What is Incremental Plagiarism? How Small Edits Can Lead to Big Issues

Incremental plagiarism is a subtle and often overlooked form of academic dishonesty that can have significant consequences.

Unlike direct plagiarism, where entire sections of text are copied verbatim, incremental plagiarism involves making small, superficial changes to someone else’s work and passing it off as original.

This can include paraphrasing sentences without proper citation, altering a few words while retaining the original structure or combining pieces of text from multiple sources without acknowledgment.

In this blog post, we will delve into what is incremental plagiarism, why it matters, and how to avoid it to maintain academic integrity and credibility.

Table Of Contents:

• What is Incremental Plagiarism?
• Incremental Plagiarism Examples
• Consequences of Incremental Plagiarism
• How to Avoid Incremental Plagiarism
• FAQs: What is Incremental Plagiarism?
• Conclusion

What is Incremental Plagiarism?

People often think of plagiarism as directly copying entire chunks of text.

Incremental plagiarism is like borrowing a sentence here or a phrase there and forgetting to give credit.

You might even change a few words, making you think it’s okay, but it’s not.

This seemingly minor oversight can have significant consequences, especially in academic and professional settings where originality and ethical conduct are paramount.

Types of Incremental Plagiarism

Let’s take a look at the different ways incremental plagiarism can show up in your work. These examples of plagiarism are important to know so you properly credit others’ work.

1. Direct Word-for-Word Copying

This is the most blatant form, where you lift phrases or sentences directly from the source without using quotation marks or citing the original author.

2. Paraphrasing Too Closely

While paraphrasing is encouraged, incremental plagiarism occurs when the reworded text still mirrors the source material’s structure and ideas too closely without attribution.

3. Small Changes

Incremental plagiarism Involves minor alterations to the original text such as substituting synonyms or rephrasing sentences.

4. Partial Borrowing

Incremental plagiarism often uses segments or phrases from the source material rather than whole sections.

5. Lack of Attribution

Although it is not always intentional, borrowing content and failing to give credit to the original author constitutes plagiarism.

How is Incremental Plagiarism Different from Other Types of Plagiarism?

Incremental plagiarism differs from other types of plagiarism in its subtlety and how content is borrowed. Here’s how it contrasts with other forms:

Incremental plagiarism is distinct from direct plagiarism, which involves copying text verbatim from a source without any changes or attribution. In direct plagiarism, there is no effort to disguise the borrowed material, making it easier to identify. In contrast, incremental plagiarism involves making slight alterations to the text, such as substituting synonyms or rephrasing sentences, which can make the borrowed material less noticeable.

Self-plagiarism, another form of academic dishonesty, involves reusing one’s own previously published work or parts of it without acknowledging that it has been used before. This differs from incremental plagiarism, which concerns the work of others.

Mosaic plagiarism, or patchwriting, mixes phrases and ideas from various sources with one’s own writing, often without proper credit. This form of plagiarism may involve more extensive borrowing from multiple sources. Incremental plagiarism, on the other hand, typically involves smaller, less noticeable changes to text borrowed from a single or a few sources, making it a more covert form of plagiarism.

Paraphrasing plagiarism occurs when someone paraphrases another person’s work without proper attribution. While this can be seen as a subset of incremental plagiarism, incremental plagiarism also includes slightly modified direct quotes and other small, uncredited borrowings. Both forms involve using someone else’s ideas without giving due credit, but incremental plagiarism encompasses a broader range of subtle borrowing techniques.

Accidental plagiarism results from unintentional failure to cite sources properly, often due to lack of knowledge or careless note-taking. It differs from incremental plagiarism, which involves a conscious effort to obscure the original source by making minor changes. Accidental plagiarism is due to negligence, whereas incremental plagiarism is a deliberate attempt to pass off someone else’s work as one’s own.

Incremental Plagiarism Examples

There are several instances in which public figures faced accusations of plagiarism.

One case involved Melania Trump’s speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Portions were eerily similar to Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention address.

