What Is Plagiarism?

What is Plagiarism?
Many people think of plagiarism as copying another's work, or borrowing someone else's original ideas. But terms like "copying" and "borrowing" can disguise the seriousness ofthe offense:
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means
To steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
To use (another's production) withoutcrediting the source
To commit literary theft
To present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealingsomeone else's work and lying about it afterward.
But can words and ideas really be stolen?
According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectualproperty, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or acomputer file).
All of the following are considered plagiarism:
Turning in someone else's work as your own
Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
Failing to put a quotation inquotation marks
Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
Copying so many words or ideas froma source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)
Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simplyacknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism. See our section oncitation for more information on how to cite sources properly.
Educational tips on plagiarism prevention
The most important steps in preventing plagiarism are those taken to address its causes. The...