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We are a globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Our goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.

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Purdue OWL® - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University

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We are a globally renowned resource that provides assistance with English to students, teachers, professionals, and organizations across the world. Our goal is to assist clients in their development as writers - no matter their skill level.

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Check out all of Shmoop's Youtube videos to assist with developing your paper or project

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This resource may assist you in creating citations for your paper or project

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Citation Machine®: Format & Generate - APA, MLA, & Chicago

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Citation Machine® helps students and professionals properly credit the information that they use. Cite sources in APA, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, and Harvard for free.

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How to Avoid Plagiarism: 5 Easy Methods | Grammarly

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Whether you're interviewing a subject matter expert or introducing key findings from a report, third-party sources can lend extra authority to your work. There's a difference, however, between weaving external sources into your writing for clout and misrepresenting the source's ideas or words as your own.

Here's why avoiding plagiarism is so important and how to avoid plagiarism in your work.

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Table of contents
What is plagiarism? Why should you avoid plagiarism?
5 ways to avoid plagiarism in your writing

What is plagiarism?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the verb to plagiarize means:
"to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source"
The inclusion of the word "steal" in this definition, includes instances when another's ideas or words are intentionally used without crediting the source. Even accidentally using another's ideas or words without proper citation, due to carelessness, falls under this definition since your work tries to "pass off" another's work as your own.

In our tech-forward culture, the simple act of copy-and-paste can seem harmless, but it has serious consequences in academic and professional settings.

Why should you avoid plagiarism?

At its core, plagiarism is an ethical issue. A writer who submits plagiarized work is committing theft with the hope of benefiting from that theft. This is true whether you're turning in a school paper to get an "A" or are a writer by trade expecting monetary compensation.

Avoiding plagiarism is paramount as a writer because it compromises your integrity. Aside from losing the respect of your mentors and peers, it could cost you valuable professional referrals and future career advancement. If you're still in school, plagiarism may result in lost financial aid or leadership roles.

Additionally, it takes credit or profit away from the original creator of the work which may mean more trouble if the source takes legal action against you.

Here's a tip: Grammarly offers a plagiarism checker that detects plagiarism in your text and checks for other writing issues.

5 ways to avoid plagiarism in your writing

Fortunately, it's not all scary. Avoiding plagiarism is actually easy to do now that you have a foundational understanding of what it is. To help you steer clear of this taboo, here's how to avoid plagiarism in your writing.

1 Cite your source

When alluding to an idea or wording that's not your own, add a citation in your writing that identifies the full name of the source, the date it was published, and any other citation element that's required by the style guide you're adhering to.

2 Include quotations

If you insert a source's words into your writing, verbatim, one of the most simple yet obvious ways to avoid plagiarism is by using quotation marks around the text to denote that the words aren't your own. A direct quote should also cite the source so that readers know who the quote is from.

3 Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is rewriting a source's ideas or information into your own words, without changing its meaning. But be careful-paraphrasing can slip into plagiarism if done incorrectly.

Successfully paraphrasing without plagiarizing involves a bit of a dance. Reword and format your writing in an original way, and try to avoid using too many similar words or phrases from the source. The key is to do so without altering the meaning of the idea itself. Remember, you're still using another's idea so you'll need to include a citation to the source.

4 Present your own idea

Instead of parroting the source's ideas or words, explore what you have to say about it. Ask yourself what unique perspective or point you can contribute in your writing that's entirely your own. Keep in mind that if you're alluding to a source's ideas or words to frame your own point, you'll still need to apply the guidelines above to avoid plagiarizing.

If you're writing on the same topic for multiple assignments, it can be tempting to recycle some of your previous words-this is called "self-plagiarism". The risk involved with self-plagiarism is just as high if the publisher or your instructor didn't give you permission to reuse your old work.

5 Use a plagiarism checker

While conducting your research on a topic, some phrases or sentences might stick with you so well that you inadvertently include them in your writing without a citation. When in doubt, using an online plagiarism checking tool can help you catch these issues before submitting your work.

