When paraphrasing, what is essential to avoid plagiarism?

When paraphrasing, what is essential to avoid plagiarism?

• A. Credit sources if required.
• B. Copy word-for-word with only minor changes.
• C. Omit citations if the idea is widely known.
• D. Paraphrase only when you disagree with the source.

Answer: (A)

Paraphrasing is restating someone else’s ideas in your own words, but that doesn’t make the idea yours. To avoid plagiarism, you must credit the source whenever the information or idea isn’t your own, following the required citation style or assignment guidelines. This attribution shows exactly where the idea came from and lets others verify the original, even when you’ve rewritten it. Copying with only minor changes is still someone else’s idea, so it requires a citation. Omitting citations for information that’s not universally known is risky and depends on the style guide, so it’s better to cite when in doubt. Paraphrasing isn’t tied to whether you disagree with the source; it’s about giving proper credit and presenting ideas honestly.

Paraphrasing is restating someone else’s ideas in your own words, but that doesn’t make the idea yours. To avoid plagiarism, you must credit the source whenever the information or idea isn’t your own, following the required citation style or assignment guidelines. This attribution shows exactly where the idea came from and lets others verify the original, even when you’ve rewritten it. Copying with only minor changes is still someone else’s idea, so it requires a citation. Omitting citations for information that’s not universally known is risky and depends on the style guide, so it’s better to cite when in doubt. Paraphrasing isn’t tied to whether you disagree with the source; it’s about giving proper credit and presenting ideas honestly.