What is patchwork or style plagiarism?

Patchwork plagiarism, often referred to as "style plagiarism," is a form of plagiarism where an individual copies and pastes various phrases, sentences, or paragraphs from multiple sources to create a new piece of work. This type of plagiarism does not simply involve copying a single source verbatim; instead, it combines excerpts from different authors, often with minimal alteration or rephrasing. While the end result may appear original at a glance, it is essentially a compilation of other people's ideas and expressions without proper attribution.

This practice may occur when a writer lacks a strong understanding of the topic or struggles to articulate their own ideas, leading them to rely heavily on existing texts. It can be particularly insidious because it may not be immediately recognizable as plagiarism, especially if the writer attempts to superficially modify the sources used.

To avoid patchwork plagiarism, it is crucial to engage deeply with the source material, synthesize the information, and properly cite all sources used. Additionally, developing one’s own voice and understanding of the subject matter can help in creating original work.