How to Avoid Plagiarism

Have you ever copied a paragraph from the encyclopedia and then changed some of the words using your thesaurus? Taken credit for writing that was not your own? Borrowed a line and forgotten to credit the author? Plagiarism - whether deliberate or accidental - can get you in a lot of trouble.

Things You'll Need

• Report Covers
• Printers
• Internet Access
• Bonded Paper
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

Instructions

1. Know what you want to say before you write. Having a good idea of the content will make it easier to support your ideas.

2. Use multiple sources. If you consult only one, your writing may seem unbalanced and you'll be tempted to omit citations.

3. Remember that ideas as well as word can be plagiarized.

4. Add your own spin to paraphrased ideas, but cite the source if it's not your original thought.

5. Give proper credit to the author for absolutely everything copied word for word.

6. Learn how to cite sources in your text, footnotes and bibliography. Note all resources, including electronic ones.

7. If you're in doubt about any section of your work, put it through an online plagiarism checker. See the resources below for some good plagiarism defense sites.

Tips & Warnings

• See Related eHows for how to correctly cite sources.

• The word "plagiarism" comes from the Latin and French words for "kidnapping."

• If you get caught, you risk your reputation and the respect of your colleagues as well as the wrath of the writer whose ideas and words you stole.

Resources

• Copyscape
• Duplichecker