.

Paraphrase:

The quick boy seized yet another victory when he ran across the finish line.

In this example, many parts of speech are changed: the adverb quickly becomes the adjective quick, and the verb phrase with the gerund seizing becomes the verb seized.

B.  Change of Structure

This type of paraphrasing involves changing the sentence’s structure, sometimes creating a passive voice from an active voice and vice versa. The change in structure can be used to reflect the writer’s interpretation of the original quote. Here is an example of change of structure paraphrasing:

Puppies were adopted by numerous kind souls at the puppy drive.

Many kind souls adopted puppies during the puppy drive.

In this example, the object of the sentence (kind souls) becomes the subject with an active voice (adopted) rather than a passive voice (were adopted).

C. Reduction of Clauses

Reduction of clauses paraphrases reduce the number of clauses in a sentence, which can be interruptive or confusing, by incorporating the phrases into the sentence. Here is an example of reduction of clauses paraphrasing:

While I understand where you’re coming from, and truly respect your opinion, I wish you would express yourself more clearly, like Clara does.

I understand where you’re coming from and respect your opinion, but I wish you would be more like Clara and express yourself more clearly.

D. Synonym Replacement

Synonym replacement paraphrasing is one of the simplest forms of paraphrasing: replacing words with similar words, or synonyms. Here is an example:

The older citizens were honored with a parade for those once in the military.

Senior citizens were honored with a march for veterans.

In this example, many synonyms are used: older citizens are senior citizens, a parade becomes a march, and those once in the military refers to veterans.

IV. The Importance of Using Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is a way of referencing a source without directly quoting it or of further explaining a selected quote. Correct paraphrasing is important in that poor paraphrasing can result in accusations of plagiarism, or copying from a source without correctly citing it. Paraphrasing allows writers to examine the meaning of others’ work, creatively rephrase their statements, and craft information to suit an essay or composition’s goal or focus.

V. Paraphrase in Literature

Paraphrasing can be found in a variety of journalistic sources from newspapers to film documentaries to literary journals. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in literature:

Someone once wrote that musicians are touched on the shoulder by God, and I think it’s true. You can make other people happy with music, but you can make yourself happy too.

In John Berendt’s nonfiction novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil , a character references what someone has once written by paraphrasing their message.

I’m going to paraphrase Thoreau here… rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness… give me truth.

In this example from the nonfiction novel Into the Wild , Jon Krakauer paraphrases Thoreau’s larger message of transcendence.

So far, Laurance’s critiques of new road-building schemes have been well received, but he expects that to change.

In Michelle Nijhuis’ article “What Roads Have Wrought,” William Laurance is paraphrased rather than quoted to express his general viewpoint.

VI. Paraphrase in Pop Culture

Paraphrasing is often found in pop culture when attempting to translate the language of older plays, poems, and stories, such as Shakespeare’s works. Here are a few examples of paraphrasing in pop culture:

10 Things I Hate About You (1999):

Just a minor encounter with the shrew… the mewling, rampalian wretch herself.

In the modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew , many characters ’ lines paraphrase Shakespeare’s originals. Here is Shakespeare’s version:

A meacock wretch can make the curstest shrew.

A Different World: Romeo, Oh Romeo

First, the student reads Shakespeare’s original words:

Oh gentle Romeo. If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully. Or if thou thinkest I’m too quickly won, I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay, so thou wilt woo.

Then, she paraphrases to translate its meaning for modern ears:

It’s all about translation. Oh, sweet thang Romeo. If you think I’m all that, then step to me correctly. But if you think I’m a skeeze, I’ll be dissin’ and dismissin’, then you’ll be workin’ overtime getting’ me back.

VII. Related Terms

Like paraphrases, summaries are rewordings of original statements. Whereas paraphrases are precise and specific, summaries are brief and selective. Summaries report main points in a shortened version of the original, whereas paraphrases simply restate the original statement in a new way. Here is an example of summary versus paraphrase:

Original Statement:

At the party we had delicious red punch, a bunch of different appetizers, and a cookout. Since it was at the park, we played volleyball, went swimming, and sunbathed for fun.

At the party we enjoyed food and drink and various outdoor activities.

Here, the summary purposefully shortens the original statement while covering its major points.

At the party we drank some punch, ate a handful of appetizers, and had a cookout. The park allowed us to enjoy a number of enjoyable activities from volleyball to swimming to sunbathing.

As this example shows, the paraphrase rephrases the original statement and keeps more of its original content than the summary.

Translation

Although paraphrase sometimes translates difficult phrasing into more understandable phrasing, it is not literally considered translation. For something to be a translation, it must change writing in one language to another language. Here is an example of translation versus paraphrasing:

Original Phrase:

That’s life.

Translation into French:

C’est la vie.

That’s just how life goes sometimes.

Although we loosely may refer to paraphrase as translating ideas, technically it is not a tool of translation.

VIII. In Closing

Paraphrasing is an important tool for nonfiction writers, journalists, and essayists alike. It is a common proponent of news and reporting. Correct paraphrasing protects writers from plagiarism and allows them to creatively rephrase original works, incorporating them into their own compositions.

List of Terms

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• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
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• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
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Paraphrase: Write It in Your Own Words

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This handout is intended to help you become more comfortable with the uses of and distinctions among quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. This handout compares and contrasts the three terms, gives some pointers, and includes a short excerpt that you can use to practice these skills.

Paraphrasing is one way to use a text in your own writing without directly quoting source material. Anytime you are taking information from a source that is not your own, you need to specify where you got that information.

A paraphrase is...

• Your own rendition of essential information and ideas expressed by someone else, presented in a new form.
• One legitimate way (when accompanied by accurate documentation) to borrow from a source.
• A more detailed restatement than a summary, which focuses concisely on a single main idea.

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill because...

• It is better than quoting information from an undistinguished passage.
• It helps you control the temptation to quote too much.
• The mental process required for successful paraphrasing helps you to grasp the full meaning of the original.

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

• Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
• Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
• Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
• Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
• Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
• Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Some examples to compare

Note that the examples in this section use MLA style for in-text citation.

The original passage:

Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact transcribing of source materials while taking notes. Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers . 2nd ed., 1976, pp. 46-47.

A legitimate paraphrase:

In research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

An acceptable summary:

Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

A plagiarized version:

Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material copied while taking notes.

A note about plagiarism: This example has been classed as plagiarism, in part, because of its failure to deploy any citation. Plagiarism is a serious offense in the academic world. However, we acknowledge that plagiarism is a difficult term to define; that its definition may be contextually sensitive; and that not all instances of plagiarism are created equal—that is, there are varying “degrees of egregiousness” for different cases of plagiarism.

