Types of plagiarism, and how to avoid them in content writing
Simply seeing the phrase plagiarism can be triggering.
Instantly, you're back in the classroom trying to convince your teacher why you're missing the citation you needed for an assertion you made in your research report on The Great Gatsby and what it means to have a green light. The guilt sets in. It's a lesson learned Never again take someone else's work for your work.
Today, years later and as a creator of content You are writing constantly about your industry; blog posts or landing page copy ebooks, and more. Not in a million years would you purposefully replicate someone else's work in order and claim it as your own, but what if it happened accidentally? Plagiarism that is not intentional is incredibly frequent in the field of web-based content and creative writing.
Though plagiarism, at its most basic level is the practice of claiming the work of someone else as your original work It can take on many shapes and forms which you might not be aware of. The result could be that you do something that is unimaginable, such as copying and claiming someone else's work even if it's accidental.
The best way to avoid being accused of or committing plagiarism by accident is to understand its ins and outs as well as the necessary steps to properly acknowledge other creators' work. But first, let's discuss how content writers can do their homework when it comes to plagiarism.
Why should content writers work to avoid plagiarizing?
In the eyes of many, plagiarism is an ethical matter, meaning it goes against morality. Though ethics can be an abstract idea, plagiarism can be considered it is a type of theft. it's when you steal the words of someone else. This is especially so for content writers who could receive monetary compensation for their stolen work.
Aside from it being ethically wrong, plagiarism has the possibility of destroying someone's personal and business integrity. The result could be loss of relationships with brands, professional recommendations or, most significantly, customers. This is because plagiarism has the power to ruin an entire business.
We can't forget to mention the legal implications that could result from plagiarism. If the work you copied takes the credit or profits away from the creator of the original work, you may find yourself facing legal action - no matter the reason for plagiarism, whether it was deliberate or by accident.
Five kinds of plagiarism you need to be conscious of
The most effective way to avoid plagiarism is to know regarding its different forms. Below are the most popular five types of plagiarism that you may encounter or may have committed against yourself:
- Global plagiarism
Also referred to as complete or direct plagiarism, this is the most common definition of is plagiarism. It's it is the process of copying someone else's entire piece of work and attempting to make it appear as your personal work. However, global plagiarism isn't simply the act of copying the work of someone else. At schools, paying someone else to complete a task for you and then handing it in as your own is as well a form of global plagiarism.
It raises the inquiry: is employing ghostwriters an act of plagiarism? Here is a fantastic article from Jonathan Bailey on that very subject. Bailey states, "Ethically, it is accepted for politicians to employ a speechwriter, but doesn't attribute it. However, a student who turns to the essay mill for their assignment is clearly a plagiarist." So in light of the contextal nature of ghostwriting whether it is or is not plagiarism is difficult.
- Verbatim plagiarism
As with global plagiarism this form of plagiarism is the act that you clone an author's work as your ownn. The main difference is how much text can be plagiarized. While global plagiarism includes every word of content Verbatim plagiarism can contain only a tiny part of the text, such as one or two paragraphs or sentences.
NOTE: It's considered verbatim plagiarism, even when you alter the words, or the order of sentences, which brings us to our next form of plagiarism.
- Paraphrasing plagiarism
Plagiarism that is paraphrased is among the most common forms of accidental plagiarism. Like it sounds, this is happening when people reword someone else's work , without crediting the author who wrote it. Although the act of translating someone else's content into your own words is okay, doing so without proper citation is not.
- Patchwork plagiarism
Also known as"patchwork plagiarism", it refers to the act of "stitching to" different ideas, phrases or more lengthy versions of text from multiple sources to make new information. This form of plagiarism can be associated with verbatim and paraphrasing plagiarism.
In this case, for example, you take ideas from one source, and from another, you "borrow" a sentence, and another, a paragraph. All of these are then incorporated in your work to make your own patchwork work.
- Self-plagiarism
What can you do to prevent plagiarism in your content writing
Let's discuss the real motive behind why you're here How to prevent plagiarism when writing content. By following these four simple steps (yes only five steps! ) You can safeguard your business and yourself from the repercussions of plagiarism:
- Write down and refer to sources. When you present someone else's ideas or phrases in your writing (even even if they're paraphrased) you must cite the source. A citation added to your work is a quick and straightforward way of ensuring you avoid plagiarism. Based on the style guide you're using it is recommended to include at least the full name of the source and the date that it was released. For making the process of citations even easier on yourself, develop a record-keeping process and record the sources you use as you write. You'll thank yourself later - we promise. Tips: Google Documents also comes with a citation tool that makes it easy to reference your sources using the format that you like (APA, MLA, or Chicago).
- Incorporate quotations. One of the most effective method to stay clear of plagiarism is to incorporate the words of another in your writing using quotation marks, and a the proper citation of course. Quotations offer a simple method of incorporating another's thoughts or words in your writing, while also aiding you in avoiding the mental struggle that comes from paraphrasing. It is possible that you have noticed we used this very strategy under the definition of plagiarism worldwide!
- Paraphrase. This may be a no-brainer however, paraphrasing can be a great way to avoid duplicated words from another person word for word. When paraphrasing, focus on using the original author's words into the context of your own. Find synonyms, incorporate to incorporate the concept into your own text, then reformulate the sentence (e.g. switch the sentence by changing it from passive). If you are paraphrasing in the blog, make sure you include a link external to the original material.
- Use a plagiarism checker. Also called anti-plagiarism tools, tools like these will quickly compare your text against other websites and provide you with a plagiarism report. Copy and paste the text into an online plagiarism checker, of which many are available for free. Grammarly provides a plagiarism checker as well as Small SEO Tools.
The most important thing is the bottom line
If you have your business and personal credibility at stake It is imperative to avoid plagiarism absolutely. The best method to avoid plagiarism is to be well-informed understanding of the subject. By reading this blog You're safeguarding yourself from the reality of being accused of or accidentally committing plagiarism. Job well done!
The time has come for you to get back to writing! Write away with unbridled passion because you know deep in your heart that your words are original This is the reason that can make your work worth reading.
You've got questions. There are answers.
Here are a few of the most frequently asked queries about plagiarism.
- What exactly is plagiarism? At its root, plagiarism is the overt act of attempting to claim the work of someone else as your original work.
- What is the distinction between plagiarism and paraphrasing? The line between plagiarism and paraphrasing can be very thin. All it depends is whether and how you reference the sources you've used. When your content lacks proper reference, the paraphrasing process rapidly and quickly turns into plagiarism.
- What are the common types of plagiarism seen in writing content? There are many kinds of plagiarism. However, the most commonly used in writing are global plagiarism, verbatim plagiarism, paraphrasing plagiarism, patchwork plagiarism, and self-plagiarism.
- How do I spot plagiarism? While prior to the Internet there was no way to check your or others' work for plagiarism, nowadays, you can check for plagiarism with the free and simple-to-use plagiarism checking software. One quick Google search will bring up several software options.
- Can you accidentally plagiarize? Yes, you may accidentally steal. One of the most popular kinds of plagiarized work is plagiarism that you paraphrase, which means that you use words from someone else's work without giving credit or properly citing your source.