What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism (noun) /ˈpleɪdʒərɪzəm/ – the practice of copying another person's ideas, words, or work and pretending that they are your own.

Plagiarism is when someone copies another person’s work or ideas and pretends it is their own. This can happen if a student takes words or ideas from a book, website, or another person’s writing without giving credit.

For example, if a student copies an article from the internet and turns it in as their own homework, that is plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism, it’s important to write in your own words and say where the information came from.

Plagiarism can take many forms. It’s not just about copying and pasting text from a source. Here are some common examples:

Plagiarism is a serious issue in education, especially when students copy essays, research papers, or other work from original authors without proper citation. This problem is common in schools and universities, where students are expected to produce their own work and cite sources correctly according to academic guidelines.

Recently, a new challenge has arisen—students using AI tools for a variety of tasks, from simple grammar and spelling checks to rewording sentences, generating entire paragraphs, or even writing full essays. AI-generated text can sometimes be plagiarized, making it more difficult for teachers to determine if a student’s work is truly original. As AI becomes more advanced, the line between human and machine-created content is blurring, raising new questions about academic integrity and proper attribution.

To prevent plagiarism, many schools and universities have strict rules and use advanced plagiarism detection software to check for copied content. Some institutions even rely on multiple tools to ensure accuracy, as different software may catch different types of plagiarism. For example, one tool might detect direct copying, while another can identify paraphrased text or AI-generated content.

Beyond detection, many schools emphasize education on proper research and citation practices. Students are often required to take plagiarism awareness courses or use citation tools like Zotero or EasyBib to correctly format their references. Some professors also encourage students to submit drafts for originality checks before turning in their final work.

Before writing any paper, it’s important for students to understand their school’s plagiarism policies, including what counts as academic dishonesty and how to properly cite sources in formats like APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Learning these skills not only helps avoid unintentional plagiarism but also builds strong research habits for the future.

The word "plagiarism" was introduced into the English language around 1620. It comes from the Latin word "plagiarius," which means "kidnapper." The Roman poet Martial (Marcus Valerius Martialis) first used this term in the 1st century to criticize another poet, Fidentinus, who was reciting Martial’s poems as if they were his own (1).

Before the 17th century, copying the works of other writers was common and widely accepted. People believed that written works were part of shared knowledge, not something owned by individuals. Plagiarism was not seen as a crime. However, this view changed when authors began demanding credit for their work.

In 1601, the English playwright and poet Ben Jonson used the term "plagiary" in his play The Poetaster to describe literary theft (2). Over time, the meaning of plagiarism became more clearly defined in dictionaries. The Century Dictionary described it as "the purloining or wrongful appropriation of another's ideas, writing, artistic designs, etc., and giving these forth as one's own" (3). Similarly, Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of 1755 defined it as "theft; literary adoption of the thoughts or works of another" (4).

References
(1) Martial. Epigrams. Translated by D. R. Shackleton Bailey, Harvard University Press, 1993.
(2) Jonson, Ben. The Poetaster. 1601.
(3) The Century Dictionary. The Century Co., 1895.
(4) Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language, 1755.

Not all copied text is plagiarism. If something is widely known and doesn’t require a specific source, it’s not considered plagiarism. For example, stating "The Earth orbits the Sun" is common knowledge, so no citation is needed.

Similarly, facts that are universally accepted, such as "Water freezes at 0°C" or "World War II ended in 1945", do not require a source. Additionally, using well-known sayings, proverbs, or historical dates is generally acceptable without citation.

Another case where copying is not plagiarism is when properly quoting and citing a source. If a student includes a direct quote from a book, article, or website and correctly references the author, it is not plagiarism. Similarly, summarizing or paraphrasing information while giving proper credit is a valid way to use sources.

Original ideas, personal experiences, and personal research are also free from plagiarism concerns. For example, if a student conducts their own science experiment and writes about the results, that is entirely their own work. Also, discussing personal opinions or reflections does not require citations.

Public domain content—such as works by authors whose copyright has expired, government documents, or freely licensed materials—can also be used without plagiarism concerns, though proper attribution is still encouraged when possible.

Understanding these differences helps students use information responsibly while avoiding plagiarism.