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Meaning of paraphrase in English

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• din something into someone
• drum something into someone
• flog yourself to death idiom
• labour the point idiom
• repetitively
• restatement
• I would take issue with your paraphrase of my position .
• She does not follow Shakespeare's text but has devised her own paraphrase of it.
• Allow me to end my first speech with my own paraphrase of the statement .

paraphrase | American Dictionary

Examples of paraphrase, translations of paraphrase.

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This AI-powered paraphraser lets you rewrite text in your own words. Use it to  paraphrase articles, essays, and other pieces of text. You can also use it to rephrase sentences and find synonyms for individual words. And the best part? It’s all 100% free!

What's paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing involves expressing someone else’s ideas or thoughts in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Paraphrasing tools can help you quickly reword text by replacing certain words with synonyms or restructuring sentences. They can also make your text more concise, clear, and suitable for a specific audience. Paraphrasing is an essential skill in academic writing and professional communication. 

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• Save time: Gone are the days when you had to reword sentences yourself; now you can rewrite a text or a complete text with one click.
•  Improve your writing: Your writing will always be clear and easy to understand. Automatically ensure consistent language throughout. 
• Preserve original meaning: Paraphrase without fear of losing the point of your text.
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Features of the paraphrasing tool

Rephrase individual sentences

With the Scribbr Paraphrasing Tool, you can easily reformulate individual sentences.

• Write varied headlines
• Rephrase the subject line of an email
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Paraphrase a whole text

Our paraphraser can also help with longer passages (up to 125 words per input). Upload your document or copy your text into the input field.

With one click, you can reformulate the entire text.

Find synonyms with ease

Simply click on any word to open the interactive thesaurus.

• Choose from a list of suggested synonyms
• Find the synonym with the most appropriate meaning
• Replace the word with a single click

Paraphrase in two ways

• Standard: Offers a compromise between modifying and preserving the meaning of the original text
• Fluency: Improves language and corrects grammatical mistakes.

Upload different types of documents

Upload any Microsoft Word document, Google Doc, or PDF into the paraphrasing tool.

Download or copy your results

After you’re done, you can easily download or copy your text to use somewhere else.

Powered by AI

The paraphrasing tool uses natural language processing to rewrite any text you give it. This way, you can paraphrase any text within seconds.

Avoid accidental plagiarism

Want to make sure your document is plagiarism-free? In addition to our paraphrasing tool, which will help you rephrase sentences, quotations, or paragraphs correctly, you can also use our anti-plagiarism software to make sure your document is unique and not plagiarized.

Scribbr’s anti-plagiarism software enables you to:

• Detect plagiarism more accurately than other tools
• Ensure that your paraphrased text is valid
• Highlight the sources that are most similar to your text

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How does this paraphrasing tool work?

1. put your text into the paraphraser, 2. select your method of paraphrasing, 3. select the quantity of synonyms you want, 4. edit your text where needed, who can use this paraphrasing tool.

Paraphrasing tools can help students to understand texts and improve the quality of their writing. 

Create original lesson plans, presentations, or other educational materials.

Researchers

Explain complex concepts or ideas to a wider audience. 

Journalists

Quickly and easily rephrase text to avoid repetitive language.

Copywriters

By using a paraphrasing tool, you can quickly and easily rework existing content to create something new and unique.

Bloggers can rewrite existing content to make it their own.

Writers who need to rewrite content, such as adapting an article for a different context or writing content for a different audience.

A paraphrasing tool lets you quickly rewrite your original content for each medium, ensuring you reach the right audience on each platform.

The all-purpose paraphrasing tool

The Scribbr Paraphrasing Tool is the perfect assistant in a variety of contexts.

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Writer’s block? Use our paraphraser to get some inspiration.

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Produce creative headings for your blog posts or PowerPoint slides.

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Paraphrase sources smoothly in your thesis or research paper.

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Craft memorable captions and content for your social media posts.

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Frequently asked questions

The act of putting someone else’s ideas or words into your own words is called paraphrasing, rephrasing, or rewording. Even though they are often used interchangeably, the terms can mean slightly different things:

Paraphrasing is restating someone else’s ideas or words in your own words while retaining their meaning. Paraphrasing changes sentence structure, word choice, and sentence length to convey the same meaning.

Rephrasing may involve more substantial changes to the original text, including changing the order of sentences or the overall structure of the text.

Rewording is changing individual words in a text without changing its meaning or structure, often using synonyms.

It can. One of the two methods of paraphrasing is called “Fluency.” This will improve the language and fix grammatical errors in the text you’re paraphrasing.

Paraphrasing and using a paraphrasing tool aren’t cheating. It’s a great tool for saving time and coming up with new ways to express yourself in writing.  However, always be sure to credit your sources. Avoid plagiarism.  

If you don’t properly cite text paraphrased from another source, you’re plagiarizing. If you use someone else’s text and paraphrase it, you need to credit the original source. You can do that by using citations. There are different styles, like APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago. Find more information about citing sources here.

Paraphrasing without crediting the original author is a form of plagiarism , because you’re presenting someone else’s ideas as if they were your own.

However, paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you correctly cite the source . This means including an in-text citation and a full reference, formatted according to your required citation style .

As well as citing, make sure that any paraphrased text is completely rewritten in your own words.

Plagiarism means using someone else’s words or ideas and passing them off as your own. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas in your own words.

So when does paraphrasing count as plagiarism?

• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if you don’t properly credit the original author.
• Paraphrasing is plagiarism if your text is too close to the original wording (even if you cite the source). If you directly copy a sentence or phrase, you should quote it instead.
• Paraphrasing  is not plagiarism if you put the author’s ideas completely in your own words and properly cite the source .

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Paraphrasing - an overview

Paraphrasing is ..., what are the differences between quoting, paraphrasing & summarising .

• Why Paraphrase?
• Paraphrasing versus Plagiarism
• The Do's and Don'ts of Paraphrasing
• Paraphrasing - examples
• Further Information

Paraphrasing is 'a restating of someone else’s thoughts or ideas in your own words. You must always cite your source when paraphrasing’ (Pears & Shields, 2019 p. 245).  

(Solas English, 2017)

• Quoting means using someone else’s exact words and putting them in quotation marks.. 
• Paraphrasing means expressing someone else’s ideas in your own voice, while keeping the same essential meaning.
• Summarising means taking a long passage of text from someone else and condensing the main ideas in your own words.

