Final answer:
The difference between a paraphrase and a summary is that a paraphrase rewords a text in your own words without shortening it, while a summary condenses the text to its main points and is shorter than the original.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between a paraphrase and a summary lies in their purpose and length. A paraphrase involves rewording a text or passage in your own words, keeping the same length to maintain the source's full meaning, while ensuring clarity and understanding. Unlike a summary, a paraphrase does not condense the information but rather translates it to mirror the original idea more closely.
A summary, on the other hand, significantly condenses the source material into a brief overview, capturing only the essential points and main ideas. When you summarize, you distill the source down to its most important elements, often omitting less relevant details. Summaries are particularly useful when dealing with large texts or to highlight the main argument or conclusion of the source material.