To avoid plagiarism, mark every foreign idea, every foreign wording and every foreign graphic, and do so while you read and take notes, not only at the end. A badly reworded passage without a source counts as plagiarism just as a copied passage does. Checking software compares your work with huge collections of texts, and many cases only come to light months after submission.
The Key Points in Brief
- Plagiarism means presenting foreign thoughts, wording or presentations as your own without a source. Intent is not required.
- A paraphrase also needs a source. Replacing words with synonyms is not enough.
- You may not quietly reuse your own earlier submitted texts (self-plagiarism).
- Your examination regulations and lecturers set the consequences and the rules for marking AI help. Ask before you submit.
- The safest approach is one in which every note carries its source from the start.
What Counts as Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is any adoption of foreign intellectual work that is not marked as such. This applies to texts, but also to outlines, chains of argument, data, figures and tables.
| Form | Example | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Verbatim copying | A paragraph from a specialist article appears in your paper without quotation marks. | Use quotation marks and name the source with the page number |
| Paraphrase without a source | You restate a book’s thesis in your own words but name no author. | Reference paraphrases of ideas as well |
| Structural plagiarism | You take over the outline and argument sequence of an article point by point. | Develop your own structure or disclose the borrowing |
| Translation plagiarism | You translate an English text and present it as your own. | Mark the translation and cite the original source |
| Self-plagiarism | Chapters of an earlier term paper appear unmarked in your bachelor’s thesis. | Clarify it with your supervisor in advance and mark the reuse |
| Image and data borrowing | A graphic is inserted without a source line. | Give the source under every foreign illustration |
What Is the Difference Between a Quotation and Plagiarism?
A quotation is foreign thinking with a source, and plagiarism is the same without one. There are two ways to quote correctly: the direct quotation in quotation marks, and the indirect quotation, that is, the paraphrase. Both need a source reference in the style your university requires.
The details of the references depend on your subject. You will find the rules in our article on how to cite correctly (in German). What is ultimately decisive is always the guidance sheet of your chair.
How Do You Avoid Plagiarism When Paraphrasing?
A clean paraphrase comes about when you have understood the idea, closed the source and written the result in your own sentence structure. The reference follows. Without it, even the most skilful rewording remains plagiarism.
An example for illustration. Suppose a (fictitious) textbook by Müller says: “Learners retain content better when they revisit it at intervals.” Too close to the original would be: “Students retain material better when they go over it at intervals.” Here only individual words were swapped. More independent is: “Material studied across several days stays in memory longer than material crammed in one go, according to Müller (2020, p. 15).” The statement is the same, but the structure and word choice are new, and the source is given.
- Read the passage in full before you summarise it.
- Write from memory or from bullet points, not sentence by sentence next to the original.
- Then compare with the source and check whether wording stays too close to the original.
- Place the reference directly after the paraphrase, not only at the end of the chapter.
What Is Self-Plagiarism?
Self-plagiarism occurs when you submit your own previously submitted or published texts again as new work. Examiners expect each piece of work to be a new, separate achievement.
You may build on your own earlier work, but you should disclose this and agree it beforehand. This applies in particular if you deepen a topic from your term paper (in German) later in your thesis. A short note in the text and a conversation with your supervisor are often enough.
How Does a Plagiarism Check Work?
Plagiarism software compares your text with websites, academic databases and previously submitted papers, and flags matches. The result is a similarity report, not a verdict. Whether a flagged passage is plagiarism is decided by people, namely the examiners.
Marked quotations, bibliography entries and fixed technical terms often produce harmless matches. Long passages without a source are critical. Some universities check every final thesis automatically, others only when there is suspicion. How this works for you is stated in the examination regulations or can be asked at the examinations office.
If you check your work yourself before submission, use the service of your university where one exists. Do not thoughtlessly upload your work to arbitrary online services, because there the text may be stored. The terms of use show what happens to your document.
What Are the Consequences of Plagiarism During Your Studies?
Depending on severity, the consequences range from a grade of 5.0 (fail) for the paper to exclusion from the examination procedure. How hard a university reacts is governed by its examination regulations. Scope, intent and whether it is a repeat offence all matter.
- Failed: The paper is treated as an attempt to deceive and graded “insufficient”. Depending on the regulations, this counts as a failed attempt.
- University procedure: In serious cases, exclusion from further examinations or removal from the student register is possible.
- Later consequences: If plagiarism comes to light only after the certificate has been issued, the degree may under some circumstances be withdrawn.
- Copyright: For published texts, possible civil claims by the authors may also arise.
This overview is general. In individual cases the examinations office or student advice service can help you, and for ongoing proceedings also the legal advice of the student union (Studierendenwerk) or the student committee (AStA).
How Do You Protect Yourself in Practice While Writing?
The most effective approach is a way of working in which plagiarism cannot arise in the first place. Most unintentional cases happen through incomplete notes, not through intent to deceive.
- Record the author, year, title and page immediately for every excerpt.
- Mark directly copied passages in your notes in colour or with quotation marks, so you do not later mistake them for your own wording.
- Use a reference manager such as Zotero or Citavi so that citations and the bibliography match.
- In every paragraph, make clear what is foreign and what is your own. A sentence such as “One could object that …” shows that your own assessment follows.
- Before submission, go through every page with the question: how do I know this?
For how this fits into a whole final thesis, see the guide to writing a bachelor’s thesis step by step (in German).
Does AI-Generated Text Count as Plagiarism?
Whether AI text counts as plagiarism depends on the rules of your university and the particular course. If you take over output from a language model and present it as your own achievement, this usually breaches the requirement that the work be done independently, even if no human author appears.
Many universities require you to disclose the use of AI, often in the declaration of independent work or in a separate section. Some prohibit it for certain tasks altogether. Ask in advance, and record the answer in writing. An overview of what is permitted with AI during studies (in German) is in our guide on the subject.
- AI tools sometimes invent sources. Check every reference against the original before you include it in your bibliography.
- Programs that are meant to recognise AI text give no reliable result. Do not rely on a text “getting through”.
- References a tool gives you do not replace reading the source.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much may I quote from one source?
There is no fixed percentage limit. Quotations should support your argument and not replace it. If larger parts of your work consist of quotations, it appears unindependent, even if every quotation is referenced. Prefer paraphrases and use direct quotations only where the exact wording matters.
Do I have to reference general knowledge?
Generally known facts found in every textbook usually do not need a reference. For figures, definitions, theses and data a reference is almost always right. When in doubt, reference one time too many rather than one time too few. Stricter requirements of your subject take precedence.
Is it plagiarism if I unintentionally forgot a reference?
A missing reference can count as plagiarism even without intent. For individual oversights, examiners often decide more leniently than for systematic copying. A clean bibliography and traceable references work in your favour. Do not rely on this, and work carefully from the start.
May I reuse my own term paper in my bachelor’s thesis?
Only after agreement and with marking. Unmarked reuse counts as self-plagiarism. Speak with your supervisor about whether you may build on earlier texts, and point out in the text which parts come from an earlier paper.
Here Is How to Proceed Now
- Read the examination regulations and your chair’s guidance on citation style, declaration of independence and AI use.
- Set up a reference manager before you read the first source.
- Record the source and page with every note, and mark direct quotations.
- Before submission, go through every page for missing references and check that all sources appear in the bibliography.
- Clarify uncertainties in good time with your supervisor or the examinations office, not on the day of submission.
Related Articles
- Writing a bachelor’s thesis: guide, timeline and tips (in German)
- AI in your studies: what is permitted and how to use tools properly (in German)
- Writing a term paper: structure, timeline and common mistakes (in German)
- Free learning resources on the internet (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