Watch the video below for more information.  

(UNC Writing Center, 2019)

• Next: Why Paraphrase? >>
• Last Updated: Sep 8, 2023 9:42 AM
• URL: https://lit.libguides.com/paraphrasing

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• What is Paraphrasing? An Overview With Examples
• Learn English
• James Prior
• No Comments
• Updated February 23, 2024

What is paraphrasing? Or should I say what is the definition of paraphrasing? If you want to restate something using different words whilst retaining the same meaning, this is paraphrasing.

In this article, we cover what paraphrasing is, why it’s important, and when you should do it. Plus, some benefits and examples.

Table of Contents

Paraphrase Definition: What is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing is when you restate the information from a source using your own words while maintaining the original meaning. It involves expressing the ideas in a different way, often to clarify or simplify the content, without directly quoting the source.

When you paraphrase, you are not only borrowing, clarifying, or expanding on the information but also ensuring that you do all of these actions without plagiarizing the original content. It’s therefore definitely worth learning how to paraphrase if you want to improve your writing skills.

Why is Paraphrasing Important?

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill that allows you to convey information in your unique writing style while still giving credit to someone else’s ideas. It’s important for several reasons, and it serves various functions in both academic and professional writing.

Here are some key reasons why you should paraphrase:

• Paraphrasing allows you to present information from sources in your own words, reducing the risk of plagiarism. Proper in-text citation is still necessary, but paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding and interpretation of the material.
• When you paraphrase, you are required to comprehend the original content fully. You actively engage with the information, helping you better understand complex concepts and ideas. This process of restating the information in your own words showcases your understanding of the subject matter.
• By paraphrasing, you can clarify complex ideas or technical language and convey information in a clearer, shorter, and simpler form. This makes it more accessible to your audience and ensures they grasp the key points. This is particularly important when communicating with readers who may not be familiar with specialized terminology.
• Paraphrasing is valuable when synthesizing information from various sources. It enables you to blend ideas cohesively while maintaining a consistent writing style throughout your work.
• Paraphrasing allows you to inject your unique writing style and voice into the content. It helps you present information in a way that is more aligned with your personal expression and perspective.
• In certain situations where you need to meet specific length requirements for assignments or publications, paraphrasing allows you to convey information more concisely while still preserving the essential meaning.
• Paraphrasing helps maintain a smooth flow and cohesiveness in your writing. It allows you to integrate information seamlessly, avoiding abrupt shifts between your own ideas and those from external sources.
• Depending on your audience, you may need to adapt the language and level of technicality of the information you present. Paraphrasing allows you to tailor the content to suit the needs of your specific readership.

Incorporating paraphrasing into your writing not only showcases your understanding of the material but also enhances the overall quality and originality of your work.

When Should You Paraphrase?

Knowing when to paraphrase is an important skill, especially in academic writing and professional communication. Here are some situations in which you should consider paraphrasing:

• To Avoid Plagiarism:  Whenever you want to incorporate information from source material into your own work, but don’t want to use a direct quotation, paraphrasing is necessary to present the ideas in your own words while still acknowledging the original source.
• To Express Understanding:  Paraphrasing demonstrates your understanding of a topic by rephrasing the information in a way that shows you have processed and comprehended the material.
• To Simplify Complex Information:  If you encounter complex or technical language that may be difficult for your audience to understand, paraphrasing can help you clarify and simplify the information to make it more accessible and digestible.
• To Integrate Multiple Sources:  When synthesizing information from multiple sources, paraphrasing allows you to blend the ideas cohesively while maintaining your own voice and perspective.
• To Maintain Consistency in Writing Style:  In academic writing or professional writing, paraphrasing can help you maintain a consistent writing style throughout your work. This helps to ensure that all sections flow smoothly and are coherent.
• To Meet Specific Requirements:  Some assignments or publications may have specific requirements. This could relate to the number of words or concern the use of direct quotations. In such cases, paraphrasing allows you to meet these requirements while still incorporating relevant information from your sources.

What Are the Benefits of Paraphrasing?

Rewriting information in a clearer, shorter, and simpler form is called paraphrasing, so one of the benefits of paraphrasing is already clear! However, it can also be a useful exercise for other reasons, which are outlined below:

Avoiding Plagiarism

One of the main benefits of paraphrasing is mastering the ability to present information from external sources in a way that is entirely your own. By restructuring the content and expressing it using your words, you create a distinct piece of writing that reflects your comprehension and interpretation of the original material. This not only showcases your academic or professional integrity but also safeguards against unintentional plagiarism.

Paraphrasing is a fundamental skill in academic and professional settings, where originality and proper attribution are highly valued. This is especially true when it comes to writing research papers, where you’ll often need to reference someone else’s ideas with appropriate citations.

When you paraphrase effectively, you communicate to your audience that you respect the intellectual property of others while contributing your unique insights. This ethical approach to information usage enhances your credibility as a writer or researcher and reinforces the integrity of your work.

Enhancing Understanding

When you engage in paraphrasing, you actively participate in the material you are working with. You are forced to consider the ideas presented in the source material. You need to discern the essential concepts, identify key phrases, and decide how best to convey the message in a way that resonates with you.

This active engagement not only aids in understanding the content but also encourages critical thinking as you evaluate and interpret the information from your own standpoint.

By expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words, you deepen your understanding of the content. This process requires you to dissect the original text, grasp its nuances, and then reconstruct it using your language and perspective. In this way, you go beyond mere memorization and truly internalize the information, fostering a more profound comprehension of the subject matter.

Tailoring Information for Your Audience

Paraphrasing empowers you to adapt the language and complexity of the information to suit the needs and understanding of your audience. As you rephrase the content, you have the flexibility to adjust the level of technicality, simplify complex terminology, or tailor the tone to make the information more accessible to your specific readership.

Consider your audience’s background, knowledge level, and interests. Paraphrasing allows you to bridge the gap between the original content and the understanding of your intended audience.

Whether you are communicating with experts in a particular field or a general audience, the ability to paraphrase ensures that the information is conveyed in a way that resonates with and is comprehensible to your readers. This skill not only facilitates effective communication but also demonstrates your awareness of the diverse needs of your audience.

Improves Writing Skills

Paraphrasing helps in the development and refinement of your writing skills. When you actively engage in the process of rephrasing someone else’s ideas, you hone your ability to express concepts in a clear, concise, and coherent manner.

