A Guide on Plagiarism: What Plagiarism is and How to Avoid it
Content in the form of text is used everywhere and you cannot exclude text out of your academic and professional lives. As a student, you have to write formal yet excellent essays, assignments, and other forms of copies to get the desired grades.
Similarly, you have to produce amazing content for readers, customers or clients in your professional lives. However, with the significance, there are some challenges as well that you have to face as a writer regardless of your field.
The most common yet most important thing for a writer is to avoid plagiarism in their text. Plagiarism in simple terms is copying. A plagiarist copy ideas, text or in simple work of others and present it as their own creation which is considered an unethical act and in some cases illegal as well.
In this post, we will go through basics of plagiarism which includes what it is, types, what are the different consequences and how to deal with it (avoid it).
Understanding Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else’s work or ideas and presenting them as your own, without giving proper credit. It’s like putting on a stolen coat and pretending it’s yours.
For example, imagine you’re writing a paper and you find a great quote from an expert in your field. If you don’t properly cite the quote, that’s plagiarism. Or, let’s say you’re putting together a presentation and you use a chart or graph you found online. Unless you give proper credit to the original creator, that’s also plagiarism.
Plagiarism is not only unethical but it can also have serious consequences. In academic settings, you could fail the assignment, the class, or even be expelled. In professional settings, it can harm your reputation and credibility.
There are several types of plagiarism, each with its own level of deception. Here are some types of plagiarism you should know about:
- Copying and pasting: Directly copying text from a source without proper citation.
- Paraphrasing: Changing words or rearranging sentences from a source, but retaining the original ideas and concepts.
- Mosaic plagiarism: Using bits and pieces from multiple sources without proper citation.
- Self-plagiarism: Reusing your own work without proper citation.
- Fabrication: Creating false information or data and presenting it as original.
Another example of plagiarism is when you turn in a paper that someone else wrote for you. This is known as contract cheating.
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Consequences of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is considered as an offense in both academia and profession. If you are found doing plagiarism, you will have to face several consequences. Both academia and the professional field have their own ways of punishing plagiarists, so let’s discuss each separately.
If you are found doing plagiarism in your academic paper, depending on the situation and severity of the case you may have to face the following:
- Formal Warning
- You may have to face hefty Fine
- You may have to face suspension from the institute for some time
- In most severe cases, you might get expelled from the institute
These are some of the most common forms of punishment you will likely face when you are found doing plagiarism.
On the other hand, if you are a professional writer or you are responsible for writing something and you plagiarize, you will have to face several consequences. The first and most common is getting fired from the job. Well, you might get warned but most of the time, people get fired first. Secondly, your reputation will be at risk. You might not find suitable related jobs. In severe cases, you might have to face legal issues which can lead to a certain prison time.
There are undoubtedly many consequences but the good thing is that you can easily avoid plagiarism. Don’t know how? Well let’s discuss the best ways to avoid plagiarism in the section below.
How to Avoid Plagiarism and its Consequences
Avoiding plagiarism can be as easy as you like but it can be hard too if you lose concentration. You have to be conscious when writing on anything and you have to note down every source you used and give credit where it is due.
The first thing to learn when you want to avoid plagiarism is how to cite sources properly. Think of citation as giving a shout out to the heroes that helped you on your journey. Without them, your work would be incomplete, just like a movie without credits.
When citing sources, think of each citation as a chance to show gratitude to the experts and sources that contributed to your work. You can choose from different citation styles, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago, depending on your field and the assignment requirements.
Just like you put effort into writing a well-crafted paper, take the time to make sure your citations are clear and complete. Use quotation marks when directly quoting a source and make sure to include the author, publication date, and page number (if applicable). When paraphrasing or summarizing, still give proper credit by citing the source.
After you are done with your paper and you have properly given credit where it was due. It is time to check your content using a reputable plagiarism checker.
Yes, there is software that can help you identify different instances of plagiarism that might occur in your content.
You will find hundreds of different plagiarism checkers on the web when searching for one but you might feel overwhelmed as you will see so many plagiarism checkers and most of them are paid tools requiring premium subscription.
Well, do not stress out, here are two of the mainstream plagiarism checkers that are used by millions of users across the globe that you can try as well.
Plagiarismchecker.ai
If you are looking for a plagiarism checker that can help you check your content effectively without asking for anything in return, then you should head on to this tool. Plagiarismchecker.ai is one of the most accurate, reliable and free plagiarism detection tools that helps users to check 1000 words per search and allows unlimited checks for plagiarism.
The tool is very easy to use as well and all you have to do is to copy and paste your text in the provided field and hit the button. You will get the percentage of plagiarism detected in the report with plagiarized text highlighted along with the source links.
You can use the report to remove the plagiarism instances, cite different sources or rewrite the text filled with your own ideas and effort to make it unique and then publish or submit it anywhere you want. You can download the report and share it anywhere as well.
Plagiarism Checker by Paraphrasingtool.ai
Paraphrasingtool.ai is one of the mainstream websites that is well-known for offering writing related tools on the website. You will find different tools on this website that are used for different purposes which includes a plagiarism checker as well.
Every tool on this website is worth trying and similarly the plagiarism checker offered by paraphrasingtool.ai is one of the best you can find online. The tool is integrated with AI technology and has a dataset of more than 10 billion web pages including blogs, forums, etc. which ensure to detect any sort of plagiarism in the text.
Similar to the tool above, just paste the text or upload a file, hit the button below the tool and in some seconds you will get the results.
Final Words
It’s important to understand what constitutes plagiarism and to take steps to avoid it in your own work. Some best practices to avoid plagiarism include properly citing all sources, using plagiarism detection tools, keeping detailed notes, using quotation marks and proper citation format, and avoiding contract cheating.
By following these guidelines we shared in the article, you can ensure that your work is original. Not only will you avoid the consequences of plagiarism, but you’ll also build your own credibility and reputation as a professional who values honesty and integrity. So, take the time to understand plagiarism and make sure your work is always up to standards.
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