Questions tagged [plagiarism]
Plagiarism is the use of the ideas and words of another passed off as one's own. Issues here include similarity of work, theme, and characters. Plagiarism is not always a crime, but in academia and industry it is seen as a serious ethical offence. Cases of plagiarism can also constitute copyright ...
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In literary fiction, when does allusion, pastiche or intertextuality cross over into plagiarism?
I want to write a novella that to some degree translates Conrad's Heart of Darkness to a modern urban setting, and I want the astute reader to be able to make multiple connections between the two ...
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How can I make ithenticate identify θ-continuous as a single word?
I have a problem with the similarity index of one of my works since the plagiarism detector "Ithenticate" identify θ-continuous as continuous. In my university, all that matter is the similarity index ...
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110 views
I have a retracted article for ethical misconduct, this means my career is over? [closed]
When I was in my first year of M.SC. A professor told me to work on a project that the main data were belong to him. He had sent me a early draft and told me to translate it to english so I did along ...
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1answer
109 views
What is legal and illegal in writing? [closed]
I am planning to write a book in my mother tongue (so excuse my bad grammar). It's in "Business and Management"
So, while I was reading books for my references, I found a well organized book. I took ...
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8answers
2k views
How do I know which elements I can use from the work which orginally inspired me?
I recently read the Blood on the Stars series by Jay Allan and really enjoyed the idea of a post-Golden Age human civilization that has splintered into factions and is now at war with itself.
I ...
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2answers
130 views
On copyright infringement and plagiarism
So, I'm writing a novella about this guy named Peter, who is an actor living in LA. In the fall, he comes back to his hometown, a small town in New Jersey, after a gap of three years. He has a large ...
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2answers
55 views
What are the copyright laws and permission requirements for a teacher using a student's work as an example?
If a teacher makes a writing assignment for students (some would be minors), can the teacher use those writings as examples in the future?
The teacher would examine the writings and provide analysis ...
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1answer
102 views
Can a story be considered plagarism even though its in a different world
If there are two works with the same character name and family type can it be considered a plagiarized work even though the plot is different? One work is about two brothers raised by their father to ...
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1answer
69 views
Can I copy images from published books and use in my paper?
When it comes to citing text from someone else's work, the rule is to provide a proper citation and source. Once you do that, you're off the hook. But when it comes to copying images it seems to be ...
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4answers
220 views
If I unnofficially create a theory and use it in my story, will it have any validity that I'm the author of such theory?
I have some theories that I've contrived, some are philosophical, others are logical or physical, and some are just jokes about life told in a theory format. But I'd like to use some of these theories ...
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3answers
176 views
If I write a scene almost exactly like in someone's photograph, would it be plagiarism?
I have a story which has a scene inspired by a photograph. When I saw that picture, I liked the fact that the person in it matches perfectly a character from my story, and I liked the idea of putting ...
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1answer
92 views
What is the correct way to cite a paraphrase of another source?
I am trying to cite a paper that paraphrases a quote from another paper by the same authors. However, 1) it is unclear where the paraphrase starts, and 2) they have not yet published the second paper. ...
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1answer
57 views
Are About pages copyright?
I am creating a website that serves as a directory of companies within a niche industry. In my site I would like to provide info on each of the companies and was wondering if it was ok for me to use ...
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1answer
19 views
Which citation format do I use when multiple style options apply to the same source?
I want to cite the following pdf in Turabian style, but I have no idea how to cite it because it is technically multiple things at once. It looks like a paper, but its extension is a pdf, and its ...
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1answer
107 views
Can I reference an excerpt someone else created of a particular book?
I'm trying to reference data from this particular book. However, it's an old book, so there isn't an e-book version available for me to purchase, and the price is quite high. I only need to cite one ...
7
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1answer
63 views
How to use a quote with frequent changes
I am editing a manuscript in which the author frequently wants to change words within a fairly long quote (two sentences or more), and believes that if he does so he no longer needs to put the rest of ...
