Is Paraphrasing With Citation Plagiarism?

Paraphrasing and plagiarism are closely related because there are instances where you paraphrase effectively and still commit plagiarism. Essay writing constitutes a crucial part of the learning process because it helps students master research techniques and enhance creativity. However, it can be a gruesome process because each essay you submit must be authentic.

Therefore, as much as you paraphrase to avoid plagiarism, it should not come as a surprise when your instructor tells you that you have submitted plagiarized content. It is all about the idea and not necessarily words. That alone makes essay-writing a dreaded task among students.

Citation proves to be an effective weapon against plagiarism. I will help you know the relationship between the three – paraphrasing, plagiarism, and citation by addressing the topic ‘Is paraphrasing with citation plagiarism?’

Read on for a detailed review.

Is Paraphrasing With Citation Plagiarism?

Paraphrasing with citation is not plagiarism because you give credit to the original owner of the information. You, therefore, change the order of words and sentence structure to support your augmentation and simultaneously show your audience that you based your explanation on an existing idea. Note that paraphrasing works hand in hand with citation. Failure to cite is outright plagiarism.

To paraphrase effectively, read the source material without writing anything and understand the main idea. Afterward, close the source page and put down a short summary. If you find it hard to organize the content using different words, take a break and internalize the main ideas.

When you come back from the break, you will find it easy to explain the central concept using your own words. Once you master the art of applying what you have internalized instead of just copying the ideas in your work, paraphrasing becomes a straightforward task.

Use high authority sites when researching to give your assignment more credibility. Authoritative sources show that you are not making up facts and give your audience the ideal platform to find the source material, enabling them to perform further research for themselves.

Is Paraphrasing Plagiarism If You Cite?

Paraphrasing is not plagiarism if you cite because you ensure your audience gets to know that you are using existing content to support your explanation. Remember that if it is not your idea, you must cite aptly regardless of the words you use. Failure to do so renders your work plagiarized because it is a form of stealing.

It is common to find many students using too many quotations when writing their essays. Most tutors advise against this as it provides an easy way for students to increase the number of words without thinking and writing much. However, paraphrasing ensures the students organize their own thoughts without depending too much on the existing content.

You should, therefore, learn efficient paraphrasing techniques like the use of appropriate synonyms, changing sentence structure and wording, and using different formatting techniques. Remember to note your sources somewhere to have an easy time during citation.

Is Paraphrasing Okay If You Cite?

Paraphrasing is okay if you cite because you get to avoid plagiarism and the consequences of submitting plagiarized content. If you paraphrase an existing document, run it through a plagiarism-checking tool and find it 100% original, you will still need to cite your sources. The work may be original, but the idea remains borrowed.

Learn about the different citation techniques to know where to apply each. For example, use American Psychology Association (APA) for Science, Psychology and Education essays and Modern Language Association (MLA) for Humanities. Other techniques include Chicago and IEEE styles. Research more on them to have a better understanding.

Conclusion

Paraphrasing is effective and okay if you cite relevant sources to help you avoid plagiarism. First, make sure you rewrite existing work using your own words and change the overall sentence structure of the entire essay. Perform thorough research from various authoritative sources to have more content. It allows you to have strong building points and a better flow of ideas.

Additionally, research more on paraphrasing techniques and practice more often to make the process more straightforward. School also requires you to know the various citation techniques. That said, always make sure you cite your paraphrased content.