What is the term for using an idea from another source without giving proper credit?

The term that accurately describes using an idea from another source without giving proper credit is plagiarism. Plagiarism involves taking someone else's work, ideas, or expressions and presenting them as your own without appropriate attribution. This practice is considered unethical in academic and professional settings because it undermines the original creator's work and misleads the audience about the origins of the ideas presented.

Incremental plagiarism, while also a form of plagiarism, refers specifically to the act of using a bit of work from various sources, but it still falls under the broader definition of plagiarism. Understanding the distinction helps highlight that all forms of using another's ideas without credit are problematic, but when the broader term is used, it encompasses all aspects of this unethical practice.

Paraphrasing is correctly summarizing or rewording someone else's ideas while still providing credit to the original source, and quoting involves reproducing someone else's words with proper citation. Both of these practices are legitimate ways to utilize external content while respecting intellectual property rights.