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What is Plagiarism?

Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, BW, D, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, SW, VT, WT

Plagiarism occurs when someone adopts a thought, idea, or formulation from a text without marking it as a quotation and without crediting the original author. Here you will learn what plagiarism is, which rules may apply in case of an infringement, and how to avoid plagiarism in your academic work.

Contents

Definition

Plagiarism refers to the use of texts, ideas, or research results without proper citation. It is considered plagiarism even if you incorporate a thought or idea (so-called content plagiarism) or even a word-for-word formulation (so-called verbatim plagiarism) in an academic text without citing the authors (Commission “Self-Control in Science” of the University of Bayreuth, 2011, p. 14).

Consequences of plagiarism

Plagiarism can result in a failing grade. It does not matter whether the plagiarism was intentional or accidental.

“Always ensure, when using ideas and formulations, that you properly document the source of quotes and distinguish between verbatim and paraphrased content.”

– Ingo Palsherm

Most plagiarism happens unintentionally and unconsciously.

But: “Ignorance is no excuse!” So, work carefully from the very beginning!

See also the article Avoiding Plagiarism When Using AI Writing Tools.

Frequently asked questions

How can I avoid plagiarism?

When using ideas and formulations, make sure to record the authorship of the source and distinguish between verbatim and paraphrased content.

What do I need to cite?

You must always cite when adopting formulations or ideas from other texts. Basic knowledge in your own field does not need to be cited.

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Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, BW, D, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, SW, VT, WT

Contributors: Maria Noll, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode

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The Bibliography in the Social Sciences

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Sciences paper. General regulations The bibliography contains the complete bibliographic details of the sources cited in the text. The types of sources are not separated; instead, all sources are listed alphabetically in a single list. If you are unsure about the …

Faculties: SW

Contributors: Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Erika von Rautenfeld, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode

This article was published in August 2025 and last updated in March 2025.

Faculties: AC, AMP, AR, BI, BW, D, EFI, IN, MB/VS, SOH, SW, VT, WT

Contributors: Autorengruppe Leitfaden efi, Carola Gröhlich, Susanne Heidenreich, Maria Noll, Ingo Palsherm, Erika von Rautenfeld, Schreibzentrum, Dzifa Vode

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