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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Use of Graphics and References for Business Communication

Which practice is most appropriate when a business writer wants to use a source's idea but expresses it in her own words?

The writer should paraphrase the idea and still acknowledge the source. Rewording changes the expression but not the ownership of the idea, so credit is required. Quotation marks are meant for exact words, and citation is needed for all borrowed ideas, not only statistics.

  1. AParaphrase it and still acknowledge the sourceCorrect
  2. BUse it without credit since the words are different
  3. CPlace it in quotation marks and omit the source
  4. DMention the source only if the idea is statistical

Explanation

Ideas belong to their originator even when reworded, so a paraphrase must still be credited. Quotation marks are for exact words, and the duty to cite applies to all borrowed ideas, not just statistics.

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