Nowadays it is easy for one to write an article and post it online. However, with so many resources online, it is also easy to copy and paste articles or information on stories being posted online.
For some, if not all, they may not be aware that they are actually plagiarizing one’s work.
As a blogger and also as a journalist, I want to make the internet a better place by helping you guys understand what plagiarism is and how you can avoid it.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines plagiarism as “the act of using another person’s words or ideas without giving credit to that person.”
There are various forms of plagiarism.
The most common one is direct plagiarism or copying. This is where the writer copies and pastes the work of another without giving credit to the original source.
Another common type is paraphrasing plagiarism, where you make minor changes to the sentences from your source and making it your own. You do this by replacing some words with its synonyms.
Next, you have self-plagiarism. This is when you simply copy and paste your previous works or articles to fit what you need to write.
There is also the mosaic plagiarism or patch writing, which, according to Bowdoin (www.bowdoin.edu) happens when you borrow “phrases from a source without using quotation marks, or find synonyms for the author’s language while keeping to the same general structure and meaning of the original.” Enago Academy (enago.com) states that this kind of plagiarism “inter-lays someone else’s phrases or text within its own”.
Lastly, there is also what we call the accidental plagiarism. This is when you neglect to properly attribute your source material or take information from it.
How do we avoid plagiarism?
One of the best ways to do it is to properly attribute or credit your source materials. But it is more than proper attribution. We also have to cite or credit our material or information from a credible source.
In news reporting, it is always instilled in us journalism students to always properly attribute the information we are relaying to our readers or listeners. Misquotation can cause confusion to your readers and also get you in trouble.
Also, if you are planning to copy the whole sentence word per word, make sure to put it inside quotation marks. Don’t forget the attribution or properly crediting your source:
For example:
“Plagiarism, or passing someone else’s work as your own, is not a new phenomenon in research. It has gained greater attention with the advent of technology that has made it easier to uncover instances of plagiarism,” Enago Academy said.
or
According to Enago Academy, “Plagiarism, or passing someone else’s work as your own, is not a new phenomenon in research. It has gained greater attention with the advent of technology that has made it easier to uncover instances of plagiarism.”
Aside from proper attribution, another way to avoid plagiarism is not being dependent in one source.
Make sure you multi-source the article you are writing. For example, in this article, I am taking information from five sources about plagiarism.
The beauty about multi-sourcing is you are able to add depth and color to your stories. If you need to interview a credible source for whatever you are writing, then go ahead.
Be careful too on sources that may have plagiarized their information. Check if the source has proper attributions to their information. You can also check the credibility of your source to avoid this.
You can also use the following online tools to check for plagiarism:
- Dupli Checker
- Copyleaks
- PaperRater
- Plagiarisma
- Plagiarism Checker
- Plagium
- PlagScan
- PlagTracker
- Quetext
- Viper
To know more about these sites, visit: https://elearningindustry.com/top-10-free-plagiarism-detection-tools-for-teachers.
Plagiarism, it is a major sin for writers. It shows that one is lazy, lack professionalism, irresponsible, and have no creativity. Every time you take information from a source to add depth to your story, make sure that it is always properly attributed.
Meanwhile, Kape Diaries is happy to be part of Globe’s #makeITsafePH campaign in a bid to make the internet a better place for those visiting it.
“Globe Telecom, being a purveyor of digital lifestyle, came out with the #makeITsafePH cybersecurity and cyberwellness campaign to educate consumers about online threats and what they can do to avoid becoming a victim,” the company said in a statement.
The campaign also seeks to promote proper online etiquette to the public.
As a blogger and journalist, it is also my responsibility to educate my readers and provide tips on being a better netizen.
If you want to read more on plagiarism, here are some sources you might want to check:
About plagiarism
- https://www.plagiarism.org/article/what-is-plagiarism
- https://ctl.yale.edu/writing/using-sources/understanding-and-avoiding-plagiarism/what-plagiarism
Forms of plagiarism
- https://student.unsw.edu.au/common-forms-plagiarism
- https://www.bowdoin.edu/studentaffairs/academic-honesty/common-types.shtml
- https://www.enago.com/academy/fraud-research-many-types-plagiarism/
Online tools to fight plagiarism