This practice refines your language proficiency, encouraging you to explore different types of sentence structure, experiment with vocabulary, and ultimately develop a more sophisticated and nuanced writing style.

As you paraphrase, you gain a heightened awareness of grammar, syntax, and word choice. This translates into improved writing, helping you construct well-articulated sentences and paragraphs. Moreover, paraphrasing allows you to experiment with different writing tones and adapt your style to suit the context or purpose of your writing, fostering versatility and adaptability in your expression.

Saves Time and Energy

Paraphrasing can significantly reduce the time and energy spent on the writing process. Rather than grappling with the challenge of integrating lengthy direct quotations or struggling to find the perfect synonym, paraphrasing allows you to distill and convey information in a more streamlined way.

This becomes particularly advantageous when faced with strict deadlines. By mastering paraphrasing, you empower yourself to produce well-crafted, original content in a shorter timeframe, allowing you to meet deadlines without compromising the quality of your work.

Examples of Paraphrasing

Here are some examples of paraphrasing:

• Original:  “The advancements in technology have revolutionized the way we communicate with each other.”
• Paraphrased:  “Technological progress has transformed how we interact and communicate with one another.”
• Original:  “Deforestation poses a significant threat to global ecosystems and biodiversity.”
• Paraphrased:  “The impact of deforestation represents a substantial danger to ecosystems and the diversity of life on a global scale.”
• Original:  “Effective time management is essential for achieving productivity in both professional and personal spheres.”
• Paraphrased:  “Efficient management of time is crucial for attaining productivity in both professional and personal aspects of life.”
• Original:  “The restaurant offers a diverse selection of culinary choices, ranging from traditional dishes to modern fusion cuisine.”
• Paraphrased:  “The restaurant provides a variety of food options, including both traditional and modern fusion dishes.”
• Original:  “The novel explores the complexities of human relationships in a rapidly changing society.”
• Paraphrased:  “The book delves into the challenges of human connections in a fast-changing world.”
• Original:  “Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining optimal physical health and preventing various health issues.”
• Paraphrased:  “Exercising regularly is important for keeping your body healthy and avoiding health problems.”

In these examples, you can observe the use of different wording, sentence structure, and synonyms while preserving the core meaning of the original sentences. This is the essence of paraphrasing.

What Are the Differences Between Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Summarizing?

So, we’ve established that successful paraphrasing is a way of rewriting someone else’s words whilst retaining their meaning and still giving credit to the original author’s ideas. But how is this different from quoting and summarizing?

While paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing are all ways of incorporating information from source material into your own writing, there are key differences between them:

Paraphrasing

• Definition:  Paraphrasing involves rephrasing someone else’s ideas or information in your own words while retaining the original meaning.
• Usage:  You use paraphrasing when you want to present the information in a way that suits your writing style or when you need to clarify complex ideas.
• Example:  Original: “The study found a significant correlation between sleep deprivation and decreased cognitive performance.” Paraphrased: “The research indicated a notable link between lack of sleep and a decline in cognitive function.”
• Definition:  Quoting involves directly using the exact words from a source and enclosing them in quotation marks.
• Usage:  You use quoting when the original wording is essential, either because of its precision or uniqueness, or when you want to highlight a specific phrase or concept.
• Example:  Original: “The author argues, ‘In the absence of clear guidelines, individual judgment becomes paramount in decision-making.'”

The use of quotation marks is vital when quoting.

Summarizing

• Definition:  Summarizing involves condensing the main ideas of a source or original passage in your own words, focusing on the most crucial points.
• Usage:  You use summarizing when you need to provide a concise overview of a longer piece of text or when you want to capture the key points without including all the details.
• Example:  Original: A lengthy article discussing various factors influencing climate change. Summary: “The article outlines key factors contributing to climate change, including human activities and natural processes.”

In summary, paraphrasing is about expressing someone else’s ideas in your own words, quoting involves directly using the original words, and summarizing is about condensing the main points of a source.

Each technique serves different purposes in writing and should be used based on your specific goals and the nature of the information you are incorporating. If you want to level up your writing skills you need to be able to do all three of these.

Conclusion (In Our Own Words)

Paraphrasing is a valuable skill with numerous benefits. It helps you understand complex ideas, refine your writing style, and demonstrate ethical information use. It also allows you to tailor information for different audiences and can save time in academic and professional writing.

So, if you want to incorporate information from external sources into your writing in a way that is clear, concise, and respectful of the original author’s work, it’s worth mastering the art of paraphrasing.

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March 28, 2024

Song Lyrics Really Are Getting Simpler and More Repetitive, Study Finds

An assessment of hundreds of thousands of songs confirms that choruses and hooks have taken over—but simpler isn’t necessarily worse

By Lauren Leffer

Drante/Getty Images

When comparing today’s hit tunes with the top 40 of past decades, strong opinions are never in short supply. Every generation seems to lament its successor’s musical tastes and listening habits. Though science can’t necessarily account for such subjective preferences or generational divides, new research suggests popular music has indeed undergone some measurable and significant shifts over the past 50 years—with popular song lyrics becoming simpler and more repetitive , according to a study published on Thursday in Scientific Reports .

“There’s more rhyming lines and also more chorus,” says the study’s senior author Eva Zangerle , a computer scientist at Austria’s University of Innsbruck, who has developed music recommendation algorithms. “We basically found that lyrics [have gotten] easier to comprehend.” This trend, observed across five of the most popular English-language music genres (pop, rock, rap, R&B and country) since 1970, hints at how shifts in music listening habits, platforms and production may be shaping pop culture.

Zangerle and her co-authors compiled lyrics from 353,320 well-known songs released between 1970 and 2020. They used machine learning to single out these songs’ key linguistic features, such as the ratio of repeated words, the types of emotional cues, a readability score and the richness of vocabulary. Then they developed and trained additional models to sort and analyze those features across years in a representative subset of 12,000 songs.

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The researchers discovered that the ratio of repeated to nonrepeated lines has ticked up across genres over the years, nearly doubling for pop songs and rising even more rapidly for rap music. The ratio of choruses to other song sections rose as well. The study also found that contemporary music lyrics convey more negative emotions and fewer positive ones than in the past and that songs have become more personal, with a higher frequency of pronouns such as “I” and “me”—echoing past research findings about shifts in lyrical content .