Grammarly also offers a plagiarism checker that scans your text for borrowed content for free. These tools let you know whether or not parts of your writing are plagiarized-and some even highlight the specific words or sentences of concern and identify where the text originated from.

These suggestions can be helpful in avoiding plagiarism in your work and is worth the effort. In addition to being more aware of what constitutes plagiarism, figuring out how to avoid plagiarism ultimately takes daily practice.

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Whether you're interviewing a subject matter expert or introducing key findings from a report, third-party sources can lend extra authority to your work. There's a...

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When it comes to writing a research paper, it's crucial that you use credible sources to make sure that the information you are stating is actually true. Knowing the difference between credible sources and unreliable sources doesn't always come so easily with endless information flooding the internet. Thankfully, there are some simple tips that you can use to ensure that you are always using credible sources for research.

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that uses original research on a specific topic. There are many different types of research papers, ranging from a high school term paper to a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation.

How To Start A Search For Sources

1. Start simple

If you're wondering how to find sources for a research paper, the easiest and best way to start is simple! Just try browsing through some common search engines to see what you find.

2. Cross Wikipedia off

Wikipedia, although it's a massive pool of information, should always be avoided when writing a research paper since it allows the public to edit information. Sites such as these often run the risk of lacking accuracy, and is not one of the most credible sources for research.

3. Yes to scholarly databases

Scholarly databases are your best friend when it comes to finding credible sources for research. Online scholarly databases that can be trusted and are known to provide useful information for students include LexisNexis and EBSCO.

4. Newspapers and magazines

Although sometimes biased, newspapers and magazines can also be a great place to find information about current events.

5. The library

While the library seems to be the most obvious place to find information, somehow it's often forgotten when it comes to research in the modern age. Don't forget how useful it can truly be!

Types of Credible Sources for Research

1. What are some credible websites?

Many online sources do not necessarily contain information that is correct or has been checked. That's why it's of utmost importance to make sure that you're using the right websites for your research, with government and educational websites generally being the most reliable.

Credible sources for research include: science.gov, The World Factbook, US Census Bureau, UK Statistics, and Encyclopedia Britannica.

2. What are some credible journal articles?

When it comes to journal articles, determining how credible they are comes much easier than other sources. This is generally due to the fact that many of these websites will include valuable information such as how many times the article has been cited, and if its been peer reviewed.

Some great examples of reliable websites for journal articles include Google Scholar, Oxford Academic, Microsoft Academic, Cornell University Library, and SAGE Publishing.

If you are ever not sure how to find credible sources, then there's the CRAAP test, which takes into account the Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy and Purpose of the article. Take all of these factors into consideration before using a source and determining whether or not it's credible enough. Even if it takes more time, you'll be saving yourself tons of time in the long run by not using unreliable sources.

3. What are some credible news sources?

When it comes to news articles, more caution must be taken since it's hard to know which sources are truly reliable and unbiased. The CRAAP test is also useful in this type of article for research.

A few examples of credible news sources include The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Washington Post.

The Credibility of a Source

As you search for your research information, you will surely come across the question of how to find credible sources for a research paper. Here are some criteria to focus on to ensure that you only use the most credible of sources.

1. What's the depth of it?

Always look at the depth of an article, not just the written content. See how long the article is, and if it contains the necessary information such as an abstract, a reference list, and documented data.

2. Who is reading it?

When judging the credibility of an article, it's important to always ask yourself who the target audience of the article is. Sometimes, sources have a specific goal in mind and it can create certain biases.

3. What's the goal?

Just as you should do with the audience, also ask yourself what the article is trying to achieve. What is their ultimate goal and how are they persuading you of that?

4. Who wrote it?

Always ask yourself who wrote the article and how reputable they are in the specific field. Look at what other published works they have as well.