Another controversy surrounded singer Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse,” with accusations that it borrowed elements from Marcus Gray’s “Joyful Noise.”

While those were high-profile cases, incremental plagiarism can occur in countless ways.

For example, imagine a student including a statistic in their paper without citing the journal article they found it in.

Or, a blogger paraphrasing a news report’s key findings without crediting the New York Times journalist.

Consequences of Incremental Plagiarism

The consequences of incremental plagiarism can be as serious as those for more blatant forms of plagiarism.

Some of the repercussions can include:

• Damaged Reputation: In academia or your profession, your reputation is built on trust and integrity. Being associated with plagiarism can seriously harm your credibility, potentially impacting future opportunities. For students, academic achievements are very important and plagiarism can negatively affect that.
• Academic Penalties: In schools and universities, the consequences of plagiarism can range from a failing grade on the assignment to expulsion. Educational institutions take academic integrity seriously, and incremental plagiarism is no exception.
• Legal Repercussions: Copyright infringement is a serious issue, and if you’re caught using someone else’s work without permission, you could be sued, facing hefty fines. It’s never worth the risk.

How to Avoid Incremental Plagiarism

Knowing how to attribute sources is key to avoiding plagiarism. A little diligence goes a long way. Here’s how to steer clear of incremental plagiarism:

1. Record All Your Sources

Think of note-taking as building a solid foundation for your writing. When researching, keep detailed notes of all the sources you consult. Record direct quotes, paraphrases, and even your own thoughts to avoid confusion later. Be sure to note which ideas are yours and which are from other sources.

2. Embrace Citation Tools

Citation management tools are life-savers when it comes to organizing references, ensuring consistency with different citation styles, and generating bibliographies effortlessly. Zotero and Mendeley are great free options, while EndNote is popular in academic settings. These tools can help you create proper citations.

3. Develop Strong Paraphrasing Skills

Don’t let the fear of plagiarism keep you from paraphrasing. Understand the material fully, then rephrase the author’s ideas in your own words. Change the sentence structure and vocabulary while maintaining the original meaning. Remember, a proper citation is still necessary.

4. Plagiarism Checkers: Your Second Set of Eyes

Plagiarism checkers shouldn’t be your only line of defense, but they can be really handy. Tools like BrandWell spot potential duplicates and flag passages that resemble existing online content.

Here’s an example of a BrandWell analysis report after running a plagiarism scan:

Not only will you see which parts are plagiarized (in red and pink highlights) but the report also indicates which ones are identical, similar, and unique.

FAQs: What is Incremental Plagiarism?

What is an example of incremental plagiarism?

Imagine a student using a unique statistic from a scientific study in their research paper without citing the source because they’ve rewritten the surrounding text in their own words.

Or, consider a sports journalist who paraphrases ideas from another writer without giving them credit.

What is incremental plagiarism in public speaking?

Let’s say someone incorporates a powerful quote from a business leader into their presentation without attributing it, hoping to impress the audience. That would qualify as incremental plagiarism. The same rules for written content apply to the spoken word.

What is the difference between global patchwork and incremental plagiarism?

Think of global patchwork plagiarism as creating a Frankenstein’s monster of text. It involves stitching together large sections of copied content from multiple sources with minimal original writing.

Incremental plagiarism, on the other hand, uses smaller bits of unattributed information interwoven with the writer’s own ideas.

Is incremental plagiarism unethical?

Absolutely. Even if unintentional, failing to properly credit someone else’s intellectual work is a violation of ethical writing and research practices. You must always give credit to the original author.

Conclusion

Incremental plagiarism is more than just copying and pasting – it’s about understanding how easily uncredited information can slip into your work.

You should also understand the ethical and professional ramifications that come with it.

By practicing meticulous note-taking, mastering different types of citations, honing those paraphrasing skills, and maybe even enlisting the help of plagiarism-detection software, you can ensure that your work is both original and ethically sound.