“I thought this study was really cool,” says Michael Varnum, a cultural psychologist at Arizona State University, who was not involved in the new research. Varnum has previously studied popular music and detected similar declines in lyrical complexity over time. This new work replicates those findings with a more inclusive sample, he says, by surveying an order of magnitude more songs, comparing across genres and looking beyond the biggest chart-toppers to assess the larger landscape of what people listen to.

Yet even this study’s expansive dataset isn’t completely comprehensive. Its focus on English-language songs—compiled from the online platform Genius—means it is inherently biased toward the Western cultural canon, Zangerle says.

Emotional intention and meaning, too, are hard to parse from lyrics alone, says Robin James , an independent popular music and philosophy scholar. James points out that slang terms such as “slay” might appear angry or violent in an automated assessment but actually convey a positive emotional meaning. Even complexity is challenging to quantify, she adds. Lyrics that seem like simple gibberish at first can actually be clever wordplay, James points out, noting Missy Elliot’s backward lines in the 2002 hit song “Work It.”

And lyrics are just one small part of what makes up a song, says Kaleb Goldschmitt, an ethnomusicologist at Wellesley College and co-editor of the Journal of Popular Music Studies . Even if lyrics are getting simpler, musical factors such as texture and rhythm seem to be getting more complex, Goldschmitt says.

Still, shifts in lyrical structure—particularly a boom in choruses—are apparent enough that music scholars have already been noting the trend for a few years, James says. It isn’t clear why these repeated sections are taking up more time in songs. But based on his past research, Varnum hypothesizes that the sheer amount of new music being produced could partially explain the phenomenon. “When people are faced with lots and lots of choices, they tend to prefer things that are easier to process and more straightforward,” he says.

The way people interact with songs has also shifted, Varnum adds, with more and more listeners tuning in to music while multitasking. “It would make sense that if it’s in the background, you don’t necessarily want things that are going to be challenging or attention-grabbing,” he says.

Today’s prevalence of streaming, Zangerle suggests, may also play a role by changing the ways artists compose for their market. Instead of investing in a whole album based on a single familiar song, listeners can now easily—and freely—preview every song an artist makes. This could ramp up pressure on artists to ensure all their songs are as catchy as possible.

But catchiness isn’t inherently negative, and music fans shouldn’t overthink what they like to hear. “Whether [the trend is] good or bad—that’s something I try to stay out of when thinking about science,” Varnum says.

“Complex music isn’t necessarily better music,” Goldschmitt notes. “If that were the case, we’d all be listening to prog rock.”

What is Paraphrasing?

Jan 31, 2023

If you’re trying to learn more about paraphrasing, you’re at the right place. In this blog post, we’ll be talking about what paraphrasing is, how you can do it properly and how it can help you with your writing endeavors.

The Definition of Paraphrasing

Since there are a lot of definitions that have been tendered by different online sources for explaining paraphrasing, we’ll borrow a couple of those before talking about our own version.

According to Merriam-Webster , the definition of “paraphrase” is:

“A restatement of a text, passage, or work giving the meaning in another form…”

According to CliffsNotes , the definition is thus:

“When you paraphrase something, you are using your own words to restate the meaning of an existing quote or piece of text…”

And lastly, Literary Terms puts the definition of “paraphrase” like this:

“A paraphrase (pronounced par-uh-freyz) is a restatement or rewording of a paragraph or text.”

Gleaning from the above, we can simply understand paraphrasing to mean “ the act of rewording or restating an existing piece of text using different terms but with the same meaning as the original.”

The main condition that defines paraphrasing is adherence to the original meaning . In other words, when some text is paraphrased, it should retain the original meaning, otherwise, the changes won’t remain in the ambit of “ paraphrasing ”. They will simply be defined as “ edits ”.

What is the Purpose of Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing has a lot of different purposes. For the next part of this post, we will look at some of those:

Better Clarity

Providing better clarity is a common use of paraphrasing. By rewording a statement or a passage, the speaker/writer can employ easier terms so that the meaning can be understood better.

This sort of paraphrasing is usually done in a mere sentence or two. It can be both verbal and written.

Here is an example:

“The ensuing cajoling made him acquiesce to the proposal. In other words, he accepted the proposal after being persuaded .”

In the above quote, the bold text is the paraphrased version of the first sentence. The first sentence has some difficult words in it, such as “ cajoling ”, “ ensuing ” and “ acquiesce ”. But, in the paraphrased version, you can see that all of those words are replaced with easier synonyms like “ persuade ” and “ accept ”.

Better Brevity

Another use of paraphrasing is achieving better brevity and conciseness. If a particular sentence or passage is too long, you can try paraphrasing it in order to shorten its length while retaining the original meaning.

Here is an example of what this looks like:

Original Version: “His behavior was embarrassing, the way he submissively obeyed him, cap in hand.”

Paraphrased Version: “His obsequious behavior was embarrassing.”

In the example above, the original text is 13 words long whereas the paraphrased version only consists of five words. The meaning of both, however, is the same.

Attaining Uniqueness

This is yet another good use of paraphrasing tools. You can use them to make your content unique and free from accidental plagiarism.

Let’s actually elaborate on this in some detail:

When creating content, a lot of content writers can face the issue of accidental plagiarism. Accidental plagiarism occurs when a writer unknowingly comes up with such a sentence or passage that exists, in that same exact form, on some existing online source.

If, after writing a draft, a writer finds out that a certain portion of their work is plagiarized, they can simply paraphrase it. That way, the exact match, and replication will be removed and their content will be rendered unique.

Here is an example of what this looks like. For the purpose of this example, we will pick some text from our own website and run it through our plagiarism checker . These are the lines that we’re going to be using:

Plagiarism is not a criminal offense but illegal because of copyright infringements and can cause you serious damage in many ways.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a student, content writer, or blogger; legal issues of plagiarism affect you in any way.

Being a webmaster, if you post plagiarized content, your website’s page quality will be low on Google search engine.

As you can see in the image below, this passage is coming back as 100% plagiarized, which is pretty accurate.

Now, to show you how paraphrasing can be an effective way to eliminate plagiarism, we will take this same piece of text and run it through our paraphrasing tool :

Here is how the result came out:

Plagiarism is not a crime , it is illegal due to copyright infringement and can seriously harm you in many ways. It doesn't matter if you are a student, a content writer or a blogger . Legal issues related to plagiarism will affect you in some way. As a webmaster, if you publish plagiarized content, the page quality of your website will be low in Google search engine.

Other than the grammatical errors, you can see that the changes made by the paraphrasing tool are pretty extensive. Now, we will take this paraphrased version of the text and put it through the same plagiarism checker:

And as you can see, the results come back as 100% unique.