5. Can it be trusted?

Overall, it's key to ask yourself how reputable the source is. What kind of website is it published on? Look at the big picture.

6. Is it relevant to now?

Look at the date of the article, or about the specific things they are mentioning in the article. If it's from a few years ago, it's probably not too relevant to your current research.

7. Can it be proven?

While an article may sound incredibly convincing, many people have a way with words and persuasion. Stop and ask yourself whether or not what they are claiming can actually be proven.

How to Evaluate Source Credibility

By using unreliable sources in your research, it can discredit your status, which is why it's incredibly important to make sure that any information you are using is up-to-date and accurate.

Here's how to find credible sources.

1. What is a credible source?

Generally, materials that have been published within the past 10 years are considered to be credible sources for research. Another important factor to consider is the author - if they are well known and respected in their specific fields, that's also generally a sign that the article is credible. Educational and government-run websites (.gov, .edu) tend to also be a safe source to use, as well as academic databases. Google Scholar is also a no-fail source for reliable information.

2. What is a potentially unreliable source?

Anything that is out of date, meaning it's been published more than 10 years ago should be avoided. Materials published on social media platforms such as Facebook or personal blogs don't tend to be the most credible. Always make sure that an article contains proper citations and that the website you are using ends in .com or .org.

Free Resources For Learning

There are many free resources for research available known as open educational resources. They are licensed for free use, with the intention of teaching. They can be determined as credible sources for research if they have a Creative Common license, and if the author has proven to be an expert in their field. Always make sure that the content you are using contains no biases.

Sites For Scholarly Research

When performing scholarly research, it's extra important to make sure that your sources are credible. Government-run research is considered credible, but beware of any political sites.
University and educational websites also tend to be reliable, but still take everything you read with a grain of salt. Company websites also tend to be reliable, although their ultimate goal is usually to promote a product. Organizations which are .org websites can be professional and reliable, however, sometimes they also have their own interests.

Which Sites Can Be Relied On

The internet has no shortage of information out there. That's why you'll need these handy tips to determine which to use, and how to distinguish through the vast choices without feeling overwhelmed.

List of Credible Research Sources to Consider

1. Government Entities

These websites tend to be reliable since they are highly regulated. Examples include the CIA World Factbook and the United States Justice Statistics.

2. Research Think Tanks

Examples of reliable research think tanks include Rand Corporation, Pew Research Center and The Milken Institute.

3. Academic Libraries and Databases

ProQuest, Scopus, and Jstor are great examples of academic libraries and databases that can be trusted.

4. Professional Standards Organizations

The American Bar Association and The American Psychological Association (APA) are highly credible sources when it comes to professional standards.

How to Write a Research Paper: Step-by-Step

Now that you're an expert on finding credible sources for research, you're ready to go! But how do you even start to write a research paper? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

For starters, it's important to get clear instructions from your professor on what they want. The next step is to start brainstorming ideas for a topic of research. Once you've decided and feel confident about it, you're ready to create your outline and plan out the goal of your research paper.

Befriend your librarian and start to search for quality and credible sources through a variety of means. Make sure you understand your topic from top to bottom before you start writing. As you write, be sure to always keep things factual, and that you finalize your thesis statement throughout your paper - not just at the end. That's what's going to guide your writing. Be sure to always keep format in mind, never forget to cite your sources, and to never skip those edits and final checks.

Now you are ready to write a high-quality, fact-driven research paper that's sure to impress your professors.

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Tips to Find Credible Sources for Research: A Guide for Students

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How and where to find the most credible sources for research as a student.

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The world’s largest library. View historic photos, maps, books and more. Contact experts for help with research. Plan a visit. Home of U.S. Copyright Office.

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The Norfolk Public Library offers access to information, books, eBooks, programs, and online resources to meet the needs of our diverse community for life-long learning. The library system consists of one main library, ten branch libraries, one anchor branch library, and a Bookmobile. All programs are free of charge.