Plagiarism: When is it Quoting and When is it Stealing?

What is plagiarism? For many writers, while the definition of plagiarism may be something they understand as a technical construct, the ability to truly understand when it is occurring and then to be able to avoid engaging in it can be surprisingly challenging. Just how much of another person's work can you incorporate into a work of your own, and at what point is referencing necessary?

Let's start with a simple definition of plagiarism. Plagiarism is the use of another person's work (this could be his or her words, products or ideas) for personal advantage, without proper acknowledgment of the original work. Most often the phrase is used to denote deliberate intent of passing it off as one's own work. Plagiarism may occur deliberately (with the intention to deceive) or accidentally (due to poor referencing). It encompasses copying material from a book, copying and pasting information from the World Wide Web, receiving help from unauthorized sources on coursework, and copying answers from a fellow student during an examination (presuming the copied work isn't attributed). Plagiarism and cheating are not the same; cheating takes many forms, including but not limited to deliberate plagiarism.

So, what just happened? Well, to be honest with you, I just plagiarized that entire last paragraph after the line "Let's start with a simple definition of plagiarism." I'd better try again and clear up this mess right away.

Wikipedia gives an excellent definition of plagiarism. Wikipedia states that plagiarism "is the use of another person's work (this could be his or her words, products or ideas) for personal advantage, without proper acknowledgment of the original work… Plagiarism and cheating are not the same; cheating takes many forms, including but not limited to deliberate plagiarism".1

So, the difference between those two passages is clear. In the first passage, the Wikipedia definition of plagiarism follows my own opening with no indication that I have switched authors, and with no credit given to the fine folks at Wikipedia. This is the most basic theory of plagiarism, and I think that most people understand where the pitfalls are for direct quotes. You quote, you source.

But what about ideas that you took from someone's work and incorporated into your own, with changes to the language and style? Have you not just taken information, which we do every day, and "written" your own take on it? After all, no information exists in a bubble, we are all learning from others. Where does becoming educated leave off and quoting, or, if not properly referenced, plagiarizing begin?

The website for the Language Center at the Asian Institute of Technology gives and excellent description of the difference between utilizing knowledge obtained from your life and general education and from that obtained from a source that should be cited in your references. As they state: "You must reference (in other words, indicate the source of) all information and ideas from existing work that you use in your writing, whether you use the source's words or your own. All information that is not referenced is assumed to be general knowledge (in your field) or to come directly from you, so neglecting to reference someone's work often means you are leading your reader to believe that the work is your own".2

To paint a clearer picture of this explanation, I will use an example from my own profession. I run an acupuncture clinic in the city of Boston. If I wrote a paper in which I stated that acupuncture employs the use of very fine needles inserted into specific points in the body known as acupuncture points, there would be no need to site any sources. In my field, the basic fundamentals of the process of performing acupuncture are common knowledge among practitioners of the technique, as with other people who might be expected to have some familiarity with it. The statement would be considered an example of general, universal knowledge about the practice of acupuncture.

However, if I were to write that the insertion of the needles into the acupuncture points stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain, thereby decreasing pain and promoting harmony,3 I would definitely need to reference the source from which I culled that information.. Now the source I have just referenced utilized some different language and a different sentence structure than the sentence I chose to write, however, clearly the information was obtained there by me. To not reference it would be claiming that information as my own.

Now, there are many different ways to reference sources. The method I have employed for this article is currently the most commonly used citation structure for citing online sources.4 For citing work found in journals, books, newspapers, and other print sources, there are various styles of organizing your citations, and the preferred method will vary depending on for whom you are writing. Some journals will insist that its authors employ the Chicago style, while others will prefer in-text referencing. Sometimes the preferred citation system will vary from department to department, field to field. Be sure you know which system is expected of you before submitting your article or paper for consideration.

References
1. Wikipedia (2006). "Plagiarism". Available online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism. (Downloaded: March 27, 2006).
2. The Asian Institute of Technology Language Center (2006). "Writing Up Research: Referencing". Available online: http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/EL21REFP.HTM. (Downloaded: March 30, 2006).
3. American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (2006). "Doctor, What's This Acupuncture All About?" Available online: http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/articles/aboutacupuncture.html. (Downloaded: March 30, 2006).
4. The Asian Institute of Technology Language Center (2006). "Referencing Online Sources". Available online: http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/EL21REFP.HTM. (Downloaded: March 30, 2006).