Disclaimer: The above technique/method is only endorsed for eliminating such plagiarism that comes in writing accidentally. It is neither allowed nor ethical to take someone else’s content and paraphrase it for one’s own use.

Also Read : ( Difference Between Summarizing and Paraphrasing )

Examples of Paraphrasing

Although we looked at quite a few examples and instances of paraphrasing in this post up till now, we’ll still dedicate this section to some more of them. That way, you’ll get a better idea about the different ways in which paraphrasing can be done.

Example # 1:

In this example, we will only make individual changes to the words. We won’t alter the grammatical order or the sentence structure.

Original Text: The man chewed the meat for fifteen minutes, wondering how it could be so stubborn. It was after another fifteen minutes that he realized that the meat was still on the plate and he was chewing on his Rexene jacket.

Paraphrased Text: The man chomped the meat for a quarter of an hour , wondering how it could be so unyielding . It was after an additional fifteen minutes that he realized that the meat was still on the plate, and he was biting on his synthetic leather jacket.

Example # 2:

In this example, we will make more extensive changes to the text. We will shorten things up and also add some ‘phrasal’ alterations.

Original Text: The lion chased the cat until it climbed a tree. ‘That’s not fair,’ said the lion, ‘you climb trees while I am unable’. ‘Is it fair that you chase me whilst I am unable to chase you?’ replied the cat. ‘Who said you cannot chase me?’ retorted the lion. ‘True,’ said the cat, pulling out a machine gun. The lion started yelping and running while the cat followed him with bursts of gunfire and maniacal laughter.

Paraphrased Text: The lion pursued the cat until the latter scampered up a tree. ‘This is hardly fair’ muttered the lion, ‘you climb trees while I lack this ability .’ ‘Is it fair that you chase me while I am not able to do the same to you ?’ replied the cat. ‘No one said you cannot chase me ,’ shot back the lion. ‘ You’ve spoken correctly ,’ said the cat, extracting a machine gun. The lion started screaming and running while the cat followed with bursts of gunfire and lunatic laughter.

How is Paraphrasing Done?

For the next part of this post, let’s take a look at how paraphrasing can be done. Although we did feature that answer to this question here and there throughout this post, we didn’t expressly elaborate on it.

There are a number of different techniques that can be employed for paraphrasing a piece of text. Depending on the need and situation at hand, all of the techniques can be collectively or selectively employed.

Let’s take a look at those techniques:

Synonymizing (Replacing Words with Synonyms)

The first and most simple way to paraphrase content is to replace certain words with suitable synonyms. Depending on the purpose for which you require the paraphrasing, you can either change a few words in the text or all of them.

Below, we’ll show two examples of synonymizing.

Original Text: The man looked this way and that way before crossing the road.

Sparse Synonymizing: The person looked this way and that way before he crossed the road.

Heavy Synonymizing: The gentleman glanced up and down the road before he crossed it .

In both examples, you’ll see that the meaning and structure of the sentence remained the same, but the degree of change varies.

The first form of sparse synonymizing can be useful when you want to paraphrase someone’s content while citing them. On the other hand, the heavy type of synonymizing can come in handy when you want to take inspiration from a source, but can’t figure out how to write a certain sentence or passage in your own words.

In this case, you can synonymize the text so that it does not match the original, but it also conveys the exact same meaning.

Changing Sentence Structure

Changing the sentence structure is also a good way to complement paraphrasing. It’s not a paraphrasing technique on its own, but it can work with other changes (such as synonymizing) to make the altered text look a lot different from its original form.

Here is an example of changes made to the sentence structure:

Original Text: The man ran after he accidentally stepped on a tiger’s tail.

Paraphrased Text: After he accidentally stepped on a tiger’s tail, the man ran.

As you can see in the example above, the changed version of the text does not look very different from the original since the only alteration involved is the switching of the positions of the two clauses.

But if we add some synonymizing to this example as well, you’ll see how the overall changes look:

Paraphrased Text: After unintentionally stepping on a tiger’s tail, the person fled .

Altering Grammatical Elements

When we say ‘grammatical elements’, we refer to things such as tenses, voice (active and passive), adverbs, etc.

Instead of explaining, let’s just demonstrate what this sort of change entails:

Original Text: He was laughing loudly when the librarian came and whacked him on the head.

Paraphrased Version: He was laughing in a loud manner when the librarian came and gave him a whack on the head.

As you can see in the paraphrased version, the adverb ‘loudly’ was dissolved and the verb ‘whacked’ was changed into a noun i.e., gave a ‘whack’.

Paraphrasing is a useful skill that writers have to use every now and then. Hopefully, after reading this post, you have a better idea of what it involves and how you can easily do it.

1. Is Paraphrasing Legal?

Paraphrasing is perfectly legal if you cite the original source. Alternatively, paraphrasing is also fine if the changes are so extensive as to eliminate the resemblance with the original text. This applies if the content in question belongs to someone else. If you’re paraphrasing your own content, then there is no problem with it.

2. What are the 3 Steps of Paraphrasing?

The 3 steps of paraphrasing can be roughly listed thus:

• Understanding the content
• Making changes to the content
• Reviewing and proofreading

3. What is a Paraphrase?

‘Paraphrase’ means to make changes to a piece of content while retaining the meaning.

However, the word ‘paraphrase’ can be colloquially used as a noun to refer to the paraphrased version of a sentence or a passage. For example, when a sentence is paraphrased, we can refer to the changed version as a ‘paraphrase’.

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Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Adopts the Music of Opera Singers, Too

On the star’s new album, the track “Daughter” includes her take on an 18th-century Italian song most often heard in classical music recitals.

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By Joshua Barone

You don’t need opera glasses to see that Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” takes on more than just country music.

Nearly two minutes into “Daughter,” a track of ballad-like storytelling, she inserts a famous operatic song from the 18th century: “Caro Mio Ben.” And, in Beyoncé fashion, she makes it her own.

Singers of all vocal types have performed “Caro Mio Ben”; most of them have been from the opera world, including it on recital programs. But as the song has been adapted for high and low ranges, its sound has stayed more or less the same.

It was written in the early 1780s by a member of the Giordano family. At different points it has been attributed to Giuseppe or his likely older brother Tommaso. (This history is all a bit hazy.) And, like many Italian arias and songs, its lyric is brief. The singer expresses heartache in the absence of a loved one, and begs for the end of a conflict with them before returning to the sentiment of the pain caused by loss.

