How can you avoid plagiarism?

1 Understand the rules

Different disciplines and institutions may have different standards and expectations for citing sources and avoiding plagiarism. Before you start writing, make sure you understand the rules and guidelines of your field, your course, and your instructor. Read the syllabus, the assignment instructions, and the plagiarism policy carefully. If you have any doubts or questions, ask your instructor or a librarian for clarification. Do not assume that what is acceptable in one context is acceptable in another.

2 Do your research

To write a good paper, you need to do your research and find reliable and relevant sources that support your argument. However, you also need to keep track of your sources and document them properly. As you read, take notes and record the bibliographic information of each source. Use quotation marks to indicate direct quotes and paraphrase or summarize the main ideas in your own words. Avoid copying and pasting from the internet or other sources without attribution. Use online tools or software to organize and manage your references.

3 Cite your sources

Citing your sources is not only a way to avoid plagiarism, but also a way to show your respect for the authors and their contributions to the field. Citing your sources means acknowledging where you got your information, ideas, or data from and giving credit to the original source. To cite your sources, you need to use a citation style that is appropriate for your discipline, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard. A citation style provides rules and formats for in-text citations and reference lists. Follow the citation style consistently and accurately throughout your paper.

4 Paraphrase and quote correctly

Paraphrasing and quoting are two common ways to use the information or ideas from other sources in your paper. Paraphrasing means rewriting the source's words in your own words, while quoting means using the exact words of the source within quotation marks. Both methods require citation, but they also have different rules and purposes. Paraphrasing is useful when you want to express the main idea of a source in a shorter or simpler way, or when you want to integrate it with your own voice and argument. Quoting is useful when you want to preserve the original language or tone of a source, or when you want to highlight a specific or memorable phrase or passage. When you paraphrase or quote, make sure you do not change the meaning or context of the source, and avoid using too many or too long quotes that can overshadow your own voice.

5 Check your work

The final step to avoid plagiarism is to check your work before you submit it. You can use various strategies and tools to review your paper and ensure that you have cited all your sources correctly and that you have not unintentionally copied or duplicated any text. You can read your paper aloud, ask a friend or a tutor to proofread it, or use online plagiarism checkers or software to scan your paper for similarities with other sources. However, do not rely solely on these tools, as they may not detect all types of plagiarism or errors. You are ultimately responsible for the quality and originality of your paper.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?