10 Essential Plagiarism Avoidance Tips for Students
Posted on: July 30, 2025
As a student, maintaining academic integrity is crucial for your success and reputation. Plagiarism—whether intentional or accidental—can have serious consequences. Follow these practical tips to ensure your work remains original and properly cited.
1. Start Your Research Early
Procrastination is a major cause of plagiarism. When you're rushed:
- You're more likely to copy directly from sources
- Proper citation often gets overlooked
- There's less time to develop your own ideas
Solution: Create a research timeline with milestones for each stage of your project.
2. Take Notes the Right Way
Poor note-taking leads to accidental plagiarism. Try this method:
| Source | Direct Quote | Paraphrase | My Ideas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith (2020), p.45 | "The results show significant improvement..." | Smith's study demonstrated notable progress... | This suggests that the method could be applied to... |
3. Understand Proper Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing isn't just changing a few words. To do it correctly:
- Read the original text thoroughly
- Set it aside and write the idea in your own words
- Change both vocabulary and sentence structure
- Still cite the original source
4. Learn Your Citation Style
Common styles and when they're used:
Used in psychology, education, and social sciences
Example: (Smith, 2020, p. 45)
Used in humanities, literature, and arts
Example: (Smith 45)
5. Use Quotation Marks for Direct Quotes
When using someone's exact words:
- Enclose them in quotation marks
- Include page numbers in citations
- Don't overuse quotes—they should support your ideas, not replace them
- Generally, quotes should be less than 10% of your paper
6. Cite All Sources, Including Websites
Many students forget to cite:
- Wikipedia articles (though you should use original sources instead)
- Images and graphs
- Online videos and podcasts
- Lecture notes and PowerPoint slides
7. Use Reference Management Software
Tools that can help:
Zotero
Free, open-source tool
Mendeley
Great for PDF management
EndNote
Comprehensive paid solution
8. Check Your Work Before Submission
Always run your paper through our free plagiarism checker to:
- Identify accidental plagiarism
- Check for missing citations
- Verify proper paraphrasing
- Ensure academic integrity
9. Understand Common Knowledge
You don't need to cite:
- Facts known by most people (e.g., "The Earth revolves around the Sun")
- Information found in multiple general sources
- Common sayings or proverbs
When in doubt, cite the source.
10. Develop Your Own Voice
As you advance in your studies:
- Move beyond summarizing sources
- Add your own analysis and interpretation
- Synthesize multiple viewpoints
- Contribute original ideas to the discussion