Plagiarism or inspiration?

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4.9K followers
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Since joining WA over a year ago (yes, time does fly at a scaringly fast speed!), I have been reading much on this platform about the danger of copying others' writing material and ideas on our website as well as for articles or ever for these blogs and training. So, what appears to be good practice?


Research

Searching and doing a good background work is vital to the job of publishing on our websites. At the end of the day, we are all here to learn and to share our learning through our websites. Doing that background prep work is therefore paramount in order for us to find out more about the subject of our interest, but also to ensure that, when we share with others, we attain to facts as much as possible. We want to build up a good reputation for ourselves as honest bloggers after all!


How to avoid Plagiarism

In relaying to information we have discovered and come across in the course of our research, we must all be careful not to just do virtually a 'copy and paste' job. We could be challenged legally and - what to me is even worse, if you will - our reputation would go in tatters.

Avoiding plagiarism is not too difficult after all.

  1. For starters, we must ensure that we relay information in our own words, and in a way that we understand things.
  2. If we really feel the need to quote somebody else's words, we are to ensure to mention who those words belong to - in other words, credit the author and his or her work.
  3. And finally, we can quote and add the link of websites we have gathered the information from, provided you weren't privy to that link through subscription. And before using pictures, get in touch with the author and ask permission to re-use their picture.

I am inspired!

How many times do you get stuck for ideas, or lack thereof? I do far too often for my likings. But hey, one of the best sources of inspiration for me are those posts that I casually come across sometimes when doing a bit of commenting session in the good 'pay it forward' spirit. And those are the most illuminating moments in my newly found career as bloggist - because they are unexpected.

Both through searching or casually coming across it, there is so much useful material out there, which can be used to our benefit as perfectly fitting and in tune with our niches. Not making the most of such treasures would mean missing out on opportunities. So, why not use such material to our own advantage?

So long as we know how to use this bottomless well of knowledge without falling into plagiarism, we can all benefit from each other's writing work and experience.


Giulia

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Recent Comments

36

Great post, and why it's so important to understand your own research in order to communicate your ideas in your own voice. This also gives the reader a more personal experience.

Sound advice.

Thanks Kaju. And apparently SEOs also pick up if you have just copied as opposed to elaborate the fruit of your own research in your own words. So, something more for us all to think about.

Great point!

Thanks for sharing and we need to be aware of this at all times.

Yes, getting inspiration is good, very good. But doing pure 'copy and paste' job is a definite no-no!

Thanks for sharing, this is very informative.

I'm glad you found it of help, Lori :)

Thanks for sharing

Welcome, Anthony!

Thanks for sharing, Giulia.

You are welcome Roger:)

Your approach is an inspiration itself, to many of us who sometimes lack creativity. Thanks, and best wishes for your continued success!

Wow Barry, thank you ever so much!!

I agree but a lot of us on here right reviews on the same product/subject so there will be cross over. I have recentlwritten reviews on binary option scams whic other bloggers have also written and they do look and read the same but we have not copied each other. However some me think we have!

It's inevitable, in my opinion, that we may cross over when all blogging and posting about the same subject of online business. However I would not call it copying as such, but rather gathering inspiration.

Great tips to avoid plagiarism. Thanks for sharing

You are most welcome Sondra :)

This is so very true, why even try to copy someone else's work??
If you write it should come from the heart or better yet do your research and put it into your OWN words.
Garland

As I lack creativity, searching and getting inspired is key to my work. But you are right, once you got the gist of the concept , there is nothing more rewarding than finding your content and you own words start ranking higher.

I agree. Avoiding plagiarism is key in the search for info.

Getting inspired is good and necessary - at least to some of us. But then you are right, writing in your own words is also necessary and more rewarding.

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