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1answer
70 views
copyright infringement
I have an idea that follows the story line of another story. The plot device is similar, but the setting, context, majority of characters (with the exception of maybe two or three), and outcomes are ...
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1answer
67 views
Rewriting a blog post, passing a plagiarism checker as 100% unique, do I still need to cite my source if I want to post it on my own blog?
After rewriting someone else's blog post and passing a plagiarism checker as 100% unique, do I still need to cite my source if I want to post it on my own blog?
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2answers
50 views
Copying Certain Information From A Official Website
Hey Guys I was researching on a assignment I have to submit to my university. When i was about to copy certain information i went under the "Terms of Use" seeing if i could copy the said information ...
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5answers
137 views
How similar can I make fictional and real cultures?
If I use certain elements of a culture or language, how different should they be compared to the original? How different should the language used to reference those elements be?
Examples:
Can I use ...
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4answers
114 views
Publishing old school assignments - self-plagarism?
I wrote a short story as an English major work whilst at high school, one that was part of my final testing for graduating so it was submitted to the Government of Education.
If I wanted to rework ...
6
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1answer
75 views
What's the best way to cite non-fiction in fiction?
I'm reading a (proposed) novel for a friend, and they've used large chunks (as in, full paragraphs verbatim) from online sources within their text, usually sourcing from encyclopedias. The way they've ...
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1answer
49 views
How to navigate potential self-plagiarism when using different online and professional personas?
I have a decently big online following (~40,000). This includes a blog, YouTube channel, Etsy, and other social media. My biggest thing is writing articles and blog posts, among some other content ...
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8answers
296 views
Would employing the use of philosophical ideas in fiction without citing the sources be considered plagiarism?
I am working on a fictional book which would be similar to that of Winnie-the-Pooh in terms of its format and ability to be read, but I want there to be philosophical meaning to what goes on in the ...
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4answers
303 views
How do we draw the line between plagiarism and allusion?
It’s no secret that in literature we see characters that remind us of other characters. Furthermore, it’s no secret we see plots that remind us of other plots.
For example, an author reads Book A and ...
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4answers
357 views
Is it plagiarism to adapt a known figure into a fictional charcter?
What if I decide to write a story with a character based off a historical figure but under a different name?
For example:
(1) I write a story with a hero named Tom, who is a political figure.
(2) ...
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2answers
130 views
Can I use names of characters and groups that other authors/creators have used already?
After I began writing my series, I decided to type some of the names into Google. I found that the name of one my characters (Trent Steele) was used in an episode of The Simpsons. I also found that a ...
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1answer
60 views
MLA: How to cite academic summaries
When writing long academic summaries, like 2 or more pages long, how should we acknowledge the sources in MLA format?
Should it be as in the example below?
Original
Buffy, a small, delicate-looking ...
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1answer
396 views
MLA: Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism in Essay Writing
I have a couple of questions about how to correctly cite sources in order to avoid unintentional plagiarism.
First, let me give you an example of a paragraph I was reading the other day as part of a ...
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3answers
88 views
How to secure my writing work from getting stolen or copying before publishing?
I'm a newbie in the field of writing. After writing a book, I need to visit number of publishers for publishing it. So, how to secure my writing work from getting stolen or copying before publishing? ...
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4answers
126 views
How do I keep from plagiarizing others?
I would like to start writing blog articles online as a guest writer. Most blogs have guidelines that have to be loosely followed; like what the niche should be, if it needs to be a list, and a bunch ...
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0answers
73 views
How to deal with cryptomnesia (falsely recalling generating a thought or idea)? [duplicate]
Paul McCartney, upon composing the melody for "Yesterday", felt certain that it was too good to be original, and that he must have heard it before and just couldn't remember it:
McCartney composed ...
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4answers
699 views
Should I worry that my storyline is very similar to another?
I've written a story about anthropomorphic animals in a noirish setting solving murders. I came up with the concept and wrote the first draft about a year ago and am planning on releasing it soon. ...
