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Five Simple Rules to Avoid Plagiarism
By Holly Auber, Scott A. Simon, and Daniel Elson (University of California):
Plagiarism is a form of scientific misconduct, defined as the act of presenting ideas or words created by someone else or from previous works of the individual as one’s own without properly citing the original author.
It is easy for writers to avoid plagiarism simply by not copying any printed sources and writing original content in their own words. In cases of paraphrasing, it is important to cite the source.
Unfortunately, it seems that many authors have either forgotten or ignored these simple rules, as instances of plagiarism have become very common across the academic world. It is crucial that we all agree on and adhere to common standards concerning plagiarism.
Here are five simple rules to avoid plagiarism:
Don’t Copy: Copying the exact words from any paper or book (even if it is your own previous work) is not good writing. Very short quotes are acceptable when placed within quotation marks and followed by a proper citation immediately after the quote. Needless to say, copying without quotation marks and lacking proper citations is blatant plagiarism, but unfortunately, this still happens.
Write in Your Own Words: Write all your own ideas without using someone else’s words or even their writing style to help you. This means you should generally avoid paraphrasing as much as possible. Paraphrasing, or rewriting someone else’s text in your own words, is only acceptable if it is done minimally within the text (e.g., a paragraph) and the original source is cited at the end of the paraphrased section. The easiest way to avoid any concerns about plagiarism here is not to paraphrase. Use your own “voice” to convey your ideas. Do not mix original and borrowed text without citing the borrowed text.
When in Doubt, Cite: If you find yourself citing excessively because of this, it may be an indication that you are not writing enough in your own words. This is a sign that you should consider rewriting your paper. Common words and phrases do not need to be cited or placed in quotation marks, but any generally understood concepts should be properly discussed.
Do Not Recycle Images, Figures, Tables, or Text from Your Previously Published Papers Without Citing: Generally, it is better not to republish a figure you have previously published. However, if it must be done, cite the original paper in the figure or table caption and make sure to mention that it is from your previous publication. Obtain permission if you do not hold the copyright. Do not recycle text from one paper to another. Write new text for each paper. Failing to do these things will result in self-plagiarism, which, although often unintentional, is treated the same as intentional plagiarism.
Ask for Permission: If you want to use a chart, table, or any kind of data that has not been previously published, and was created or collected by someone who is not an author of your research paper, you must request their permission and credit them. The same applies if you have created a chart or table yourself.
By Holly Auber, Scott A. Simon, and Daniel Elson (University of California):
Plagiarism is a form of scientific misconduct, defined as the act of presenting ideas or words created by someone else or from previous works of the individual as one’s own without properly citing the original author.
It is easy for writers to avoid plagiarism simply by not copying any printed sources and writing original content in their own words. In cases of paraphrasing, it is important to cite the source.
Unfortunately, it seems that many authors have either forgotten or ignored these simple rules, as instances of plagiarism have become very common across the academic world. It is crucial that we all agree on and adhere to common standards concerning plagiarism.
Here are five simple rules to avoid plagiarism:
Don’t Copy: Copying the exact words from any paper or book (even if it is your own previous work) is not good writing. Very short quotes are acceptable when placed within quotation marks and followed by a proper citation immediately after the quote. Needless to say, copying without quotation marks and lacking proper citations is blatant plagiarism, but unfortunately, this still happens.
Write in Your Own Words: Write all your own ideas without using someone else’s words or even their writing style to help you. This means you should generally avoid paraphrasing as much as possible. Paraphrasing, or rewriting someone else’s text in your own words, is only acceptable if it is done minimally within the text (e.g., a paragraph) and the original source is cited at the end of the paraphrased section. The easiest way to avoid any concerns about plagiarism here is not to paraphrase. Use your own “voice” to convey your ideas. Do not mix original and borrowed text without citing the borrowed text.
When in Doubt, Cite: If you find yourself citing excessively because of this, it may be an indication that you are not writing enough in your own words. This is a sign that you should consider rewriting your paper. Common words and phrases do not need to be cited or placed in quotation marks, but any generally understood concepts should be properly discussed.
Do Not Recycle Images, Figures, Tables, or Text from Your Previously Published Papers Without Citing: Generally, it is better not to republish a figure you have previously published. However, if it must be done, cite the original paper in the figure or table caption and make sure to mention that it is from your previous publication. Obtain permission if you do not hold the copyright. Do not recycle text from one paper to another. Write new text for each paper. Failing to do these things will result in self-plagiarism, which, although often unintentional, is treated the same as intentional plagiarism.
Ask for Permission: If you want to use a chart, table, or any kind of data that has not been previously published, and was created or collected by someone who is not an author of your research paper, you must request their permission and credit them. The same applies if you have created a chart or table yourself.