Plagiarism, in plain words, is to present someone else’s idea or work as one’s own. It can have some serious repercussions and should therefore be avoided at all costs.
There are several instances of not just common people but even celebrities losing their credibility over plagiarism. Copying someone’s work on the pretext of getting inspiration can also be considered plagiarism.
Consequences of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a punishable offense, and how bad the punishment for it will be usually depends on the extent of plagiarism. Whether someone is a student, a researcher, a scientist, or a writer, plagiarism can have the following repercussions.
1. Leads to Rework
Depending on the extent of plagiarism, a plagiarizer may be asked to rework and resubmit their assignment or paper. In some cases, they may have to work on a new topic altogether, which can prove to be taxing since they will have to start from scratch. Besides, the revised submission will be graded strictly on account of previously plagiarized work. In some cases, the plagiarized assignment or paper may be completely rejected, which could lead to the student failing the term. In a professional setting, the plagiarizer could lose their job or be denied a promotion.
2. Results in Grade Reduction
Being caught plagiarizing can have serious implications, especially for students. In rare cases, they may be let off with a warning. However, more often than not, plagiarism results in grade reduction, which can reflect poorly on the student’s academic record. There could also be a possibility of deduction of points from the revised submission as a disciplinary sanction to deter students from plagiarizing. The decision regarding the appropriate punishment, however, is usually left to the concerned faculty. In some cases, an honor council or committee may be appointed to conduct a hearing and decide whether or not a plagiarizer is guilty of plagiarism. Such committees are also a norm when it comes to dealing with plagiarism in the professional world.
3. Leads to Expulsion
Disciplinary sanctions for plagiarism vary from one place to another. While some universities or organizations exercise lenience, most have very strict rules when it comes to tackling plagiarism. Some even go to the extent of failing the student or, worse, expelling them from college for plagiarizing. There are also examples of people losing their jobs owing to plagiarism.
4. Affects Credibility
Plagiarizing can destroy a person’s credibility and can have a long-term negative impact on a person’s life. When a person is caught plagiarizing, it can cause them public embarrassment, which could further impact their mental health and overall wellbeing. Losing credibility can also make it difficult for a student to get admission into a college or for a professional to find a position in a new organization.
5. Impedes Progress
Although plagiarism seems like a convenient shortcut, it isn’t helpful because it denies individuals the chance to learn something about a topic or a subject. Since plagiarism involves passing off someone else’s work as one’s own, the plagiarizer hardly does any in-depth research. As a result, there won’t be any real learning or upskilling, which in turn could impede progress.
6. Destroys Reputation
Since plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty, questions may arise on the plagiarizer’s lack of integrity and personal values, destroying their reputation. Ruined reputation and consequent ostracizing can further hamper the person’s mental health as well. Besides destruction of the plagiarizer’s reputation, plagiarism also affects the educational or business establishment’s reputation, which could further damage their brand image.
7. Ruins Relationships
Because plagiarism is a form of cheating, people may find it hard to trust plagiarizers. Plagiarism and consequent expulsion can also cause domestic discord, which can be stressful for the family of those guilty of plagiarism. The family could also suffer from humiliation, which can further sour relationships.
8. Jeopardizes Future
Getting admission to a new college or finding a new job can prove to be challenging for plagiarizers. Since colleges and organizations conduct thorough background checks, they could reject the plagiarizer’s candidacy on finding out that they were previously expelled due to dishonesty. Plagiarism could become a permanent blot on their character, ruining their chances of having a good, secure future.
9. Causes Legal Repercussions
If an entity copies content that has been copyrighted, they can be sued by the original author(s). And although plagiarism isn’t considered a crime by itself, criminal charges can be levied against plagiarizers for copyright infringement. Also, since legal tussles could have financial implications too, one would be better off avoiding plagiarism altogether.
Plagiarism can affect an individual not just on a personal level, but also on a professional one. It is, therefore, necessary to have clear knowledge about what constitutes plagiarism and what doesn’t. Also, the availability of numerous plagiarism detection tools on the internet today has made it easier to track plagiarism. So, in case there is any unintentional plagiarism, using such tools can help individuals avoid plagiarism and its consequences.