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3answers
247 views
Is it plagiarism to use something from a nonfiction work and put it into fiction?
I was reading about this Japanese dance style written by a man who taught it. He said that the style was uniquely Japanese and few outsiders could really dance in the style properly. He said that he ...
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6answers
4k views
Is translating into another language plagiarism?
I'm currently writing my Masters thesis in English.
If I take some (small) German text snippets from some papers (I'm German-speaking) and just translate them into English, would this be plagiarism?
...
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3answers
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When does satire (parody) become plagiarism?
Stephen Fry wrote a novel called The Stars’ Tennis Balls, and claimed that only afterwards did he realize he’d rewritten The Count of Monte Cristo.
Fry’s novel is set in modern-day England; Dumas’s ...
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4answers
227 views
What is the best way to avoid plagiarism when importing information from a source?
I have been a habitual writer since my childhood but recently planned to move on to the next level and use my skills professionally. From last 7-8 months I am trying for small internships (paid /non ...
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4answers
3k views
How to assemble recipes without plagiarism?
How does one collect and compile recipes for publication in an ethical way?
Some cohorts want me to help build a website of culinary recipes, and their plan for content is to rely entirely (initially ...
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2answers
137 views
I want to name a character something but j feel like people would say I'm copying Veronica Roth, my favorite author. What should I do?
I have a problem.
I want to name a character (the main character's romantic interest) Tobias, but I feel like people would associate him with Tobias Eaton from Divergent, knowing how much I love that ...
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1answer
654 views
How much can I copy before it is considered plagiarism? [duplicate]
How many words may I copy from someone's work before I have to begin paraphrasing it?
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2answers
213 views
Do I have to pay royalties when I use research information?
I'm in the process of writing my very first book and I'd like to use the internet for research information. However, I don't want to do anything wrong. I realize I need to list the source of my info ...
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5answers
548 views
Unofficial Fan Fictions - How can I Secure Them?
For a long time now, I have been writing fan fictions based off of the storyline of a board game. I have posted these fan fictions on a website dedicated to the same board game. I am not the only ...
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2answers
931 views
Using species from another novel, in my novel, copyright infringment?
I would like to start a novel, but it would include Fantasy species such as Dwarves and Elves, etc. I got this idea after reading several of Tolkien's novels. If I write this novel it would have ...
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3answers
228 views
How can I trust that the proofreader and designer of a book will not plagiarize our work?
My friend and I are writing a book in English in the Electrical Engineering field. At this stage, we need someone to proofread our texts and also to design the layout of the book, so we will need to ...
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3answers
379 views
How much is considered plagiarism?
I'm aware that some fictional work is loosely based on others, consciously or not. For instance, Lord of the Rings has some common elements with the Saga of Nibelung from the old Norse traditions.
...
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1answer
178 views
Is it plagiarism if you use the same, or similar expression with different meanings or contexts?
Some years ago, I wrote "alternative lyrics to the song, "Laura." It basically diverged from the original except for the third and fourth lines:
(Original lyrics)
A laugh, that floats on a summer ...
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3answers
119 views
Are there any “quantitative” (computer) programs that measure plagiarism?
An example might be the following: "Romeo, wherefore art thou Romo?" from the classic Shakespeare play. Suppose I changed it slightly to "Roberto, why are you Roberto?"
Is there a computer program ...
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2answers
221 views
How much copying is okay?
I have an idea for a story, but I realize that many of the idea's elements are similar to another story out there. (The attire of the main character, fighting style and structure of some social groups,...
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3answers
1k views
I'm afraid of [accidental] plagiarism
I've recently written a screenplay about an alien invasion. A friend immediately commented that he found similarities (some general ideas, plot devices) with Half-Life 2: Ep 2, which I haven't even ...
4
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4answers
2k views
What is the best way to use your favorite authors as inspiration without plagiarism?
I am a big fan of certain authors' writing styles and stories and I am convinced that when I sit down to start writing my first book, I'm bound to copy an idea or theme from an author. How do I create ...
