How to Avoid Plagiarism | Tips & Examples
Plagiarism occurs when you use another person’s words, ideas, or information without correctly citing the source. Plagiarism can sometimes be intentional, but usually it is accidental, resulting from incorrect citation practices or forgetfulness.
Academic writing involves using others’ work to support your claims or provide background information. Any time you refer to another author’s work, you must cite the source.
Strategies to avoid plagiarism include:
- Making a list of all the sources you use in your research (a citation generator can make this task easier)
- Paraphrasing or quoting sources (a paraphrasing tool can help, and you can elaborate with your own ideas)
- Giving credit to the original author both with an in-text citation and in the reference list
- Running your text through a plagiarism checker
- Being responsible with the use of generative AI tools (AI-produced texts may be recognized by an AI Detector)
Plagiarism, whether accidental or otherwise, can have serious consequences. As such, it is vital to be careful with how you cite borrowed material in your text.
Managing your sources
When juggling lots of different sources as you research information for your text, it is easy to lose track of which information came from where. To avoid forgetting where an idea is from, ensure that your notes are organized and keep a running list of citations as you work.
QuillBot can help you take online notes to effectively keep track of your sources and avoid potential plagiarism.
When taking notes, include clear labels indicating which ideas are yours and which are from someone else, highlight where citations need to be added, and double-check quoted materials for accuracy and beginning and ending quotation marks.
The following example presents notes highlighted in red to indicate where a source should be cited for support, blue to indicate paraphrasing or summarizing, and green to indicate direct quotations.
- Differences in the reproductive instincts of males versus females lead to distinct sexual behaviors
- Sexual selection among females is determined by choice, while males engage in combat to gain access to copulation opportunities (cite sources)
- The determinants of female sexual choice are variable and depend on the environment and social organization of the species (cite examples)
- Different sexual objectives between males and females can lead to incompatible behaviors
- Females in frog species often appear to exhibit passive behaviors and have specific actions that communicate sexual (in)availability to males (Dittrich & Rödel, 2023)
- These “passive” behaviors may in fact be survival techniques that increase female frogs’ ability to control sexual encounters (cite evidence)
- Female frogs employ specific techniques in response to unwanted male attention that can increase their chances of survival
- Females use “body rotations, release calls and tonic immobility” in response to unwanted male attention (Dittrich and Rödel, 2023)
Managing sources with the QuillBot Citation Generator
Any time you consult a source, note all of the details needed to create a citation for it. Do this for all source types, from books and articles to websites, videos, podcasts, etc. In this way, if you decide to use something, you know exactly where you found it.
QuillBot’s Citation Generator is a timesaver that can help you stay on top of your citations and reference list. It can be used for a variety of citation styles and saves your references for easy downloading.
Avoiding plagiarism when using quotations
Quotations are word-for-word phrases or sentences copied from another text. When quoting, you must integrate the quoted materials into your own sentence, enclose the quote in quotation marks, and include a citation.
It is generally best to avoid relying too heavily on quotes so that your own voice and ideas don’t get lost. You can use quotes effectively for:
- An exact definition from the original author of the term or concept
- Texts that are difficult to paraphrase without altering their meaning
- Close reading of the language itself in the original text
- Materials by an author with a specific style or authority on the topic
| Original text | Quoted incorrectly | Quoted correctly |
|---|---|---|
| “One interesting perspective to study Orlando’s limited autonomy in parodic practices, besides clothing and etiquette, is the presence and absence of the oak tree” (Hu & Mu, 2020). | Orlando’s limited autonomy in parodic practices can be understood via the presence and absence of the oak tree. | The extent of Orlando’s autonomy is reflected in “the presence and absence of the oak tree” (Hu & Mu, 2020). |
When quoting long passages of text, use block quote formatting. However, bear in mind that it is generally better to paraphrase longer quotations.
Avoiding plagiarism when paraphrasing
Paraphrasing, or rewording another person’s ideas using your own words, is another vital skill for academic writing.
To paraphrase correctly, you’ll need to do more than change just a couple of words from the original text. Instead, you should explain the point in your own words, including changing the language and structure of the original material.
| Original text | Paraphrased incorrectly | Paraphrased correctly |
|---|---|---|
| “Improved understanding of the various dimensions of obesity, including propensity to regain lost weight, interindividual differences in pathogenesis, and response to therapy, is needed for developing effective as well as cost-effective interventions” (Lin & Li, 2021). | Better understanding of obesity and its various aspects, such as the tendency to regain lost weight as well as differences in individual disease progression and therapeutic response, is vital to producing appropriate, cost-effective solutions. | In order to manage obesity correctly at the clinical level, future research should concentrate on gaining insights into how obesity functions as a disease, including individual differences in weight gain, disease development, and therapeutic response (Lin & Li, 2021). |
Citing sources correctly
Any quoted or paraphrased material must be accompanied by either an in-text citation or a footnote citation. This citation must specify the original author and direct the reader to the appropriate full citation in your reference list.
Citations serve to give credit to the original author and are vital to avoiding plagiarism. Additionally, they give the reader the necessary information to find the original text if they would like more information.
There is a broad range of style guides with different rules for how to format citations and what information to include. Some of the most common citation styles include Chicago, APA, and MLA.
Your professor or university may adhere to a particular style, so it is a good idea to check this before beginning to write. Be sure to stick with the same style throughout your text.
