Verdict: While Plagiarismcheck.org recognises the largest number of document types, it’s all theoretical because the scanner didn’t work.
Service: www.plagiarismcheck.org/ | |
| What are the subscription options? e.g. free, paid only, paid and free. If paid options, what length of subscription/price structure is offered? | Free online checker. |
| Maximum word count? (if any) | Unlimited/ no stated maximum. |
| Resubmissions allowed? If so, is this limited? | Unlimited checks. |
| Type of scanner E.g. software download, copy and paste, upload document online. Say if multiple options are offered. | Two options offered; “Copy and Paste’ online scanner; Upload text file. |
| Sources checked E.g. internet, any specific journal databases mentioned, any electronic book databases such as Google docs mentioned, past submissions from other students etc | Website – no words altered; Website – some words removed;Website – some words changed; Website – fully paraphrased; Online pdf; Electronic book. |
| File types supported E.g. doc, docx, rtf, open office, pdfs, ppts | Several file types supported including .XLS, .XLSX, .XLSM, .XLSB, .XLTX, .XLTM, .XLC, .CSV, .DBF, .ODS, .DOC, .DOCX, .TXT, .RFT, .DOTX, .DOT, .HTML, .HTM, .XPS, .MHTM, .MHTML, .XML, .WPS, .DOT, .PPT, .PPTX, .POT, .POTX, .PPS, .PPDX and .ODP files |
| Extra features? E.g. grammar checker, spelling checker | None. |
| Support offered? E.g. phone, email etc | There is a feedback section where users can email feedback or a query. It also says within this section “If you have any queries concerning the specific order, contact our operators directly using the messaging tab within your order page”. However, this is confusing as the website neither has an order page nor a messaging tab. |
| Report / results | |
| Type of report Downloadable? Shareable? | Reports can be downloaded in a pdf format and shared. |
| Side by side comparison to plagiarism? | No. |
| Accuracy of results – Which sections were detected and which were not (make sure the correct source is identified) | |
| Basic plagiarism – copied and pasted from a website source | Unable to test – the online scanner did not produce any results. |
| Basic plagiarism – copied and pasted from an online pdf | Unable to test – the online scanner did not produce any results. |
| Some words removed – copied and pasted from a website source | Unable to test – the online scanner did not produce any results. |
| Some words changed – copied and pasted from a website source | Unable to test – the online scanner did not produce any results. |
| Full paraphrasing – copied and pasted from a website source | Unable to test – the online scanner did not produce any results. |
| Basic plagiarism – copied and pasted from an electronic book | Unable to test – the online scanner did not produce any results. |
| General observations Ease of use, overall experience. If other features were included (e.g. spelling, grammar check), how easy were they to use and how useful were they? | |
| Plagiarismcheck.org is a professional looking website which is easy to use and is easy on the eye – its black and olive green colour scheme works well. On its homepage it claims to be a “fast and smart online plagiarism checker” in addition to providing useful, (if a little generic), background information on the ills of plagiarism.Users are asked to sign up but this is free. Once this is complete, there is a “your documents” section in which documents can either be pasted directly into the browser or uploaded using a file upload tool. Of all the plagiarism scanners tested, Plagiarismcheck.org recognises the largest number of document types and in addition to text-based and web-based documents, Excel spread sheets and PowerPoint presentations can also theoretically be scanned…Theoretically, because the scanner didn’t work. The six test documents were pasted into the browser and these lined up in the “your documents’ page where it reported that the “check was in progress” for each one. Twenty minutes later, an hour later, and then a day later, the checks were supposedly still being carried out. Another approach was adopted and files were uploaded using the “file upload’ facility – but the same thing happened: nothing. There is a feedback section which I used to send an email but no response was forthcoming and after a week I gave up. This is, after all, a free online checker, so dedicated support can’t be assumed or relied upon – just try elsewhere. | |
