A plagiarism checker uses smart software to look for matches between your writing and other texts. Schools use them to check student assignments. You can also use paid services to review your work before you hand it in.
These tools go through online content and index it. They compare your writing to a database of what’s already out there. They point out exact matches using keyword analysis. Some can even spot when the text is changed a bit but still similar.
When you use a checker, it gives you a percentage of plagiarism, shows you where it happens, and lists the sources. You can see how the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker works below.
Differences between plagiarism checkers
Most plagiarism checkers work in a similar way, but they have differences that influence what types of plagiarism they can find.
To assist in selecting the right tool, we did thorough research to find the top plagiarism checkers of 2022. You can also learn about the main differences between these checkers below.
Database size
Not all plagiarism checkers use the same database. This causes big differences in results.
Free plagiarism checkers usually have smaller databases. This leads to them missing many matches, especially with content not easily found online. The best plagiarism checkers use larger databases, which helps them find more matches.
Scribbr’s plagiarism checker, even the free version, accesses a large database. It includes web sources, scientific publications, scholarly journals, and books.
Quality of scanning
Scanning software quality can really differ. Many free tools only catch exact copies. If you paraphrase too closely or miss a citation, they might not notice.
Top-notch plagiarism tools use “fingerprinting” to spot paraphrased or changed text.
These tools scan parts of sentences, looking for similar structures. Like fingerprints, each part of your text should be unique, not matching others. If there are matches, these tools can find them.
What plagiarism checkers can’t identify
While plagiarism detectors keep getting better, they still miss some things.
Ideas and non-text plagiarism
Plagiarism detectors often find it hard to spot copied ideas if they’ve been fully reworded or translated. They also aren’t equipped to handle plagiarism involving images or other non-text elements.
Copying translated texts, concepts, images, or non-text content remains an issue and carries the same penalties as more obvious forms of plagiarism.
Text from internal databases
Educational institutions typically have their own databases filled with work from past and present students, besides using standard plagiarism checkers. These databases are generally private and not available to outside parties. This means that if you copy from another student, only your school might catch it, not commercial checkers.
Sometimes, schools share their databases with other schools to better spot plagiarism and other dishonest academic practices. Using your own past work or a friend’s paper as your own still counts as plagiarism, with the same penalties.
If you’re worried about unintentionally copying from private documents or papers not online, like an old paper or a friend’s thesis, Scribbr’s Self-Plagiarism Checker can be useful. This tool lets you check documents that might be in your school’s database but not online.
Frequently asked questions about plagiarism
How is plagiarism detected?
Copying someone else’s work is something your teacher or readers might notice, especially if your writing style or format changes in different sections. They might also recognize the original source.
Colleges often use special software that checks your writing against a huge collection of other works, looking for any matches.
Sometimes, you might copy by accident without realizing it. It’s a good idea to use a tool to check for copying before you turn in your work, just to make sure you didn’t forget to give credit.
Are plagiarism checkers accurate?
The reliability of plagiarism checkers varies. According to our detailed research, Scribbr stands out as the most reliable. Many free tools either miss instances of plagiarism or incorrectly mark text as plagiarized.
These checkers operate by employing sophisticated database software to find similarities between your text and other writings. Their accuracy hinges on two elements: the algorithm’s ability to spot plagiarism and the size of the database used for comparison.
What is an acceptable percentage of plagiarism?
Your work must be free from plagiarism. If even 1% matches something else, you should check each match and see if changes are needed.
Many think plagiarism checkers find plagiarism, but they actually spot similarities. Not all similarities mean plagiarism. Some examples of similarities are:
– Quotes with proper citations
– In-text citations or entries in your reference list
– Phrases that are commonly used
Should I check my paper for plagiarism before submitting it to my instructor?
If you’ve listed all your sources correctly, you might not need a plagiarism checker before giving your paper to your teacher. But, it’s easy to plagiarize by mistake, even if you’re really careful. To make sure you didn’t miss citing anything, it’s a good idea to use a plagiarism checker on your own.
A plagiarism checker scans your writing against other texts using special software to find matches.
To help you pick a checker, we did a detailed study comparing popular ones to see which is best.
What plagiarism and AI detection software does Scribbr use?
Scribbr employs cutting-edge plagiarism detection technology akin to what universities and publishers use, guaranteeing you get results that are the same or nearly identical.
Scribbr’s unique software powers an AI detector add-on. It can accurately spot texts made by ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other AI generation tools.