Ways to Avoid Plagiarism: A Guide for Students

Prof. Diverís Vega, English Specialist

Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s ideas, words, or work as one’s own without giving them proper credit. Not only is it considered unethical, but it can also lead to severe academic consequences.

In the internet age, where information is just a click away, it has become easier to plagiarize and detect plagiarism. While beneficial, abundant online resources can sometimes blur the lines between original content and borrowed ideas. Therefore, students must be proactive and well-informed about how to avoid it.

Here are some effective strategies to ensure your work remains authentic and plagiarism-free:

1. Understand What Constitutes Plagiarism

First and foremost, you should understand what plagiarism is. It is not just copying and pasting from a source. Paraphrasing someone else’s ideas without citing them or not placing quotation marks around a directly quoted sentence also counts as plagiarism.

2. Start Early

Rushing at the last minute can lead to sloppy mistakes and may tempt you to copy content. Starting your assignments early gives you ample time to research, understand the material, and write in your own words.

3. Take Good Notes

When researching, always make a note of where you found certain information. Knowing where the information comes from makes citing your sources easier. Additionally, be careful to distinguish between your thoughts and the information from the sources in your notes.

4. Use Quotation Marks for Direct Quotes

Whenever you use a sentence or phrase verbatim from a source, enclose it in quotation marks and provide a proper citation. These punctuation marks indicate that these particular words are not your own.

5. Paraphrase Properly

Paraphrasing is the act of rewriting something in your own words. However, even if you change the words, the idea still belongs to someone else. It is essential to note that aside from changing some words from the original, the sentence structure should also be different. Always credit the original source when paraphrasing, and ensure your version truly adds value and is not just a simple rewording.

6. Cite Your Sources

Always give credit where credit is due. Depending on the style guide you are following (APA, MLA, Chicago…), ensure you are accurately citing your sources. If you need help with proper citation, there are many online tools and resources, or you can consult style guides at the library.

7. Utilize Plagiarism Detection Tools

Numerous online tools and software can help you detect unintentional plagiarism in your work. Tools like Turnitin or Grammarly’s plagiarism checker can scan your document against billions of web pages and publications to identify any matches.

8. Be Careful with Collaborative Work

When working in a group, ensure everyone knows the importance of original work. If one member plagiarizes, it might affect the entire group’s grade. Additionally, when sharing your work or ideas with peers, ensure there is mutual respect and understanding about not copying each other’s content.

9. Use AI Wisely

AI should enhance your original work, not replace it. Always review suggestions made by AI tools and ensure they align with your unique voice and perspective. Submitting fully AI-generated work is considered unauthorized assistance in academic institutions and goes against academic integrity policies. Language or text generators, like ChatGPT, for example, should be cited if used for written work.

10. Ask for Guidance

Ask a professor if you are doubting whether something might be considered plagiarism. They will appreciate your initiative in ensuring your work is authentic.

11. Educate Yourself Continuously

The more you read and write, the better you will get at expressing yourself in original ways. Familiarize yourself with the writing styles and techniques of different authors. These skills enhance your writing and make it less likely to copy someone else’s style inadvertently.

Avoiding plagiarism is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and personal growth as a student and a writer. Understanding its implications and taking proactive steps protects your academic reputation and cultivates genuine learning and understanding. Always remember it is better to submit work that is authentically yours with imperfections than to present another person’s perfect work as your own. Like I tell my students, avoid the drama!