to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own to use (another's production) without crediting the source to commit literary theft to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.

 All of the following are considered plagiarism:
Turning in someone else's work as your own copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit.

Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks.

Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation.

Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit.

Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.

 
Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source is usually enough to prevent plagiarism.

If you would like additional information about plagiarism, you can visit Plagiarism.org or KidsHealth.org