Avoiding plagiarism
How to paraphrase, quote and cite effectively.
University writing is meant to be an expression of your ideas through the support of academic sources. Academic integrity requires that you clearly distinguish between what you are contributing and what comes from other authors.
This page gives an introduction to what counts as plagiarism, how to paraphrase effectively, how to integrate sources into your writing and how to use citation and AI tools responsibly.
Academic integrity and why it matters
Academic integrity is based on honesty, trust, respect, responsibility and fairness. At university, integrity applies to all evaluated work, including essays, exams, presentations, group work and the use of digital tools.
Concordia’s Academic Code of Conduct defines plagiarism as “the presentation of the work of another person as one’s own or without proper acknowledgment." It further explains that this applies whether the act is intentional or accidental. Using someone else’s ideas, structure, data, or phrasing without clear citation is considered plagiarism, even if the wording has been changed.
Academic offences can result in serious consequences, including a failing grade on the assignment, a permanent academic record notation, impacts on your CGPA, additional requirements, or expulsion for repeat offences. In group work, all members may be held responsible if one person commits an academic offence.
What counts as someone else’s work
You must cite a source when you use:
• Direct quotations
• Paraphrased ideas or interpretations
• Arguments or theoretical frameworks
• Statistics, data, charts, tables, or images
• Distinctive concepts developed by another author
You do not need to cite:
• Common knowledge, such as widely known historical dates or events
• Widely accepted terminology within a discipline
When in doubt, cite. In academic contexts, over-citation is far safer than under-citation.
Common types of plagiarism
- Direct plagiarism occurs when text is copied word for word without quotation marks and a citation.
- Paraphrasing plagiarism occurs when an author’s ideas are rewritten with minor word changes but without proper citation or with sentence structure that closely mirrors the original.
- Mosaic or patchwriting plagiarism occurs when phrases from a source are blended into your writing with small changes and no citation.
- Self-plagiarism occurs when you submit work you previously submitted for another course without permission from your professors and/or citation.
- Inaccurate citation occurs when a source is cited incorrectly or misleadingly.
- Unauthorized use of AI or online platforms can lead to an academic offence when tools are used without permission or disclosure, depending on course policies.
Using direct quotations
Direct quotations should be used sparingly and strategically. They are most useful when the wording is particularly precise, authoritative, or difficult to paraphrase. Excessive quotations weaken your argument and reduce the visibility of your own analysis.
When you do quote, reproduce the wording exactly, place it in quotation marks, and cite the source using the required citation style.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing means expressing an author’s idea entirely in your own words and sentence structure while preserving the original meaning. Changing a few words or rearranging the sentence is not sufficient. You must cite the source when you paraphrase.
Good paraphrasing involves:
- Reading the source carefully
- Setting the source aside
- Writing the idea from memory
- Checking for accuracy of ideas
- Checking for your own wording
- Quoting any distinctive phrases that remain
Original source
"Societies have long relied on recognized institutions such as universities, governments, and professional experts to decide what information can be trusted. These institutions acted as gatekeepers by controlling how knowledge was evaluated and circulated. With the growth of digital platforms, this gatekeeping role has weakened, allowing trust to be distributed across online communities rather than centralized authorities."
Martin, A. (2019). Trust and authority in the digital age. Journal of Social Knowledge, 12(2), 45–58.
Acceptable paraphrase
Martin (2019) suggests that trust in information was once shaped primarily by formal institutions that regulated how knowledge moved through society. As digital platforms have expanded, credibility is now negotiated within wider online networks instead of being controlled by a small number of authorities.
Why this is acceptable:
- The idea is fully expressed, not reworded
- The sentence structure and emphasis are different from the original
- Key terms are not copied or lightly modified
- The source is clearly acknowledged
Unacceptable paraphrase (mosaic plagiarism)
Societies have traditionally relied on institutions like universities and governments to decide what information is trustworthy, but digital platforms have weakened this gatekeeping role and shifted trust toward online communities (Martin, 2019).
Why this is plagiarism:
- Much of the original wording is reused with minor substitutions
- The sentence structure closely mirrors the source
- Even though the source is cited, the writing is not original
Once you have clearly introduced a source in a paragraph, you do not need to repeat the full citation in every sentence, as long as it remains clear that the ideas come from the same author.
Writers signal this through language such as:
• The author continues to argue…
• This analysis builds on the earlier claim…
• In the same study…
• According to this perspective, the author…
When you shift to a new source, signal the change clearly and cite again.
Using more than one source in a paragraph: Newer academic writers often rely on one source per paragraph. This is normal when learning to write at university level.
As you develop your writing, you are expected to use multiple sources to support a single point. This shows that you understand how scholars agree, disagree, or build on one another.
Strong paragraphs are organized around your idea, not around individual authors. Introduce the claim first, then use multiple sources as evidence, explaining how they relate to each other and to your argument.
Citation styles and consistency
Different disciplines use different citation styles:
- APA is common in the social sciences,
- MLA in humanities,
- Chicago in history,
- and IEEE in engineering.
Each style guide has helpful websites to keep you on track.
Always follow the style required by your professor and use it consistently for both in-text citations and reference lists. Cite only sources you have read and used.
AI and academic integrity
Some courses allow use of GenAI tools for brainstorming or outlining, grammar checks and citations. Others prohibit AI use entirely.
If AI tools are permitted and contribute ideas or wording, they must be acknowledged according to course guidelines. Using AI-generated content without permission or disclosure may be considered plagiarism or unauthorized assistance.
For more information about Generative AI use, consult GenAI QuickStart for Students.
Practical strategies to avoid plagiarism
- Start assignments early to reduce pressure
- Keep notes that clearly separate your ideas from source material
- Record full citation information while researching
- Review citation accuracy before submitting
- Ask for clarification if expectations are unclear
Final check before submitting
- Are all quotations clearly marked and cited?
- Are all paraphrased ideas credited?
- Is it always clear which ideas are not yours?
- Does the writing show your analysis rather than a collection of sources?
- Is the reference list complete and correctly formatted?