Plagiarism entails presenting copied ideas or work without properly crediting the source. Paraphrasing is also considered plagiarism if the source isn’t cited. To credit the source, use quotation marks and name the reference for paraphrased material. The main concern for writers regarding common knowledge is whether a source should be used.
According to California State University San Marco’s website, two criteria can decipher whether the information is indeed common. Find at least five independent, legit references that affirm the same information. Consider the information and the type of field where it’s found. If the information were presented towards non-experts with no prior knowledge, a citation would be necessary. If you learned the material in question in class and it’s not your own idea, provide your reader with a reference.
According to Adams State College, the following are examples of common knowledge: common sense, folklore, established facts and information from general references such as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Depending on the course or field you're in, established facts can become more specific. For instance, in a general course, defining catatonic schizophrenia requires citation. However, for an abnormal psychology course the professor would consider the information common knowledge among psychologists.
Blogs, content farms and many other online resources sometimes reproduce each other’s work, making the facts appear widely known. The information appears “common,” and you may believe a citation isn’t necessary. However, according to the University of California, “the language, ideas, and work in electronic sources” are not equal and all require citations.