Like much music of longing and sorrow from this time — such as the sadly beautiful arias of Mozart’s operas — “Caro Mio Ben” is in a major key, and has endured as such for more than two centuries as a concert and recording staple. But that’s also where Beyoncé comes in.

“Daughter” excerpts “Caro Mio Ben” as a bridge and distorts its major-key atmosphere into a minor one to fit with the rest of the song. After opening with a moody guitar ostinato, Beyoncé enters with the dark, melodramatic storytelling of a murder ballad, with a refrain like something out of “Carmen” in its bravado and rustic flavor. In Beyoncé’s “If you cross me, I’m just like my father/I am colder than Titanic water,” you can hear a spiritual descendant of Carmen’s warning to “be on your guard” from another opera classic, the Habanera .

Beyoncé keeps “Caro Mio Ben” in its original Italian, but its melancholy and yearning get across the feeling of the text, which complicates the rest of the song, introducing to her toughness a vulnerability and desire for peace — most ardent in the wailing and ghostly vocalise, or wordless singing, that follows.

She doesn’t have the voice of an opera singer, but that doesn’t really matter. “Caro Mio Ben” is not an aria from opera; it is a song, and was most likely performed in its time in intimate settings, with the comparatively direct, human-scale sound you hear in “Daughter.” What’s more significant is that Beyoncé finds in this old tune a quality shared by the finest music from any century: something to say.

Joshua Barone is the assistant classical music and dance editor on the Culture Desk and a contributing classical music critic. More about Joshua Barone

Diddy's houses were raided by law enforcement: What does this mean for the music mogul?

The federal investigation into Sean "Diddy" Combs and bicoastal raids at his homes by federal agents have brought up questions about the rapper and hip-hop music mogul.

Not much is known about what Homeland Security Investigations agents were looking for as they searched his Los Angeles and Miami homes Monday and whether Combs – who has not been arrested – might be charged with any crimes. Combs' lawyer, Aaron Dyer, maintains his client's innocence and criticized what he called "a "witch hunt based on meritless accusations" in a statement on Tuesday.

The only available context so far is the fact that the Bad Boy Records founder is facing multiple civil lawsuits filed in recent months that claim the music mogul raped or sexually assaulted several alleged victims over the past few decades. Combs has denied all accusations against him.

According to the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press , however, the searches are part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation out of New York.

USA TODAY spoke with several legal experts about what the raids entailed, what they might mean for the music exec and businessman who revolutionized hip-hop and what the implications may be.

Diddy investigated for sex trafficking: A timeline of allegations and the rapper's life, career

Diddy's homes raided: What does it mean?

On Monday afternoon, a helicopter for local Los Angeles news station  Fox 11 captured footage overhead as dozens of law enforcement personnel fanned out on the grounds of what was purportedly Combs' Holmby Hills mansion in West LA.

Videos showed Homeland Security Investigations agents entering the home with their weapons drawn and removing several people who were inside while executing the search warrant. Los Angeles Police Department vehicles and officers also cordoned off the residential street to onlookers.

When reached for comment regarding a case on Combs, a Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY that "Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners."

So what does executing "law enforcement actions" mean?

According to Rebecca Lonergan, a professor of lawyering skills at USC Gould School of Law and associate director of the Legal Writing and Advocacy Program, HSI taking the helm in the raids – combined with the context of the recent civil lawsuits against Combs – means it's likely prosecutors are conducting a sex trafficking investigation that could potentially result in criminal charges.

"It means they've got evidence of criminality," she says. "They're looking for corroboration of that evidence.

"The fact that they are doing coordinated execution of search warrants simultaneously in multiple locations means their investigation is fairly far along," she adds. "Search warrants generally happen pre-indictment, before charges, but they don't happen as one of your first steps because as soon as you do a warrant, you're openly targeting the person."

Who are Sean 'Diddy' Combs' children? Family tree as mogul faces assault claims, raids

The law enforcement raids are a serious step against Combs, says Tre Lovell , an entertainment attorney with Los Angeles-based The Lovell Firm.

"The way they orchestrated (the raids) — it was two different homes, same exact time with a clear organizational element — shows a couple of things," Lovell says. "A, they're very serious, and B, they needed the element of surprise because they want to avoid the destruction of evidence, so they needed the surprise on both coasts at the same time."

The raids could mean there's more legal action to come for Combs, says Judie Saunders , a partner with ASK LLP and an attorney who specializes in sex abuse and human trafficking cases.

"When a search warrant is executed by a federal agency, that's an immediate indication to the individual or individuals that there is probable cause to believe that a federal crime has been committed," Saunders says.

"And how that immediately impacts the individual — in this case of Mr. Combs — is that there could be pending charges that will be levied against him in the near future, him or his business."

Those charges could also mean his business assets are frozen and his movements are restricted, Saunders says.

What does getting a Homeland Security Investigations search warrant entail?

According to Lonergan, obtaining search warrants for raids like those conducted at Combs' homes involves handing a federal judge "a sworn affidavit with sufficient evidence to believe there's probable cause, to a pretty high standard … (and) that there's evidence of crimes at the locations you're going to be serving the warrants."

The searches at two different locations required sign-offs from multiple federal judges. In addition, prosecutors assigned to the investigation would review this affidavit before it heads to the judge for a signature to ensure they agree there's sufficient evidence for a warrant.

HSI agents will investigate a potential case, and any charges would be brought forth by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"This is a full on open criminal investigation," Lonergan says. "Those different judges in those different districts all found probable cause in each district to believe there would be evidence of criminality in his houses."

Will Diddy be arrested?

In his Tuesday statement, Combs' lawyer confirmed that "despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way."

The fact that Combs was not detained Monday doesn't mean he won't potentially face charges, however.

"Agents can execute (search) warrants and arrest warrants at the same time. They didn't," Lonergan says.

It's possible nothing was discovered in the houses to corroborate their investigation. Or, as Lonergan says, Combs is not deemed a flight risk as prosecutors take their time building a case.

Regardless, agents would have arrested Combs if prosecutors were ready to indict him on criminal charges.

"There's also another possibility they go in and they find a bunch of evidence. Then they've got a whole bunch of new stuff to investigate," Lonergan says.

"The bigger the cases the longer they take to come to charges. And in all honesty, when it's high profile, the Department of Justice (and) the prosecutors are slower to charge because they don't want to charge something wrong in the public eye."

Do the lawsuits from Diddy's alleged victims play any role in a federal investigation?

