Different Types of Plagiarism with Examples - Oxbridge Editing

Plagiarism is a serious offence in academic, professional, and creative fields. At its core, plagiarism involves presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or expressions as your own without proper attribution. Whether intentional or accidental, plagiarism can lead to severe consequences, including damaged reputations, legal implications, and academic penalties. To avoid plagiarism, it is essential to understand its various forms and how to prevent them.

In this post, we will explore the different types of plagiarism, providing examples and tips on how to avoid falling into these traps.

1. Direct Plagiarism

Direct plagiarism, also known as verbatim plagiarism, is the most blatant form of plagiarism. It involves copying text from a source word for word without quotation marks or proper citation. This form of plagiarism often occurs when someone copies large portions of text from books, websites, or other sources and presents them as their own.

Example: Copying a paragraph from an academic journal into an essay without using quotation marks or citing the author.

How to Avoid It: Always use quotation marks when copying text verbatim and cite the source correctly using the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard). It’s important to make it clear to the reader that the words are not your own.

2. Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism occurs when an individual reuses their previously published or submitted work without acknowledgment or permission. While it might seem harmless to use your own work, it can still be considered unethical, especially in academic settings where originality is expected in every piece of work.

Example: Submitting the same research paper to two different classes without informing either tutor.

How to Avoid It: If you need to reuse your previous work, seek permission from the relevant parties (e.g., your lecturer or publisher) and make sure to cite your earlier work as you would any other source.

3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Paraphrasing plagiarism occurs when someone rephrases or rewrites a passage from another work but fails to give credit to the original source. Even though the wording is different, the ideas and information still belong to the original author.

Example: Reading an article and summarising its key points without citing the source, leading the reader to believe these ideas are your own.

How to Avoid It: Always cite the source when you paraphrase someone else’s ideas. Even though you’re using your own words, the underlying information is not original. Make sure to read the material, understand it, and then write it in your own words while giving appropriate credit.

4. Mosaic Plagiarism

Also known as “patchwriting,” mosaic plagiarism involves borrowing phrases from a source without using quotation marks or piecing together text from different sources to create a new work. Although the writer may slightly modify the wording, the structure and ideas remain largely unchanged from the original source.

Example: Taking sentences from various articles and inserting them into your own paper with minor changes in wording, without proper citation.

How to Avoid It: Properly quote any phrases or sentences taken directly from a source, and ensure you fully understand the material before attempting to rewrite it. Always provide citations, even for phrases that are not entirely original.

5. Accidental Plagiarism

Accidental plagiarism occurs when a person unintentionally fails to cite sources properly, either because they are unaware of the citation rules or because they inadvertently forget to include a citation. While it is unintentional, the consequences can be just as severe as intentional plagiarism.

Example: Forgetting to cite a source after paraphrasing information from a website or book, or misattributing the source of a quote.

How to Avoid It: Make a habit of taking detailed notes while researching, including complete citation information for each source. Use citation management tools like EndNote or Zotero to keep track of your references and ensure that every source is properly cited.

6. Source-Based Plagiarism

This type of plagiarism occurs when someone cites a source that is either non-existent or inaccurately represents the source material. It can include fabricating a source, manipulating data, or citing sources that don’t support the claims made in the work.

Example: Fabricating a research study to support your argument or citing a book that doesn’t actually contain the information you’re referencing.

How to Avoid It: Always use reliable sources and ensure your citations are accurate. Double-check the information you use to support your claims and never invent sources to fit your argument.

7. Complete Plagiarism

Complete plagiarism is when an individual takes an entire piece of work created by someone else and submits it as their own. This is one of the most egregious forms of plagiarism and is often associated with buying essays from online services or copying someone else’s research or creative work in its entirety.

Example: Purchasing an essay online and submitting it under your name, or copying someone else’s project and claiming it as your own.

How to Avoid It: Never submit work that isn’t yours. If you need help with your writing or research, seek assistance from tutors or writing services that guide you through the process rather than doing the work for you. Ensure that any work you submit is entirely your own creation.

8. Global vs. Local Plagiarism

Global plagiarism refers to submitting a work that is entirely plagiarised from a single source, while local plagiarism involves copying a few sentences or phrases from various sources. Both forms of plagiarism are serious, but global plagiarism tends to involve entire papers or large sections of text, while local plagiarism might seem more subtle but is still problematic.

Example of Global Plagiarism: Submitting a whole essay copied from a single online article. Example of Local Plagiarism: Copying a sentence or two from several different sources without citation.

How to Avoid It: Whether you’re using a single source or multiple ones, always give credit where it’s due. Use plagiarism detection tools to identify areas of your paper that may need further citations.

Also Read: How to Avoid Plagiarism

Safeguarding Academic Integrity

Plagiarism, in its various forms, poses a significant threat to academic integrity and intellectual honesty. As writers, researchers, and students, it’s our responsibility to uphold ethical standards and acknowledge the contributions of others through proper citation and attribution. 

Take the first step towards ensuring academic integrity in your work. Let our expert team review and edit your documents, ensuring accurate citation and avoiding plagiarism pitfalls. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support you on your academic journey.