plagiarizing

Plagiarizing, or plagiarism, is the act of presenting someone else’s ideas, words, or creative work as one’s own without proper attribution. It includes copying text verbatim without quotation, closely paraphrasing another’s work without credit, or taking intellectual property such as ideas, music, software, or art and passing it off as original. Plagiarism can occur in academic writing, journalism, publishing, and many other fields, and it can mislead audiences about the origin of the material.

Common forms range from direct copying to mosaic or patchwriting, where phrases or ideas are drawn from multiple sources with only minor changes. Self-plagiarism involves reusing one’s own previous work without disclosure. Accidental plagiarism happens when sources are not cited correctly. While intent matters in some contexts, many institutions treat any uncredited use as plagiarism.

Consequences vary by setting but can include academic penalties such as failing grades or suspension, professional sanctions such as termination or loss of credentials, and reputational damage. Legally, copyright infringement may accompany copying protected material, but plagiarism is primarily an ethical violation; fair-use considerations may apply to what can be used, but do not excuse non-attribution.

Prevention emphasizes attribution and transparency: quote directly with exact wording and a citation; paraphrase with careful attribution; use a consistent citation style; maintain thorough notes, and check work with plagiarism-detection tools. Researchers and writers should disclose reuse of their own work and follow institutional policies on originality and citation.