Since Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura (known professionally as singer Cassie) sued him in November , accusing him of sexual assault, physical abuse and sex trafficking, three other women and one man have come forward with their own lawsuits.

Combs and Cassie  settled for an undisclosed amount  a day after her lawsuit was filed. Within a week, a woman named  Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit  against Combs alleging she was drugged, sexually assaulted and abused, as well as a victim of "revenge porn," in 1991. That same day, an anonymous accuser claimed Combs and singer Aaron Hall sexually assaulted her and her friend in 1990 or 1991. A few weeks later, an anonymous accuser filed a lawsuit in December alleging  Combs and his associates raped her  when she was 17 years old.

Most recently, a music producer who worked with Combs on  his most recent record , "The Love Album: Off the Grid,"  sued him in February , accusing him of "engaging in serious illegal activity" including sexual assault, sex trafficking and racketeering.

If Combs is criminally charged and goes to court, details in his previous civil cases that have settled, even those involving nondisclosure agreements, could potentially resurface. Alleged victims like Cassie could be summoned to testify.

"Courts are usually very careful about bringing in any prior bad acts of the accused. But as an attorney, you certainly would try to have that evidence admitted," Saunders says.

Ann Olivarius , the chair and senior partner of McAllister Olivarius who specializes in cases involving sexual discrimination, harassment and assault, says Cassie "can't be forbidden from testifying."

"If she's subpoenaed," or summoned to appear in court, "she has to testify," Olivarius says, though prosecutors "may have to have big debates about what she can say or not."

What does all of this mean for Diddy?

Olivarius sees Cassie's lawsuit as "a signal to others (saying) 'Come on, use your voices. Tell your truth; go after this guy. He's got vulnerability now.'"

"There's been some justice (because) the currency in our society of justice is money. And she's been able to get a good bit of change and she's able to bring him to yield," Olivarius says of the singer's legal settlement with Combs. "He's had to actually say, 'OK, you got me. I'm going to pay you to go away and shut up.' So I think it's a huge success."

The raids, lawsuits and possible future litigation could all impact Combs' legacy.

"What we've seen is that the legacy of an individual really comes down to who's controlling the narrative," Saunders says.

"I am sure that there are individuals that will say, 'Let's separate the man from the music' (or) 'Let's celebrate his music.' But in a lot of ways … the most important takeaway, whether the person is a authority figure, a music mogul (or) an actor, is that these individuals leave in their wake mothers, fathers, sons and whole families destroyed. And that can't be ignored."

She adds, "That should not be covered over because the person was able to contribute to a catalog of music."

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and  Hotline.RAINN.org  and en Español  RAINN.org/es .

The Meaning Behind “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers and How It Transformed Michael McDonald’s Career

“What a Fool Believes” represented a major departure from The Doobie Brothers‘ boogie-rocking style. Ironically, it became the track for which the group is most known. It even pulled off a rare double-dip by hitting No. 1 on the Billboard charts and winning Grammy Song and Record of the Year honors.

What is the song about? How did it team up two great songwriters and artists? And how did it help turn Michael McDonald from famous guest vocalist to the guy whose name was on the marquee? Let’s take a closer at the phenomenon that is “What a Fool Believes.”

Different Doobies

The Doobie Brothers managed to adjust their sound based on their personnel, and maintain their success through those changes, as well as any band of their era. Their lineup changed often, but none of those changes affected the band quite like when McDonald took over as lead vocalist. Known to that point as a session vocalist and keyboardist, he immediately delivered as a songwriter with the band on songs like “Takin’ It to the Streets” and “It Keeps You Running,” both hits from 1976.

In 1978, the band set about recording the album Minute by Minute , and McDonald had become the band’s chief artistic force, co-writing and singing lead on more than half the album’s songs. During the writing process, he had been messing around with a piano piece that he wasn’t sure had any potential. Producer Ted Templeman liked what he heard, and encouraged McDonald to work on the lyrics with a co-writer.

At that time, Kenny Loggins had already embarked on a solo career after his successful partnership with Jim Messina had dissolved. When he came together with McDonald, the two really had only just begun to get to know each other. But they were about to co-write a track that would change both their lives.

Finding the Feel for “Fool”

McDonald told The Guardian what happened next:

“Kenny Loggins and I had been chatting about getting together to write some songs. He came over to my house in LA just as I was playing what I had for ‘What a Fool Believes.’ He said: ‘You were just playing something at the piano. Is that new? That’s what I want to work on first.’ He had already come up with the song’s hook line— She had a place in his life —before he’d got through the door.”

Once the writing was finished, the recording proved to be a bear for The Doobie Brothers. Templeman helped to lock down the rhythmic feel for the song by playing a second set of drums alongside the Doobies’ Keith Knudsen. Even then, the band didn’t have a complete take they loved. Templeman made the risky decision to cut and paste from the tapes that they had of the song, which could have meant lost progress if he made a mistake. But he eventually assembled the version that would be a hit.

Incidentally, Loggins released his own version of the song on his 1978 album Nightwatch , which came out a few months before the Doobies’ version. Loggins took a jazzier, slightly more experimental approach on his take.

What is “What a Fool Believes” About?

“What a Fool Believes” delivers a profound look at the lies we sometimes tell ourselves about our former romances. The protagonist of the song runs into an old flame, and believes not only did he make a major impact on her life the first time around, but he can rekindle that spark. But he barely registers in the woman’s memory ( He never made her think twice ) and certainly doesn’t sway her this time either ( He’s watching her go ).

Along the way, the lyrics of McDonald and Loggins candidly capture the flop sweat of this meeting: She musters a smile for his nostalgic tale / Never coming near what he wanted to say . Yet even for all the evidence presented to him by her indifferent reaction, he still holds on to utterly futile hope: Someday, somewhere / She will return .

In the chorus, the lyrics deliver a clever twist on the old saying “You have to see it to believe it”: What a fool believes, he sees . This guy is likely to continue kidding himself all the way to lonely old age. In another irony surrounding “What a Fool Believes,” its success helped grease the wheels for McDonald’s departure from The Doobie Brothers; he would last just one more album before diving headlong into his solo career. But, with the help of Loggins, he left behind this unforgettably wistful gem.

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Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

The post The Meaning Behind “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers and How It Transformed Michael McDonald’s Career appeared first on American Songwriter .

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Love You, Miss You, Mean It - Single

April 5, 2024 1 Song, 3 minutes A Capitol Records Nashville Release; ℗ 2024 Row Crop Records, LLC, under exclusive license to UMG Recordings, Inc.

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