How to Avoid Plagiarism Lyrics
Although the idea of plagiarism seems straightforward, some situations may be confusing. So, this guide is meant to be a tool to help all users avoid plagiarizing.
How do I use another user's work?
Let's say a remix of a song releases and all of the annotations need to be transferred to the remix, communication is always key to avoid situations of plagiarism. Since annotations show who wrote them, always use private messages to reach out to the annotation writer (with the most credit) first to invite them to duplicate their work. If they don't respond within 24 hours, add the information yourself, and tag the user in the suggestions to ask them if they want to claim their work:
If you simply want to borrow an idea from an annotation, and the idea is well-known, there is no need to message the user. For example, almost everyone is aware that Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs, so there is no need to give a user a heads up that you're going to use that type of information.
How do I use information that I found on the web?
When you've found well-written information, it can be tempting to straight-up copy and paste full sentences. However, you should always use your own words. Nevertheless, sometimes using the same exact words cannot be avoided, and when the content is specialized, it can be better to keep the original wording, so as not to distort the information. In these cases, you should properly cite the original writer. For instance, you can use phrases like, "As ... points out/According to ... /etc" + quotation marks.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, obsessive-compulsive disorder is a "common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over."
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