How to Rewrite an Article (and How AI Can Help)

Whether you’re a blogger updating an old post, a researcher incorporating ideas from existing sources into a new paper, or a content writer adapting material for a different audience, rewriting lets you build on what’s already there, without starting from scratch.

And no, it’s not just about swapping out a few words here and there. That’s not rewriting, that’s just well-disguised plagiarism. Real rewriting means reshaping ideas, refreshing examples, and adjusting tone and voice while preserving the original message.

If you’re looking for a smart way to rewrite content without losing meaning or quality, QuillBot’s AI article rewriter can help you get there faster and with less guesswork.

How to rewrite an article

Rewriting is about rethinking how ideas are expressed. Whether you’re updating, adapting, or reworking content, here’s how to do it effectively.

1. Understand the content

Read the article several times till you’re confident you’ve grasped the main ideas and key points. What is the overall message the writer is trying to convey? Are there any unknown words or concepts that get in the way of your understanding? Do some research till everything makes sense. If you’re rewriting your own article, don’t skip this step; it’s still worth rereading your work to spot outdated examples, awkward phrasing, or sections that could be clearer the second time around.

2. Plan

Are you rewriting the entire article or just updating parts of it? Do you need to adjust the tone for a different audience, making it more or less formal, for instance? Should your article be more concise than the original? With these questions in mind, create a rough outline that includes the key ideas you want to keep. This will help you stay focused and ensure that no essential information gets lost in the rewrite.

3. Rewrite

Use your own words, focusing on expressing the same ideas in a fresh and original way. Remember, you are reusing ideas, not sentences. Change the structure of paragraphs, rephrase concepts, and use synonyms thoughtfully. Rewriting one sentence at a time may lead to accidental repetition of the original phrasing, so think in paragraphs instead. Don’t be afraid to add your own perspective, update examples, or include more recent data; these tweaks not only reduce similarity but also add value for your reader.

4. Review and edit

Once you’ve finished, review your article with a critical eye. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Edit for clarity and flow—does each idea build naturally on the last? Simplify long sentences, remove repetition, and refine the tone until your writing reflects your intended message and voice. Need a second pair of eyes? QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you catch errors and polish your writing, so your final draft is clean and ready to publish.

Once you’re familiar with the process, AI can make rewriting even more efficient. Here’s how it works and how you can use an AI article rewriter to simplify the task.

Using an AI article rewriter

An AI rewriter is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to automatically rephrase and restructure text while keeping the original meaning. It can take any piece of content and rephrase it, change the sentence structure, or adjust the tone—all without you having to manually rewrite everything yourself.

For example, if you input “The weather is extremely hot today,” an AI rewriter might output “Today’s temperature is sweltering” or “It’s scorching outside right now.” The key difference from simple paraphrasing tools is that AI rewriters understand context better and can make more sophisticated changes to style, tone, and structure while preserving the core message.

Not sure where to start? Here’s how to use QuillBot’s AI article rewriter in four simple steps:

1. Enter your text. Paste the content you want to reword into the chatbox; it can be a full article or just a section.
2. Describe what you need. Explain how you want the text to be rewritten. For example, you can ask for a shorter version, a more formal tone, a complete rework—whatever suits your goal. The clearer your prompt, the better the result.
3. Refine the output. Review the rewritten version. Not quite there yet? Ask for edits or a new version; tweak the text until it matches your voice and purpose.
4. Get your rewrite. Copy your updated article and use it wherever you like.

With the right tools, rewriting becomes less of a chore and more of a creative process, one that helps you refine not just your text, but your thinking.

Frequently asked questions about how to rewrite an article

What’s the difference between rewriting and paraphrasing?

Rewriting involves reworking a piece of text more extensively, like changing structure, tone, and examples, while keeping the core message intact. Paraphrasing usually means rephrasing a sentence or passage in simpler or different words without significantly altering the structure or voice. Rewriting is broader and often used for adapting or updating entire pieces of content.

 

QuillBot’s AI article rewriter is designed specifically for rewriting, helping you reshape entire sections or articles while preserving the original meaning.

How do I know if I should rewrite an entire article or just parts of it?

It depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If the core ideas are still sound and the structure is effective, but the tone or examples feel off, you may just need to tweak a few sections. But if the article feels outdated, unclear, or no longer suits your audience, a full rewrite could be a better choice.

To save time, you can use QuillBot’s AI article rewriter, whether you’re updating parts or starting from scratch.