reword vs reformulate

Both 'reword' and 'reformulate' are correct and commonly used in English. They both mean to express something in a different way, but 'reword' is more commonly used in casual contexts, while 'reformulate' is often used in more formal or technical settings.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 1628 views

reword

The term 'reword' is correct and commonly used in English to refer to expressing something in a different way.

You can use 'reword' when you want to convey the idea of expressing something using different words, often to make it clearer or more suitable for a particular audience.

Examples:

Can you please reword this sentence for me?
I need to reword this paragraph to make it more concise.

Show examples from the web [+]

If Mr Andrews would like to reword his question, he also has the floor.
Calls on the Commission to reword paragraph 11 of its draft communication as follows:
Calls therefore on the Commission to reword paragraph 12 of its draft communication as follows:
Calls on the Commission to reword paragraph 43 of its draft communication as follows:
Given what is happening in the rice sector, perhaps the Intergovernmental Conference currently under way could reword as follows Article 39 of the Treaty, which relates to the objectives of the CAP: the Community undertakes to comply with every diktat of the US foreign trade department.
The Council nevertheless found it necessary to reword several Articles in order to clarify their scope, or provide a clearer definition of their application conditions.
However, the Commission proposal laying down specific measures in favour of agriculture in the smaller Aegean islands seeks to reword rather than amend the existing regulation.
To reword Article 5(1) of the proposed directive (annex to the motion for a resolution, section B) as follows:
If you want to vote Amendment No 5 through that is fine but we have had indications that the legal position is that we should reword it somewhat.
Regarding section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties, the MAH was asked to reword section 5.1 and retain only the properties that are relevant with regards to the therapeutic effects.
The absence of a clear reply to this question therefore prompts me to reword it as follows:
If he does not wish to reword it, Mr Ó Neachtain has the floor to put his question.
In particular, your rapporteur considered carefully how to reword some of the definitions contained in Chapter 1 (Subject, definitions and scope) so as to make them clearer and more apposite and technically correct.
But he bought an Opel Rekord.
Might want to rework your greeting for your guests.
It's way cheaper, and then I can rework the estimate.
There are three living smiths who know how to rework Valyrian steel.
I'm asking it back to rework it.
We need to rework our whole system here.
Might have to rework that hypothesis, Walter.

Alternatives:

paraphrase
rewrite
put differently
express differently
phrase differently

reformulate

The term 'reformulate' is correct and commonly used in English, especially in formal or technical contexts, to mean expressing something in a different way.

'Reformulate' is often used in academic, scientific, or technical writing to indicate the process of expressing an idea or concept in a new or different form.