How to cite a single source
Citing a single source is relatively straightforward: you must include a properly formatted citation in the text any time you borrow ideas, words, or information from another source. The citation should provide the first pieces of information from the reference in the references list.
| In-text citation | When evaluating the inclusion of different foods in the diet, the foremost consideration should be “the nutritional composition of the final product and its impact on health and sustainability” rather than “the extent to which that food is considered processed” (Messina et al., 2022). |
| Reference list | Messina, M., Sievenpiper, J. L., Williamson, P., Kiel, J., & Erdman, J. W. (2022). Perspective: Soy-based meat and dairy alternatives, despite classification as ultra-processed foods, deliver high-quality nutrition on par with unprocessed or minimally processed animal-based counterparts. Advances in Nutrition, 13(3), 726–738. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmac026 |
How to cite multiple sources
When you refer to more than one source in a single sentence, you should include citations for each source in parentheses. If there are multiple citations within a single set of parentheses, separate the citations with a semicolon.
| In-text citation | While coral bleaching is a major threat to biodiversity, especially in tropical areas near the equator (Sully et al., 2019), its spread and intensity vary based on a variety of factors, including high seawater temperatures, light intensity, and water flow rates (van Woesik, 2022). |
| Reference list | Sully, S., Burkepile, D. E., Donovan, M. K., Hodgson G., & van Woesik, R. (2019). A global analysis of coral bleaching over the past two decades. Nature Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09238-2
van Woesik, R., Shlesinger, T., Grottoli, A. G., Toonen, R. J., Vega Thurber, R., Warner, M. E., Marie Hulver, A., Chapron, L., McLachlan, R. H., Albright, R., Crandall, E., DeCarlo, T. M., Donovan, M. K., Eirin-Lopez, J., Harrison, H. B., Heron, S. F., Huang, D., Humanes, A., Krueger, T., … Zaneveld, J. (2022). Coral-bleaching responses to climate change across biological scales. Global Change Biology, 28(14), 4229–4250. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16192 |
To generate citations quickly and easily and keep all your sources in one place, the QuillBot Citation Generator can streamline your workflow so you can stay focused on researching and writing.
Using a plagiarism checker
Universities often adopt plagiarism checkers like Turnitin to scan assignments for plagiarism. These checkers scan your document and compare it with other text from websites and publications on a database. The checkers highlight any text that overlaps with or is similar to other texts.
It is a good idea to run your papers through a plagiarism checker yourself before submission. In this way, you can uncover any potential problems before it is too late. Potential causes of accidental plagiarism include:
- Missing quotation marks
- Incorrectly paraphrased text
- Forgotten or incorrectly placed citations
Not all plagiarism checkers are created equal. Some checkers may provide greater accuracy than others. QuillBot’s Plagiarism Checker is built from in-depth research to ensure high-quality results when scanning texts for similarities.
Using AI tools responsibly
While using generative AI tools can help you to streamline your research process, you must be wary of potential plagiarism. Be aware of the following types of plagiarism so that you can avoid them:
- AI-assisted plagiarism: This occurs when you use AI-generated texts in place of writing your own work.
- Plagiarism: This occurs when you use a tool to paraphrase material from another source for you and copy it as if it were your own words.
- Self-plagiarism: This occurs when you use a tool to rewrite a paper that you previously used for another assignment.
Use AI tools with care. Universities are increasingly implementing AI detectors in addition to plagiarism checkers to scan submissions for AI-generated content.
Checklist: Plagiarism prevention
- Words borrowed from another source always include opening and closing quotation marks.
- Ideas borrowed from another source are paraphrased correctly and in my own words.
- Any words, ideas, or information borrowed from another source include an in-text citation.
- My citations are correctly and consistently formatted according to a single style guide.
- All sources used in the text have a reference in the references list.
- I have not self-plagiarized my own work from a previously submitted paper.
- I have double-checked my text using a plagiarism checker.
Frequently asked questions about how to avoid plagiarism
- Can plagiarism be accidental?
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Accidental plagiarism is a common mistake that occurs when you forget to include a citation or do not alter the original material enough when paraphrasing. Sometimes you may not recall where an idea came from and so don’t include a citation even though it is needed.
To avoid committing accidental plagiarism, always include citations. You can also use a plagiarism checker to ensure that your text isn’t too close to other materials. Our AI Detector can also help you avoid accidentally using AI-generated content without acknowledging your source.
- How can I summarize a source without plagiarizing?
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There are two rules that can help you avoid plagiarism when summarizing someone else’s words or ideas:
- Rewrite the text through effective paraphrasing, meaning changing the language and structure to explain the concepts in your own words.
- Always include an in-text citation and corresponding reference entry for the source.
- What are some examples of plagiarism?
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Plagiarism can take numerous forms. Common examples of plagiarism include:
- Copying and pasting content from a website into your text as if it were your own work
- Paraphrasing incorrectly (e.g., adhering too closely to the original text in terms of language and structure)
- Failing to include a citation for the original author
Consistently citing your sources is key to avoiding plagiarism. If you are unsure whether a citation is needed, it is better to just include it anyway to be on the safe side.
You can also use a plagiarism checker to scan your work for any possible issues before you submit. Quillbot’s Plagiarism Checker is quick and effective.
- How is plagiarism detected?
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Your professors or readers might notice plagiarism if the style, formatting, or tone of your text is inconsistent or if they recognize the original source.
Many universities also use plagiarism software to scan assignments and flag similarities with other works.
Using a plagiarism checker yourself before submitting can help you to avoid committing accidental plagiarism.
Our AI Detector can also help ensure you don’t accidentally use AI-generated content without acknowledging your source.
