You might unknowingly plagiarize. Plagiarism does not always mean that you have copied a complete text. Sometimes, you could have simply used the wrong source or forgot to format quoted text as a citation. This is not what you want! Fortunately, you can prevent plagiarism with these 7 tips.
Why is plagiarism prevention so important?
You have probably searched 'How to avoid plagiarism' for a reason. If you plagiarize, there are big consequences. You can receive a failing grade for your course or in extreme cases, for example if you have copied long texts verbatim from others or submitted someone else's assignment, it can even lead to suspension from your programme.
In short: preventing plagiarism is a good thing. With these 7 tips, you can be sure to avoid it.
Tip 1. Be aware of what plagiarism is
First, to avoid plagiarism, it is important to know exactly what plagiarism is. There are several forms of plagiarism. Sometimes plagiarism means that you have copied a text verbatim, but it is much more common for you to forget a source statement, for example, or that you do not put a paraphrase sufficiently into your own words. These things can constitute plagiarism too.
Plagiarism means that you (consciously or unconsciously) present someone else's work as your own. You copy someone else's text or ideas without properly acknowledging the source. See our examples of plagiarism to get a concrete picture of what this looks like.
Tip 2. Always save your sources directly
For every thesis and almost every essay, you will use sources. To avoid losing track of them, it's best to immediately save the sources you use. Do you cite a source in the text? Make a note beside your text (possibly in keywords) where you got the information from and whether it is a direct quote or not. That way you can always find it again later.
Make sure you keep a separate overview when you store all your sources on your computer. For example, create a separate folder for your sources and start each file name with the author's surname. You can also use a software like Endnote for managing sources.
Tip 3. Cite correctly
Are you copying someone's exact words? Then you should format the text as a quote and immediately add a source reference (including page number). Quotations are often enclosed in inverted commas, but longer quotations can have different formatting rules.
Always put the source reference beside your quotation as soon as you include it in your text. Otherwise, you might later think it is a paraphrase and forget to amend the text or include the proper citation.
Tip 4. When paraphrasing, use your own words sufficiently
Paraphrasing plagiarism is one form of plagiarism. It means that you put text in your own words, but that it is still clearly traceable to a source that you do not mention. Therefore, when paraphrasing, make sure you always make an effort touse your own words as much as you can. If necessary, use Synonyms.net to find alternative words to replace the original text.
Furthermore, always include a source reference when you paraphrase. Even if you describe information or ideas in your own words, they are still the texts or ideas of others. This should include a reference.
Tip 5. Familiarise yourself with source citation rules
Whether you paraphrase or quote, you should always include a source citation for information from other sources to avoid plagiarism. Every reference style works differently. Most studies use the APA style. Legal studies often work with the Guideline for Legal Authors. Whatever reference style you use, examine carefully how the referencing works and make sure you use the rules correctly.
Did you know you don't have to do this all by yourself? Our free APA source generator will help you include sources correctly in your bibliography, and also right away as a source citation in the text. Are you working with the Guideline for Legal Authors? Then use our generator for this reference style. Thanks to our generator, you can be sure that all your sources are listed correctly.
Tip 6. Run through all your sources again
While writing, there is always a chance that you’ll forget a source reference once in a while. We also regularly see cases where sources are mentioned in the text but not in the bibliography. You can prevent these instances of unconscious plagiarism by going through your thesis again from front to back before submitting it. Check whether the sources in your text are included in the bibliography. Also check that your source references are correct and that there is a reference after each quote or paraphrased piece of information.
Unsure whether or not to include a particular source? You should always play it safe and mention it anyways. One source too many is always better than a missing source.
Tip 7. Use our plagiarism checker to avoid plagiarism
Want to make sure you are not guilty of plagiarism? Here is a final tip to make sure you can prevent plagiarism: run your thesis through our plagiarism checker. It uses the Turnitin software and compares your thesis to billions of other online and offline documents. Possible fragments of plagiarism in your text are immediately highlighted. This allows you to quickly see where you may need to make changes before submitting your thesis (plagiarism-free!).