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Plagiarism is an issue that hangs over all scientists. It is essential to credit previous research and it is also important to not mis-state what researchers have previously discovered. Often, the best way to do this is to say it in the original author’s own words. But improperly managed, this is plagiarism. Particularly for scientists who don’t write English fluently, walking the line between plagiarism and mis-representation is a challenge.
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In my experience the best way to overcome this challenge is to describe previous research in your own words, no matter how clumsy this may seem at the beginning. Its almost a sure thing that you won’t be able to phrase it as well as the original author. But don’t worry about that at the beginning. As your paper works through the editing, proofreading and copyediting stages, this initial awkward wording will get improved. Try to find someone you can trust to edit your document, alerting them to passages with potential for either repeated phrases or need for clarification. It may take a few rounds of back-and-forth comments to get it right.
Rest assured. There are many ways to say the same thing in science. You do not have to repeat, word-for-word, the original authors’ passages. Often, restating them in your own terms will add clarity and context to previous findings. And trust the process. A good editor, an alert proofreader and trusted colleagues will help you refer to important, earlier research without having to resort to quotation marks or, worse, plagiarizing their work.
John @ ProofreadCanada