Rewriting vs Plagiarism: Changing Words Is Not the Whole Test
Understand why paraphrasing or rewriting does not automatically eliminate plagiarism, attribution or source-use concerns.
Plagiarism is about presenting another person's ideas or expression as your own without appropriate acknowledgment. Merely changing wording does not automatically resolve that problem.
Ask three questions
- Do you have the right to use the source material?
- Are ideas, data or distinctive analysis properly attributed where needed?
- Does your version add its own legitimate contribution rather than disguise copying?
Automated rewriting is a text transformation, not a permission or attribution system.