Plagiarism is one of the most common problems students, researchers, and writers struggle with when preparing academic work. Many people do not plagiarize intentionally; sometimes it happens because they do not fully understand how to use sources, how to paraphrase properly, or how to cite ideas correctly. In other cases, the writer may be rushing to meet a deadline and ends up copying content directly from online materials.
Tutors and supervisors detect plagiarism using a mix of software tools and academic judgment. They commonly use plagiarism-checkers like Turnitin, Grammarly, and PlagScan to identify matching text and generate similarity reports. They also look for sudden changes in writing style, verify citations and reference lists, and search suspicious sentences on Google.
Supervisors compare new submissions with past student projects and assess a student’s understanding during oral defense. They may also use AI-content detectors and check for improper paraphrasing or unrealistic data. By combining these methods, they ensure research work is original, credible, and ethically written.
Let me explain to you, in very simple language, the practical and effective ways to reduce plagiarism in research writing. The goal is to help you write original, high-quality research that reflects your own understanding. Real examples are included to make everything easy to understand.
1. Understand What Plagiarism Really Means
The first step to reducing plagiarism is understanding what it actually is. Many people assume plagiarism simply means “copying,” but it is broader than that.
Plagiarism is using another person’s words, ideas, or work without giving proper credit.
This includes:
- Copying text word-for-word without quotation marks
- Paraphrasing too closely (changing only a few words)
- Using someone else’s opinions as your own
- Reusing your previous work (self-plagiarism)
- Summarizing someone’s findings without mentioning the source
- Using online project samples or AI content without rewriting and referencing
Example:
Original text: “The placenta plays a crucial role in nutrient exchange between the mother and fetus.”
Poor paraphrase (still plagiarism): “The placenta has an important role in exchanging nutrients between the mother and her fetus.”
Good paraphrase: “During pregnancy, nutrients move from the mother to the developing baby through the placenta, which serves as the main connection between both.” (Smith, 2020).
When you clearly understand what plagiarism is, it becomes easier to avoid it.
2. Start Your Research Early
Rushing is one of the major causes of plagiarism. When deadlines are close, many students copy large sections from articles online, especially from Google, blogs, or PDF textbooks.
When you start early, you have enough time to:
- Read and understand your topic
- Take proper notes
- Rewrite information in your own words
- Verify facts
- Identify the right sources to cite
- Organize your information clearly
Example:
A student writing on “Effects of Social Media on Academic Performance” who starts two days before the deadline will likely copy from five different blogs.
Another student who starts three weeks earlier will read journal articles, summarize major points, and write a more original paper.
Time management naturally reduces plagiarism.
3. Take Notes in Your Own Words
Many students make a mistake during research: they copy paragraphs into their notes and later paste them into their final work. This leads to accidental plagiarism because the notes were copied directly.
Instead, take notes using your own words. This means:
- Read a paragraph
- Close the book or minimize the webpage
- Write down what you remember
- Compare with the original to ensure accuracy
- Add a short citation
This forces your brain to process and understand the information.
Example:
If a journal article says:
“Adolescents who sleep less than six hours are more likely to show signs of attention deficit.”
Your note should be:
Teenagers who do not get enough sleep (less than 6 hours) often have difficulty paying attention (Johnson, 2021).
This method automatically reduces copying.
4. Learn Proper Paraphrasing Techniques
Many people think paraphrasing means replacing a few words with synonyms. That is incorrect—and still plagiarism.
Proper paraphrasing means expressing someone else’s idea in a completely new structure and style, while giving credit.
Steps for effective paraphrasing
- Read the original text carefully
- Understand the main point
- Rewrite without looking at the original
- Compare both versions
- Cite the source
Example of correct vs. incorrect paraphrasing
Original text:
“Regular physical activities improve cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart and regulating blood pressure.”
Poor paraphrase:
“Regular exercise improves heart health because it strengthens the heart and regulates blood pressure.”
(Too close. Structure and words are similar.)
Good paraphrase:
“Engaging in frequent physical activities supports the functioning of the heart and helps maintain normal blood pressure levels.” (Adeyemi, 2019).
Here, the sentence structure, wording, and flow are different, and a citation is added.
5. Use Quotations Correctly
Quotations are acceptable when used moderately. When you want to present a statement exactly as it appears in the source, use quotation marks and include a citation.
Example:
According to WHO (2020), “breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival.”
When using quotations:
- Keep them short
- Use them only when necessary
- Avoid filling pages with long copied passages
- Always include the author’s name and year
Quoting properly prevents plagiarism and maintains credibility.
6. Cite All Sources Appropriately
One of the simplest ways to avoid plagiarism is by citing your sources. Citations show where you got your ideas, facts, or theories.
Different citation styles exist (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard), but they all serve the same purpose.
When to cite:
- When using someone else’s idea
- When showing statistics
- When mentioning a theory or model
- When paraphrasing
- When summarizing
- When quoting directly
Example (APA format):
Paraphrased idea:
Stress affects memory retention among university students (Ekanem, 2022).
Direct quote:
Ekanem (2022) states that “stress significantly reduces the brain’s ability to store new information.”
Proper citation removes doubt about originality.
7. Use a Referencing List or Bibliography
At the end of your research work, include all the sources you cited in the body. This must match the in-text citations exactly.
Example of a reference list (APA style):
- Ekanem, F. (2022). Effects of stress on memory. Journal of Educational Psychology, 14(2), 45–53.
- Johnson, R. (2021). Teen sleep patterns and attention deficit. Sleep Research Today, 9(1), 22–30.
- WHO. (2020). Guidelines on breastfeeding. World Health Organization Press.
