Good research builds on what others have learned before. It’s normal to mention and even reword their work when writing a paper. However, researchers and students must be cautious in showing the thin line between copying and rephrasing. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to put one apart from the other. Since seriousness and wrongness are attributed to copying without giving credit, everybody should know how to tell them apart.
Students are taught and know that it is wrong to deliberately copy someone else’s work and say it is theirs. But many still do this, sometimes intentionally, but often not. Copying on purpose is very bad; doing it accidentally is a mistake. One way to avoid this is to credit the original author or to put the information in your own words. But rewording can be tricky. Some use the help of an online paraphrasing tool, UK, to get over this hurdle.
Many people don’t know what it means or that there are many ways to copy. This article explains the difference between copying and rewording to help you make your essay original.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism can be described as the use of someone else’s ideas, words, or work without indicating where you got them. This is bad in a school or workplace and is an abominable crime. You can get reprimanded because of plagiarism or even get an inferior grade level that may lead to expulsion from school. As a result, some students seek online services to hire someone who can write an original essay for them. These writers create new and unique content just for them.
Plagiarism is like stealing someone else’s writing. It happens when you copy someone’s words without giving them credit. Even if you change some words or mix ideas from different places, it is still plagiarism. It is always necessary to state the sources of information. There are different sorts of plagiarism. It can happen both deliberately and not deliberately.
You can even copy yourself by using your own words again without saying so. Another type is called mosaic plagiarism. This happens when you mix sentences from different places. Those who attempt to reword but are not very good at it may still plagiarize due to a lack of understanding of the difference.
Also Read- Evolution of Ghost Writing: Manuscripts to Academic Papers
What is Paraphrasing?
Paraphrasing is redoing something that is already written, only different. Accomplish this through word changes in the content or rewriting it in your own ways of expression.
Even though this is not your idea, it is okay sometimes to paraphrase, like for a school paper or a book report; however, you do need to say where you got that idea from. Furthermore, you can also find tools that help you paraphrase for your school projects.
You don’t have to put quotation marks around the text for a paraphrase. You can use it as yours if you say where you got the ideas. Sometimes, events of paraphrasing can still be considered as copying; therefore, one should check to see that everything is okay.
The RAP method helps with paraphrasing:
· Read: Read the text carefully.
· Ask: Think about the main idea and what the author is trying to say.
· Paraphrase: Rewrite the main idea in your own words.
The Key Differences Between Paraphrasing and Plagiarism
One paraphrases when they simply convey somebody else’s ideas in their own words. The meaning is not changed by doing this; therefore, one will not take credit for someone else’s work. You should include where it came from if you paraphrase it. However, plagiarism would be using someone’s work and not stating that it is theirs.
Unless in its purest form, paraphrasing does not represent plagiarism. In reality, it is quite an excellent way to give information. It is more honest than copying. You can paraphrase for plagiarism avoidance, but you need to hold on to the meaning and give credit to the original author.
A writer is plagiarism if:
· They don’t say where the idea came from.
· The text is very close to the original.
· They don’t use quotation marks for exact words.
Paraphrasing helps summarize ideas from different writers. However, it becomes plagiarism if you do not give the originality to the author. Always make sure that you hold on to the exact meaning, not adding your ideas.
There are ways to know if someone is plagiarizing or just rephrasing. When you paraphrase, you should:
Say where you got the idea. Start with who wrote it and the name of the book or article you read. Then, write down where you found that in your notes or a list at the end of your paper. For example, you might write, “Tyler Ryan says that plagiarism is…”
Tips to Avoid plagiarism and to Paraphrase Correctly
Sometimes, people do something called paraphrasing plagiarism. This happens when they change someone else’s words a little bit but don’t say where the idea came from. Many think plagiarism is just copying exactly, but it’s more than that. Some things are common knowledge, like facts everyone knows, and those don’t need a citation.
1. Properly Cite Your Sources
If you’re not sure if something is common knowledge, it’s better to give credit. Always say where you got your ideas from. Follow good writing rules and make sure to cite correctly. This means adding the author’s name in the text, in notes at the end, or as footnotes. This helps keep things clear for your readers. You can use the help of uni assignment to help experts find out if a piece of information is common knowledge or not.
2. Summarize
When you paraphrase or summarize, you say the idea in a new way. It’s not just changing a few words from the original. To paraphrase correctly, read and understand the text, then write the idea in your own words. You can also make the author’s idea shorter. The key is to keep the meaning the same but say it in a different way. This way, you’re not copying. You can always get help from online homework experts to properly paraphrase or summarize information.
3. Start Quoting
Quotation marks show where a quote comes from. When you write, remember to use them. Also, follow the rules for how your paper looks, like the size of the letters and margins.
To avoid copying, try rephrasing. Here are some tips:
· Understand the original text: Read the article a few times to understand it. Look at the critical parts until you get what it’s about.
· Explain the original text: After you read it, explain what it means in your own words.
Also Read- Evolution of Ghost Writing: Manuscripts to Academic Papers
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to mix up copying and rephrasing. To avoid copying, always say who wrote the words and where you found them. Read what you want to use, remember what’s important, and say it in a new way. You can also use a paraphrasing tool, UK, to help find and fix any accidental copying.