5 Tried and Tested Ways to Avoid Plagiarism

Over the years, old cases of plagiarism are regularly discovered. The scandals are even known to cause political turmoil, ending in serious allegations. In fact, 90% students still believe that cheaters will never get caught or punished, according to a poll by US News and World Reports.

However, with advanced technology, authorship detection and text matching approaches are being embraced to end cyber plagiarism. Therefore, while writing an assignment, you need to be extra careful so as to not get accused to content theft. Here are some of the best ways to avoid plagiarism.

• Learn the Citation Rules 

Be it statistics, maps, figures or research findings, know how to cite the sources. The most appropriate way is to mention the full name and the publication date. Remember that referencing printed and online papers will differ. Make sure to arrange the elements correctly, otherwise it could lead to unpleasant consequences. If you are a student, do adhere to the guidelines laid down by your university or school. 

• Paraphrase the Content

This is hands down the best way to avoid plagiarism. Rewrite the information without altering the idea or meaning of the text. Before putting down any phrase, idea or opinion, frame the entire content using your own words. This will protect you from committing any unintentional plagiarism. Back up your content by using personal examples to make it even more original. However, make sure to cite and add references because the ideas are not completely authentic.

• Ensure Extensive Research

While including any text in your paper, do make sure you are picking only reliable information. This is extremely important, since the owners of trustworthy websites will not create havoc if you reuse their work with accurate credits. Take your time to carry out detailed research so that you can differentiate between amateur and professional writing. Making the right choice will keep you from being accused of stealing content. 

• Use Your Original Ideas

Incorporating personal ideas in your paper is the best way to ensure your paper is 100% original. Try to know the difference between common knowledge and copyright information. While the former can be used without inhibitions, the latter will require credits. While you explore your opinions about a topic, try not to recycle ideas from your previous works. This type of plagiarism could be unacceptable if your publisher has not permitted you to reuse old work.

• Use Plagiarism Checker Tools 

To ensure your academic work does not get flagged for plagiarism, make use of efficient online tools. You can compare over 60 trillion pages across the internet in unicode languages. This will help you ensure that your content is absolutely original and not part of it has been published elsewhere before. It will prevent you from a tainted reputation while increasing your Google rankings. Integrate your system with open source API with ready to use codes in different languages.

The best way to avoid plagiarism is to acknowledge the content you are sourcing your information from. Also, learn what could count as plagiarism. Informed decisions will help you take the right steps.