Page 68 - English Grammar and Composition-Student Textbook short

Study Section 19: Plagiarism and Quotation Marks

19.1 Connect
As you will see below, these two topics are closely related. Giving someone credit for their
original thoughts and work is accomplished through quotation and citation (citation is addressed
in the next section). Stealing someone’s original work and passing it off as one’s own is called
plagiarism. In this age of copy/paste, it is easy to believe that if writing is available online, it must
be available for the taking. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, plagiarism can be
grounds for dismissal from any college or university.

19.2 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using another person’s work as your own and not giving them credit for it. This
includes all mediums such as books, magazines, scholarly publications, songs, emails, web pages,
movies, and even conversations. Using a person’s exact words will require quotation marks, an
internal citation, and a full citation at the end of your paper. Or if using a notes and bibliography
style, a quote must be followed by a raised number and notation at the bottom of the page with
a separate bibliography at the end of the paper. But even when summarizing or paraphrasing
someone’s work, the source must be given within the paper and in the works cited section. When a source is
not acknowledged with a proper citation, it is PLAGIARISM.

Plagiarism is taken very seriously at most academic institutions. Penalties for plagiarism can include failure of
a particular assignment, an entire course, or dismissal from a college or university.

19.3 Quotation marks
Quotation marks enclose exact words used by a source. Any punctuation that goes with the quote, such as a
full stop, should go inside the ending quotation marks. This includes the commas used to set the quote apart
from the rest of the sentence. A summary or paraphrase does not need quotation marks.

Example: “Sit here,” the usher said. (comma inside)

Don said, “Sit down.” (comma used to set off direct quote, period inside)
“Can we eat?” asked Don. (question mark inside)

Did you know that Don asked, “Can we eat”? (question mark outside)
Don asked if we can eat. (indirect quotation)

Use single quotation marks inside double quotation marks when there is a quotation inside another
quotation.

Example: The author states that, “Farmers often say ‘When rain comes late, it might as well
not come at all.’ “

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