Three Basic Rules to Avoid Plagiarizing in APA

Rule 1: Properly Integrate and Cite Your Sources

There are three ways to integrate sources into your paper: direct quotation, paraphrasing, and summarizing. All require that you cite where you are getting your words/ideas.

1. In quoting, you use the exact same words as the source you are referencing. The other author’s words must be surrounded by quotation marks.
2. In paraphrasing, you restate a small portion of an author’s ideas (a paragraph or line) in your own words.
3. In summarizing, you abbreviate and restate a large portion of an author’s ideas (multiple pages) in your own words.

Rule 2: Always Document Your Sources Using the Proper Format

Your sources should be documented in two places:

1. In-text citation: the citation directly following your use of a source within the body of your paper
2. References page: the page following your conclusion containing all of your sources

Any source you choose to integrate must be cited as an in-text citation and in the references page. If a source appears in one place but not the other, it is considered plagiarized.

Rule 3: You Do Not Need to Cite Information That is Common Knowledge

See below for examples of knowledge and facts that are not necessary to cite.

Common Knowledge

• Dogs and cats are not the same.
• Nevada and California are part of the United States of America.

Easily Accessible, Non-Disputed Facts

• The Pacific Ocean lies off the Western Coast of the United States.
• Alexander Hamilton was born in the year 1757.