When we think of plagiarism, the first thing that would come to our mind is copying or borrowing someone else’s exact writing and not giving the credit to the original author. There are different ways to commit plagiarism, it can happen accidentally or unintentionally if you are not careful enough.
Students who take enough time for research, reading and writing are less likely to commit accidental plagiarism.
Imagine you spend a lot of time researching and writing something, only for someone to copy it without informing you and take all the credit. That's what plagiarism is, taking someone else's work and pretending it's your own.
In this article you will know the answers of what accidental plagiarism is? What happens when you accidentally plagiarize? And how to avoid this.
Let’s start discussing:
What is accidental plagiarism?
Accidental plagiarism occurs when you forget to credit the original author by missing quotation marks or not including them in your sources. This mostly happens due to a lack of understanding of the content, incorrect citations, or neglecting to use quotes.
The difference between accidental and intentional plagiarism is the intent – accidental plagiarism happens by mistake, while intentional plagiarism is done on purpose.
There are lots of articles already published on a single topic on the internet. It is very easy to paraphrase unintentionally. To avoid this, you should first make sure you understand the topic clearly and prepare before writing.
From 2007-2020, the National Science Foundation made 200 research misconduct findings, of which 78 percent were related to plagiarism.
Common reasons for accidental plagiarism
Accidental plagiarism is not about trying to cheat – it's more like making a mistake because we didn't pay enough attention or understand the rules properly.
1. Forgetting to cite sources
Sometimes when we write, we forget to mention the source. This can happen because of our negligence and laziness. And we are more focused thinking about our own ideas and forget to mention where we got the facts from.
2. Not citing paraphrased information
Some students believe that it is necessary to cite a source only if they use a direct quote. Not true!
Even if you explain someone else's idea using your own words, you still need to mention where you got it from. Giving credit to the original writer, even when you explain things in your own way, is important.
3. Confusion
Sometimes, we get our ideas mixed up with what we've read or heard from others without even realizing it. This can happen when we're trying to explain something and end up using words or phrases that we've seen somewhere else before.
4. Incorrectly paraphrasing
When you paraphrase, you need to make sure it sounds different from the original, use your own words and change the sentence structure. Simply changing a few words or sentence order isn’t enough. To avoid paraphrasing plagiarism, it's better to quote the original.
For Example:
You were writing a research paper and used some information from another source. You used it exactly without adding a proper quote or citations. You might have done this unintentionally but the content will come under the radar of plagiarism.
Is accidental plagiarism punishable?
In a survey about plagiarism attitudes by Vassileva and Chankova (2019), 44% of researchers from big scientific institutions and Bulgarian universities thought accidental plagiarism is not a “crime.”
Plagiarism can happen either on purpose or by mistake. It's not always the same as cheating, which involves knowingly and dishonestly breaking the rules. McCuen (2008) explains this.
When it comes to research misconduct, accidental plagiarism is as bad as intentional plagiarism. It harms authors' impact factor and can damage the reputations of publishers and institutions.
Did You Know: As per the plagiarism statistics, there exist more than 5.1 billion websites, and among them, 1.5 billion sites have uploaded some copied content.
What to do if I am accused of plagiarism?
If you're accused of plagiarism, stay calm and treat the matter seriously. First of all you need to review the accusation carefully and understand which portion of your work is under scrutiny. Review your notes and sources to see if you made a mistake in citing or accidentally used someone else's words.
Approach the person who made the accusation and explain your perspective honestly. If you are a student then follow the school’s rules and if you are an employee then follow the company’s rules to handle the situation better. Provide a clear explanation, especially if the mistake was unintentional.
But if you're accused of other severe forms of plagiarism, such as global plagiarism or direct plagiarism, you will face more strict consequences.
Use this as a chance to learn. Improve your skills in citing sources and giving credit for ideas you use. In the future, be extra careful to track where you get information and always give proper credit.
Tips to avoid accidental plagiarism
Here are some tips to help prevent plagiarism when writing:
Understand what plagiarism is: you need to understand it properly before trying to avoid it. There are many type of plagiarism including directly copying text, paraphrasing too closely, or neglecting to cite your sources.
Take good notes: Take the time to research thoroughly, keep careful notes, and clearly mark direct quotes, paraphrases, and your own ideas. This will help you differentiate between sources and your original writing.
Paraphrase properly: When paraphrasing, use your own words and sentence structure. Change the phrases, word order, and syntax to make it different from the original text. Avoid simply replacing or rearranging a few words.
Use quotes carefully: While direct quotes are fine when properly cited, overusing them can lead to accidental plagiarism. Try to paraphrase most information from authentic sources.
Be sure to give credit to your sources: Whenever you use someone else's words, facts, ideas, or findings, cite the source properly according to the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
Get help if needed: If you're unsure about proper citation or have questions, consult your instructor, a writing center, or academic integrity resources.
Conclusion
Accidentally copying someone else's work happens a lot in writing today. Even though it's unintentional, it can still hurt your writing. In school, it's a big deal because it's not fair to use someone else's work without giving them credit.
That's why it's super important to always check for plagiarism and make sure you cite your sources properly. Using a similarity checker can help catch accidental plagiarism and make sure your writing is all yours.
Frequently asked questions
Why do students commit accidental plagiarism?
Students often accidentally plagiarize because they’re unsure about citation rules, don’t take clear notes, or they have a shortage of time. They might forget to cite sources or don’t know how to paraphrase properly.
Is accidental plagiarism punishable?
Yes, accidental plagiarism can be punishable, with consequences like a lower grade, reputation damage or disciplinary action.
What is the main cause of inadvertent plagiarism?
The main cause of inadvertent plagiarism is a lack of understanding about proper citation and paraphrasing. Some students fail to keep track of sources or don’t know how to properly give credit to the authors.
What are the examples of unintentional plagiarism?
Examples of unintentional plagiarism:
- Rephrasing someone’s work but keeping the same structure or key phrases.
- Forgetting to properly cite a source.
- Reusing your own content from a previous project without credit.