## 7.1. Plagiarising, quoting, paraphrasing & referencing

If it is unclear where your own findings end and those of others begin, you may be accused of plagiarism. Plagiarism is the use of someone else's work or ideas without proper source citation. Literally, it means stealing words or ideas. It can involve:

- copying text without citing the source
- paraphrasing without attribution
- reusing your own previous work without acknowledging it (self-plagiarism)

It is considered a scientific sin if presented as original work. Those who commit plagiarism may face serious consequences. The discovery of plagiarism can lead to:

- retraction of publications
- disciplinary actions
- damage to reputation
- or even the loss of degrees or positions

To prevent this, you can quote someone else's work directly. By using quotation marks, you indicate that a passage comes from someone else. This is called citing. It is also possible to retell someone else's work in your own words without changing the original meaning. You do not use the exact wording, for example, because the original is too technical, too long, or unsuitable for your audience. This is called paraphrasing. Paraphrasing helps make the content more accessible, but you must remain faithful to the original meaning.

When quoting and paraphrasing, you must always provide a source citation, also known as referencing. Referencing means clearly indicating in your text where your information comes from. There are different ways to cite sources. Check with your faculty to see which method is used there.