Introduction
Plagiarism is one of the most feared words in a PhD scholar’s journey. Especially in India, where universities now require Turnitin or Urkund reports at the time of submission, scholars feel pressure to keep similarity below a specific threshold. But this often leads to a new dilemma: how to reduce plagiarism without changing the actual meaning of what you’re trying to say?
Many Indian researchers, particularly those writing in English as a second language or working in interdisciplinary fields, struggle to express dense academic ideas in original wording. In some cases, they understand the source perfectly — but fear that rewording it too much may lead to distortion. In other cases, they worry that their own language isn’t “academic enough,” and end up copying sentence structures from journal articles.
This blog explores practical ways to reduce plagiarism while keeping the academic meaning intact — a skill every PhD scholar must learn, especially in an Indian research context where clarity, originality, and honesty must go hand in hand.
Why Scholars End Up Copying Despite Understanding the Content
Many cases of high similarity in Indian theses are not due to intentional copying but due to insecurity. Scholars feel that the language used in published journals or international books sounds more “correct,” so they try to mimic that phrasing. Others translate material from regional languages into English — but struggle to maintain nuance, and end up using source sentences for safety.
In disciplines like education, management, or literature, where definitions and frameworks are often reused, scholars may feel there’s only one “right” way to phrase a concept. So they hesitate to paraphrase, fearing misinterpretation.
But universities don’t expect you to avoid referencing established theories. They only expect you to show that you have understood them — and can explain them in your words.
Understanding this subtle but important distinction is the first step to reducing plagiarism without sacrificing meaning.
How to Paraphrase Without Losing the Essence
Here are a few techniques that have worked well for Indian PhD scholars across private and public universities:
1. Read First, Then Rewrite in Your Own Style
Avoid writing while the source is open in front of you. Read the paragraph or idea completely. Then close the book or tab and try to explain the idea as if you were telling a friend or student. This helps you express the idea using your natural language, rather than unconsciously copying phrases.
2. Break Long Sentences into Simpler Parts
Academic texts often have complex, layered sentences. Instead of rewriting the whole thing in one go, break it down. For example:
Original: “The sociocultural theory proposed by Vygotsky emphasizes the fundamental role of social interaction in the development of cognition.”
Paraphrased: “Vygotsky believed that thinking develops through interaction with others, especially in social and cultural settings.”
The meaning is the same — but the language is clearly your own.
3. Change the Structure, Not Just the Words
Simply replacing a few terms with synonyms is not enough. Change the order of the sentence, shift the focus slightly, or blend the idea into your own argument. For example, instead of starting with the theory, you might begin with its application — while still retaining the idea.
4. Use Examples to Support Paraphrasing
Adding an example from the Indian context helps reduce similarity while reinforcing your understanding. For instance, if discussing “learning styles,” you might include an example from your own fieldwork or teaching experience. This makes the paragraph yours — even if the core idea comes from literature.
5. Quote Sparingly, Only When Necessary
It’s okay to quote a definition or particularly powerful line — but limit direct quotes to 5–10% of your total chapter. And always use quotation marks and proper citations. Overquoting not only increases similarity but also weakens your voice in the thesis.
6. Use Citation Tools to Stay Organised
Tools like Zotero or Mendeley can help manage your sources and ensure you don’t miss citations. Indian universities often deduct marks or reject theses for poor referencing — even when the content is valid. Keeping track of what’s paraphrased, quoted, or summarised is crucial for staying safe.
What to Do When Similarity Is Still High
Even after paraphrasing, some paragraphs may still get flagged in Turnitin or Urkund. Don’t panic. This happens when:
- You’ve used standard definitions or phrases commonly found in academic writing
- Your citations match other theses or institutional papers
- Common phrases are repeated across different chapters
If the flagged content is properly cited and not excessive, most Indian evaluators will allow it. However, if the total similarity crosses the acceptable limit (usually 10–15%), consider the following:
- Replace similar sentences with shorter, clearer versions
- Remove repeated background information
- Compress long theoretical explanations into a few summarised lines
- Rewrite using your voice — even if it feels “simpler”
Many scholars mistakenly believe that fancier language is better. But in reality, clarity is more important than style. In the Indian PhD environment, supervisors often prefer straightforward writing over borrowed academic jargon.
Conclusion
Reducing plagiarism is not about running your thesis through paraphrasing software or stripping out all citations. It’s about developing your academic voice — one that reflects both understanding and honesty. Indian PhD students, especially those balancing work, language barriers, or delayed guidance, need to know that writing in their own words is not a weakness. It’s a strength.
You can absolutely remove plagiarism without losing meaning — by thinking deeply, writing slowly, and trusting your grasp of the subject. Detection tools may flag similarity. But they cannot replace human judgment. And reviewers in Indian universities increasingly value effort and clarity over artificial sophistication.
Write with confidence. Paraphrase with care. And let your thesis reflect your thinking — not just your ability to avoid red lines on a software report.