Most plagiarism is accidental — a missed citation, a paraphrase too close to the original. Build a few habits and you’ll keep your work original and have the report to prove it.
Key takeaways
- Paraphrase in your own structure, not just swapped words.
- Quote sparingly, with quotation marks and page numbers.
- Cite every idea that isn’t your own or common knowledge.
- Keep a running list of sources as you research.
- Run a similarity check before you submit.
- Know what actually counts as plagiarism.
Paraphrasing done right
A real paraphrase changes the sentence structure and wording while keeping the meaning — and still gets a citation. Changing a few words and leaving the sentence shape is the most common accidental plagiarism.
Quote with care
Use direct quotes only when the exact wording matters, always in quotation marks with a page number. See the APA 7 guide for how to format them.
Cite every borrowed idea
If an idea, statistic or argument came from a source, cite it — even when you’ve put it in your own words. Keep a source list as you go so nothing slips through. Our literature review guide helps you track sources while you read.
Check it, and prove it
Run a similarity check before submitting. WriteDen backs every order with a plagiarism-free guarantee and a report on request, so you can submit with confidence.