LIBRARY: Copyright & Creative Commons

What is Plagiarism?

A Guide to Catching and Fixing Plagiarism

When writing research papers, there are numerous rules that must be followed. These rules relate to grammar and formatting, but the majority of them relate to properly citing sources. When a writer fails to cite a source correctly, it can be considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is using someone else’s direct words or ideas and passing them off as your own.

Plagiarism is a serious offense. In many cases, it can lead to a failed grade and severe embarrassment. It could also lead to expulsion from school or loss of a job.

It can be challenging to avoid plagiarism, as students and writers are often told that they need use other’s ideas in their writing. If you find yourself writing a paper and wondering “is this plagiarism?” here’s a handy plagiarism guide:

SOURCE: Adapted from EasyBib Research Guide, URL: http://www.easybib.com/guides/students/research-guide/what-is-plagiarism/

Uploaded on Jan 6, 2012