A complete reference list protects you from plagiarism accusations.
8. Use Plagiarism-Checking Tools
Plagiarism checkers help you identify copied content and areas where paraphrasing is weak.
Some useful tools include:
- Turnitin
- Grammarly Premium
- PlagScan
- Quetext
- Scribbr Plagiarism Checker
These tools highlight similar content and show the percentage similarity.
Example:
If you upload an assignment and the result shows 35% similarity, you revise the highlighted parts by paraphrasing, writing in your own words, or adding citations.
Using plagiarism tools before submission is one of the easiest ways to stay safe.
9. Avoid Copying From Unreliable Websites
Many students copy directly from blogs, project sample sites, or Wikipedia. These sources often lead to high plagiarism because the content has been used by thousands of students.
Instead, use more credible sources such as:
- Google Scholar
- Government websites
- Academic journals
- Textbooks
- Institutional repositories
Example:
Instead of copying from a random blog on “Causes of Inflation,” you can read a journal article from the Central Bank or IMF website. Rewriting from academic materials supports originality.
10. Understand and Avoid Self-Plagiarism
Self-plagiarism happens when you reuse your previous assignments, essays, or research work without permission. Some universities forbid this because each submission must be new.
Example:
A student who submitted a term paper in 2022 and copies half of it into a new research project in 2024 is committing self-plagiarism.
To avoid this:
- Do not reuse paragraphs from old work
- If you must reuse anything, cite yourself or get approval
- Treat each new research as a fresh task
This keeps your work original.
11. Develop Original Arguments and Ideas
One of the best ways to reduce plagiarism is by forming your own viewpoint. When your work is based on your personal analysis, there is less need to copy others.
How to develop original ideas:
- Compare findings from different authors
- Ask questions such as “Why?”, “How?”, “What next?”
- Provide your own interpretation of data
- Suggest new solutions
- Share real-life examples from your environment
Example:
If your topic is “Factors Influencing Breastfeeding Practices in Nigeria,” you can:
- Add your own observation about cultural beliefs in your community
- Explain how working mothers face time constraints
- Discuss interviews you conducted
Original ideas significantly reduce plagiarism.
12. Use Multiple Sources Instead of One
Relying on a single source increases the chance of copying the same style and structure. Using 5–10 different sources allows you to combine ideas and rewrite them in your own way.
Example:
Instead of copying an entire paragraph from one article on global warming, you might do this:
Source 1 → mentions industrial pollution
Source 2 → emphasizes deforestation
Source 3 → highlights fossil fuel consumption
You can then summarize:
“Global warming arises from multiple human activities, including industrial emissions, large-scale tree cutting, and heavy dependence on fossil fuels.”
This sentence is original because it blends ideas.
13. Write From Your Understanding
When you understand your topic thoroughly, you naturally write original content. Copying usually happens when the writer does not understand the information.
Try these techniques:
- Explain the concept to yourself as if teaching a friend
- Summarize articles without looking at them
- Use simple vocabulary
- Break complex ideas into smaller parts
Example:
If you understand the menstrual cycle deeply, you can describe it in your own words rather than borrowing sentences from medical articles.
Understanding improves originality.
14. Organize Your Work With an Outline
A clear outline helps you structure your ideas without relying heavily on external wording.
Sample outline for a research topic:
Impact of Social Media on Students’ Academic Performance
- Introduction
- Statement of the problem
- Objectives
- Literature review
- Positive impacts
- Negative impacts
- Theories
- Methodology
- Findings
- Discussion
- Conclusion
When your outline is ready, you simply fill in your own explanations, reducing the urge to copy from sample projects.
15. Include Personal Examples, Case Studies, and Observations
Original content becomes natural when you add examples from your environment.
Example:
Instead of copying:
“Students spend excessive time on TikTok.”
You can write:
“In a small survey I conducted among 20 students in my department, 70% reported that they use TikTok for more than two hours daily, mostly for entertainment.”
This personalizes your work and removes plagiarism risk.
16. Summarize Information Instead of Copying
A summary presents only the key ideas from a source in your own wording.
Example:
If a 5-page article discusses types of renewable energy, you can summarize by writing:
“Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. Each of these options provides cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels.”
This is far more original than copying long paragraphs.
17. Use Your Methodology and Data
Research originality increases when you generate your own data.
You can reduce plagiarism by:
- Designing your own questionnaire
- Conducting interviews
- Observing real-life behaviors
- Collecting statistics
- Analyzing your findings
Your data is 100% yours—no plagiarism.
18. Practice Ethical Writing Habits
Consistent practice makes you better. Ethical writing means:
- Respecting intellectual property
- Never stealing ideas
- Properly crediting authors
- Reading widely
- Verifying information
- Being honest in your writing
This helps you produce clean, plagiarism-free work.
19. Rewrite AI-Generated Content Before Using
If you use AI tools for brainstorming, do not copy content directly.
Rewrite it in your own voice, check facts, and cite sources where necessary. This prevents plagiarism and improves quality.
20. Ask for Feedback
You can ask a supervisor, friend, or mentor to read your work and highlight unclear or copied parts. Sometimes another person sees what you missed.
Lastly, Plagiarism is a serious issue in academic writing, but it is completely avoidable once you adopt the right habits. The key strategies to reduce plagiarism include understanding what plagiarism means, starting early, paraphrasing properly, citing all sources, summarizing, using plagiarism checkers, developing your own ideas, and relying on multiple credible sources.
When you write from understanding, add personal examples, and follow ethical research practices, your work becomes original, credible, and academically sound. Research writing becomes easier, more enjoyable, and something you can confidently take pride in.
For Free Plagiarism check Click HERE