Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are not new issues in higher education. But they have become increasingly complicated issues as students now rely heavily on online sources and new technologies, like AI chatbots, blur the line between research and cheating.

Even the most honest students might find themselves uncertain about the integrity of their work or how to know whether they've given credit where credit is due. So how can you avoid plagiarism and still utilize all the great tools and resources the modern world has to offer?

We've outlined three ways to avoid plagiarism and ensure your academic integrity below.

1. Know EXACTLY what constitutes plagiarism

You may think that plagiarism is copying the work of someone else word-for-word. And yes, that would most certainly be plagiarism. But recognizing and avoiding plagiarism is more complicated than simply not copy-pasting the words of an expert into your term paper without giving them credit. '

Plagiarism can be deliberate. If you knowingly copy someone else's work, buy a term paper to deceitfully pass off as your own, or borrow an assignment from another student, you are actively committing plagiarism and will very likely be caught out by your instructors (who are usually quite skilled at recognizing this kind of academic dishonesty).

But plagiarism can also be unintentional, and unfortunately, this is where a lot of students get caught out. If you don't know how to properly cite sources, are not skilled at paraphrasing information, or struggle to build upon an argument rather than just parroting it back, you could be accused of plagiarism even if your intentions were not deceitful. Plagiarism is plagiarism regardless of your intentions.

2. How to cite your sources

The best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite all of your sources. But this is easier said than done. Like much of the work you will do as a student, one key to avoiding plagiarism is to plan your work carefully and stay organized.

Here are a few tips for organizing your work in a way that will help you cite your sources properly:

• Document every source you review during your research. You can use a note-taking app, keep a running list, or go old-school with notecards. Whatever method you use, make sure that you can understand and remember which source goes with which notes.
• Make sure you understand the style guide required by your assignment. There are numerous style guides for citation and the guide you use will be determined by where you are studying and what you are studying. Review the guide carefully and make sure you understand when and how to insert citations into your work. For example, some guides use in-text or parenthetical citations, while others use foot- or end-notes.
• Learn how to paraphrase. Paraphrasing means using your own words and style to reiterate the ideas of someone else. It's a skill that you can develop and requires both a strong vocabulary and understanding of grammar, as well as excellent reading comprehension. You can practice paraphrasing by reading a sentence or paragraph, then, without referring to the original, rewriting the meaning in your own words. Check to make sure that your words convey the same meaning as the original but do not use the same words or style.
• Understand the difference between repeating an idea and building on an idea. You're using the ideas and hypotheses of various people to expand your knowledge and come to your own conclusions. You can think about your research like building blocks. As you construct your argument, you need to cite each block that you use, but the finished product should be something original.

And, when in doubt, cite your sources. It's better to have too many citations than too few.

3. Use a plagiarism and AI checker

Every student is vulnerable to plagiarism because plagiarism can be unintentional. Luckily, there are digital tools and resources that can help you check your work and point out where you may need a citation or to paraphrase more extensively.

There are also digital tools that can identify whether your work was created by AI. And this is where things get even more complicated. It's not inherently dishonest to use AI in the research portion of your writing. In fact, there are a lot of smart, creative, and beneficial ways to use AI to learn. It is, however, considered academic dishonesty to use AI to write your entire thesis.

If you think using AI will be a shortcut, you're probably straying into the realm of plagiarism. And even if you only use AI to kickstart your research or outline your notes, you should use an AI checker and edit accordingly.

There is a catch, however: plagiarism and AI checkers aren’t foolproof. They can offer peace of mind as a supplement to your own anti-plagiarism efforts, but ultimately the responsibility rests with you.

Conclusion

Plagiarism and academic dishonesty are complicated issues, and even honest students can find themselves accused of plagiarism. But avoiding plagiarism and maintaining your academic integrity do not need to be complicated.

Understanding how plagiarism happens, how to avoid it, and how to check your work will help you submit thoughtful, original work throughout your academic career.

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