What Is Plagiarism?
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism definition: To take or copy the work or ideas of another person and pretend they are your own.
For further information, see plagiarism.org.
What is Inspiration?
Inspiration definition: A sudden, clever idea inspired by an event, an observation, or just daydreaming.
For further information, see the Cambridge Dictionary website.
What is the difference between inspiration and plagiarism?
Well, if you’re searching for writing inspiration and you go and watch a Harry Potter movie and decide to write a story about a young wizard called Barry Cotter who is attending a school of magic with his friends Don and Harmony, that’s copying someone else’s ideas. That’s plagiarism.
If you watch the movie and think Robby Coltrane’s portrayal of Hagrid makes him look like a humongous badger, then you might start thinking about a planet called Spadge where gargantuan badgers wage war against baboons that shoot venom from their oh-so-colourful posteriors creating a world of desolation and perturbing aromas. That’s inspiration.
I should point out that inspiration does not always bring forth good ideas (see above as an example), but any ideas you do have should always be original.
Plagiarism Checkers
If you are unsure about anything you have written, or, for that matter, anything anyone has written, there are many online plagiarism checkers. These will also help you search out those who might have stolen your work and used it on their own websites without your permission.
Originality AI is a decent online plagiarism checker. The paid version is reasonably priced. Copyscape is another platform that has been around for a very long time.
The best plagiarism checkers are listed and reviewed at TechRadar, including Grammarly, Scribbr and Unicheck.
There are many others available online - just do a Google search.
If you think someone has stolen your words and you want to do something about it, you can learn a lot more from this very informative Plagiarism website. However, I must point out that I have no experience in dealing with plagiarism of my own work or ideas to date. Long may it stay that way 🙂
Voice of Russia plagiarism radio debate
Through writing this topic regarding the question "what is plagiarism?" I was invited by Voice of Russia (a radio station) to participate in a debate regarding plagiarism. At the time, Led Zeppelin were being sued for allegedly copying Randy California's riff when they wrote 'Stairway to Heaven'. The radio debate is all about music, but still very interesting for writers.
Unfortunately, the debate was removed from the Voice of Russia website. It was available as a podcast on Joe Bennett's website for a while (Joe appeared on the show with me) but I'm afraid it's been removed from there too. Sorry, I don't think it's available to listen to online anymore.
More Writing Advice
I hope you found this "what is plagiarism?" article helpful. You can find lots of other writing tips and advice in the Advice section of this website.
Sheogorath
...you clearly know what plagiarism is, and I'm glad you haven't let anyone feed you crap about it.
Sheogorath
In my honest opinion, plagiarism isn't using unoriginal ideas, it's using ideas unoriginally. For example, Labyrinth has a scene where the main character looks in a mirror, and by so doing, finds out that her experiences were real. I nicked that idea, but didn't commit plagiarism because I presented it in a completely different way.
Chris Fielden
Good point, Sheogorath. I agree - as long as you're inspired to create something original by seeing something else, it's fine. If you directly copy other people's ideas or words, that's plagiarism!
Sheogorath
Christopher Fielden said: "If you directly copy other people's ideas or words, that's plagiarism!"
Well, according to the dictionary definition of the word, plagiarism only occurs when you claim others' work as your own. So repurposing Hamlet's Soliloquy without even indicating the fact that you based what you wrote on a Public Domain work is plagiarism, but rewriting 'Interview With the Vampire' with full credit to the original author isn't. Expect to meet Anne Rice's attorneys in court as you're sued for copyright infringement in the latter case, though!
Chris Fielden
Lol!
Amanda C
I love the articles and the input you put into this work. I recently started my Freelance Career. This is excellent! Mands
Chris Fielden
Thanks Mands - best of luck with the new career 🙂
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