Every author may have different reasons why they plagiarize. No matter the reason, it should be avoided at all costs. Some authors plagiarize intentionally, but others do it accidentally. Regardless, it impedes one’s reputation and can have severe consequences.
It happens when you fail to give credit to someone else’s work. An author can copy large portions or use a single sentence of another person’s work. It is important to indicate the source of your work using the correct citation method.
Here are different ways to detect and eliminate plagiarism from your work.
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Table of Contents
Why do people plagiarize?
People fail to credit other people’s work due to various reasons. Some do it because they are in a rush to submit their work.
They wait until a few days before the deadline to begin writing. Other people copy other writers’ work because they have difficulty writing in English.
This is a major problem for writers who speak English as a second language.
Another category does so because they don’t understand the rules of writing. Many other writers do it because they want to meet the word count or due to unethical intentions.
Regardless of the reasons, plagiarism should be avoided in any kind of writing.
Writing original work is important in any type of writing due to the seriousness of plagiarism offense. Academic writing should follow all the rules of writing, including research and citation. It might be harder to know if your work is original by just reading it.
There are millions of published works both online and in hard copies. The easiest way for detection is to use a plagiarism detector.
One of the detection tools to use is the Fixgerald tool available online. It is a great tool that you can use for free to ensure your work is original and your teachers like it.
How to avoid plagiarism
Failure to acknowledge another person’s work is unethical and amounts to theft.
Fortunately, it is easy to avoid it by following the right writing rules.
Write your own ideas: It is necessary to research for information, inspiration, and ideas. However, the information you get should help you create your own ideas. Think of ideas that will make your writing original.
Cite your sources: It is common for someone to quote content by other authors. Anytime you do it, cite it either within the text or at the end of your work.
Paraphrase: Instead of copying word for word, rewrite it in your own words. You should be careful not to alter the original meaning or make it look like it is copied. Do not use a lot of similar words but reword and format.
Strategies for detecting and correcting plagiarism
When a student or another writer submits their work, it is first checked for originality.
You can use the same strategies to detect if your work is copied.
If there are any forms of plagiarism, correct them before submitting them.
Use a plagiarism checker
It is harder to tell if your work is original by just reading it. When you use an app developed for that purpose, it gives you advanced results. Some of the tools are free to use, but others are paid for.
Some of the tools highlight any parts that have been copied.
Rewrite the portions and run the entire work again until it is 100% original.
Lack of citation or use of quotation marks
Check if you have cited all your sources and have used quotation marks for direct quotes. Every type of writing requires a specific citation style. Understand your type of work and the citation style required for it.
When you mix tenses
No type of writing should have multiple tenses or a sudden change from one form of tense. Most academic writing uses plural first person unless instructed otherwise.
If you notice you have mixed tenses widely, you have likely copied someone else’s work.
Mixing of fonts
Normally, all writing should use one type of font except when italicizing. A person may italicize when quoting scientific or foreign words. They may also want to emphasize a point or quote a book, movie, etc.
When you notice your work has mixed different fonts, be careful to check for originality.
Conclusion
Plagiarism is taken seriously in any type of writing, and it should be avoided. You can avoid it by learning the rules of writing, research, and citation.
If you must use words from another person’s work, paraphrase them instead. Read your work to ensure it doesn’t contain mixed tenses or fonts, and use a plagiarism-checking tool.
Make sure you have used the right citation procedure and record your sources during research.
Author’s Bio
John Marlow researches every topic keenly so that his articles in newspapers and magazines receive good reviews and increase his subscribers on social media.
He comes up with unique ideas and writes in a professional manner. He’s currently writing a guide on mastering the art of writing high-class college essays and articles and how to edit them like a pro.
