Introduction
For many Indian PhD scholars, rewriting is the first instinct when Turnitin shows a high similarity score. The logic feels straightforward—change the wording, adjust the sentence, and the problem is solved. But rewriting, especially in academic work, is not just about making text look different. There is a fine line between clarifying a concept and oversimplifying it to the point where academic precision is lost.
In doctoral admission contexts, especially in private universities, supervisors often see cases where eager attempts to “make it original” strip away the depth that makes research credible. Mindful rewriting requires an awareness of both the source material and the academic standards expected under UGC plagiarism guidelines. It is less about speed and more about preserving meaning while presenting it in one’s own scholarly voice.
Why Over-Simplification Happens
Over-simplification often occurs when a scholar is trying too hard to distance their writing from the original text without fully understanding the concept. In such cases, the focus shifts from the idea to the mechanics of rewording. For example, a complex definition in educational theory might be reduced to a vague sentence that no longer conveys its nuanced scope.
This risk is particularly high when working across disciplines. A student in management research might reference a statistical model from economics but, in rewriting it, drop critical variables or conditions. While the text may now pass a plagiarism check, the research loses accuracy and depth. In the Indian academic context, where examiners expect conceptual clarity, such losses can be damaging during evaluation.
The Role of Context in Mindful Rewriting
Mindful rewriting begins with asking, “What is the purpose of this sentence in my research?” If the original text provides a theoretical foundation, your rewriting must retain the same academic weight. This means choosing synonyms carefully, restructuring sentences without losing logical connections, and avoiding the temptation to cut details for the sake of originality.
In private Indian universities, where many PhD candidates are working professionals, there is often a push for concise writing. While brevity is valuable, it should not come at the cost of excluding necessary academic qualifiers. For instance, summarising a definition of “corporate governance” without mentioning its regulatory or ethical dimensions weakens the scholarly basis of the argument.
Balancing Clarity and Complexity
One of the key skills in mindful rewriting is balancing clarity with necessary complexity. Academic writing often involves terms that cannot be replaced without losing their precise meaning. In such cases, the originality can come from sentence restructuring, integrating the term into a broader context, or combining it with examples from your own research field.
For example, in rephrasing a definition of “sustainable development,” you might retain the core term but weave it into a sentence that links it to your case study or dataset. This way, you preserve accuracy while ensuring that the phrasing and framing are your own.
Indian Higher Education Perspective
The cultural context of Indian academia adds another dimension to mindful rewriting. Many scholars are under pressure from family or employers to complete their PhD quickly, which can lead to shortcuts in the writing process. Private universities often offer flexible submission timelines, but without careful supervision, students may prioritise reducing similarity scores over engaging deeply with the material.
Supervisors in Indian institutions frequently advise that rewriting should follow a cycle—read, understand, note down key points in your own words, and then rewrite. This ensures that the revised version reflects personal comprehension rather than mechanical transformation. It also helps in oral defences, where scholars must explain their work without relying on memorised phrases from sources.
When to Seek Guidance
Mindful rewriting is a skill developed over time, and it is not unusual for even experienced writers to struggle with it. Seeking feedback from supervisors or peers can help identify cases where simplification has gone too far. For instance, a faculty member might point out that a rewritten methodology section has omitted critical limitations originally stated in the source, unintentionally changing the research’s scope.
Such feedback loops are particularly important in interdisciplinary research, where concepts may have specialised meanings in different fields. In the Indian doctoral environment, where evaluators may come from varied backgrounds, ensuring that your rewritten text retains its full academic accuracy is essential.
Conclusion
Rewriting to avoid plagiarism is not just a technical task—it is an intellectual exercise in comprehension and precision. For Indian PhD scholars, mindful rewriting means resisting the urge to over-simplify and instead focusing on retaining the integrity of the original idea while making it your own. This approach not only helps meet UGC originality standards but also strengthens the academic foundation of the thesis, making it more defensible during evaluation.