Section 10.1

Using the Language of Your Source Appropriately

If you use the language of your source, quote the wording exactly. This is called a direct quotation. A direct quotation is either enclosed in quotation marks or indented on the page. If you omit part of the wording, use an ellipsis (three periods, four if necessaryfor punctuation to indicate the omission). In any case, several words in succession taken fromanother source constitute direct quotation and must be acknowledged. Indeed, a single word may constitute a direct quotation if it is a word closely identified with aparticular author.

A paraphrase employs source material by restating an idea in an entirely new form that is originalin both sentence structure and word choice. Taking the basic structure from a source andsubstituting a few words is an unacceptable paraphrase and may be construed as plagiarism. Creating a new sentence by merging the wording of two ormore sources is also plagiarism.

The following examples illustrate the differences between acceptable paraphrase and plagiarism.

Source Quotation

A grand unified theory has long been the holy grail of physicists. Since ancient times,physicists have sought minimalist explanations of nature. Theories with four basic particles areconsidered better than theories of ten.

--Alan Lightman, Ancient Light: Our Changing View of the Universe

Unacceptable Paraphrase

A grand unified theory has long been the central goal of scientists. Since the dawn oftime, men of science have looked for minimalist explanations of natural phenomena. A theory withfour elementary particles is considered better than a theory of ten.

In the preceding passage, the writer has merely substituted a few words of his or her own for wordsin the source. The structure and the overall wording of the sentences, however, are Lightman's. Since the writer has borrowed Lightman's words as well as his ideas, the acknowledgment ofLightman as a source does not prevent this passage from being plagiarism.

Unacceptable Paraphrase

Physicists have long had the grand unified theory as their holy grail. Science always triesto give minimalist explanations for natural phenomena. The best theory is the one with the fewestelements.

The structure of the individual sentences in the preceding passage is somewhat original, but theorder of sentences is clearly taken from Lightman. In addition, the writer has used several phrasestaken directly from the source, such as "minimalist explanations of nature." Borrowing such phraseswithout enclosing them in quotation marks makes the writer guilty of plagiarism.

Acceptable Paraphrase

Physicists have long sought a grand unified theory, since scientists have always preferredtheories with the fewest elements (Lightman 106).

This writer has reproduced much of the meaning of Lightman's passage but in a sentence that isoriginal in structure and word choice. The only major words and phrases taken from Lightman aregrand unified theory, theories, and physicists. Suchduplication is acceptable, since it would be cumbersome to find synonyms for these basic terms.

## Using Source Language Appropriately ##


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