NOTE: This brief explanation of plagiarism is taken from a very comprehensive website, www.plagiarism.org. It is one of the best resources on plagiarism we have found. We highly suggest that you visit this site for a comprehensive overview of what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
But can words and ideas really be stolen?
According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
All of the following are considered plagiarism:
Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience/ readers with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism. This is achieved by carefully following the research process, citing sources and documenting where your research is from. Information on how to do all of these things can be found in this manual.