Plagiarism has become a very important issue in the field of academic writing and research today. Often writers think that plagiarism is just a matter of copy-paste, but it can take many forms other than that. Let’s understand what plagiarism is, its types, and how to prevent it.
What is Plagiarism?
In simple terms, plagiarism is the act of presenting someone else’s ideas, words, or research in your own name without giving proper citation or credit. This means that you have used the work of another author, but you have not given proper reference to the source.
Examples of Plagiarism
- Writing sentences from a book or research paper exactly as they are written and not citing the source.
- Paraphrasing someone else’s ideas or theory in your own words but not citing the source.
- Using your own old published material in a new project without proper reference, which is called auto-plagiarism.
Plagiarism is not just limited to writing. It can also include code, graphics, images, music, and other media formats. Only public knowledge or common facts are sources that can be used without citation.
Types of Plagiarism
1. Verbatim Quotation
If you take information verbatim from a source, it is necessary to put it in quotation marks or insert it as block text. This allows the reader to recognize that it is someone else’s idea and not your own.
2. Copy-Pasting from the Internet
When using information on the Internet, it should always be taken from reliable sources. Information should be taken from government websites, university, or recognized institution sites and clear citations should be given.
3. Paraphrasing without Citation
Paraphrasing means writing the idea of a source in your own language. Simply changing the words will not work; if the original idea is someone else’s, it is mandatory to quote it.
Example
Original Sentence:
“Wild cattle are the longest example of conservation in the semi-pastoral zone in Europe. They exist due to medieval status symbols.”
Plagiarized Version:
“There are many ‘wild cattle’ herds in Britain. They exist due to medieval status symbols, and this is the longest example of semi-pastoral zone conservation.”
Accepted Revision:
“Many ‘wild cattle’ herds are found in country parks in Britain. Oliver Rackham suggests in his book ‘History of the Countryside’ that these herds may be the longest example of conservation in the semi-pastoral zone in Europe and their existence was due to medieval status symbols.”
4. Collusion
Unauthorized collaboration between several students or researchers and not properly citing the contribution also falls under plagiarism. When working in a group, it should be clear what the extent of the collaboration is.
5. Inaccurate Citation
All citations must be accurate and from real sources. List only the sources you have actually used.
6. Auto-Plagiarism
Reproducing your own old material without citation in another course, subject, or university is considered auto-plagiarism.
Plagiarism in Research
Plagiarism in research is not limited to just text. It also includes taking someone else’s experiments, theories, formulas, data, or strategies without credit.
Plagiarism can affect the reputation of the researcher. If a research paper published in a journal is later found to be plagiarized, it may have to be withdrawn. This affects the credibility of the author and their institution.
Examples
- According to Stanford University, plagiarism includes taking any type of code, formula, idea, language, or research without proper credit.
- Carnegie Mellon University defines it as the use of any type of information or material without citation.
Why Avoid Plagiarism?
- To maintain academic integrity.
- To follow ethical practices in research.
- To give credit to those whose material is being used.
- To protect your career and the reputation of the institution.
The correct use of citation is like a roadmap for future researchers, allowing them to follow your work and avoid repeating work already done.
Ways to Avoid Plagiarism in Research
1. Plan
Keep enough time for research and writing. Spending time only in research does not leave time for writing, and the writer may end up copying verbatim text.
2. Citation from Reliable Sources
Use only reliable sources. Organize all citations using reference management software like Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote.
3. Paraphrasing and Rewriting
Do not copy sentences directly from the source. Rewrite in your own words and maintain the original meaning.
4. Be Careful When Using Verbatim Words
Use verbatim information only when necessary and always cite the source.
More Tips to Avoid Plagiarism
- Learn good writing principles, attend courses or seminars.
- Avoid changing the source material to suit your needs.
- Use expressions like “According to [source]” at the beginning of sentences.
- Cite without changing technical terms.
- Read examples and write in your own words.
- Use only the amount of quotes needed.
- Follow the correct referencing style.
- Use a plagiarism detection tool to verify originality.
Checklist to Prevent Plagiarism
- No verbatim copying.
- Correct paraphrasing.
- Proper use of quotation marks or block text.
- All references and bibliography included.
- No duplicate use of your old content.
