We know that when we use a particularly original term when paraphrasing or summarising a scholarly work, we should put it in quotation marks. However, my fear has been that I inadvertently, without reading a particular scholar's work, use a term or phrase that might be considered by some as being too original or belonging to a particular scholar.
The Turabian talks about this as follows:
7.9.1 Signal Every Quotation, Even When You Cite Its Source
Even if you cite your source, readers must know which words are yours and which you quote. You risk a charge of plagiarism if you fail to use quotation marks or a block quotation to signal that you have copied as little as a single line of words. It gets complicated, however, when you copy just a few words. Read this:
"Because technology begets more technology, the importance of an invention's diffusion potentially exceeds the importance of the original invention. Technology's history exemplifies what is termed an autocatalytic process: that is, one that speeds up at a rate that increases with time, because the process catalyzes itself" (Diamond 1998, 301).
If you were writing about Jared Diamond's ideas, you would probably have to use some of his words, such as the importance of an invention. But you wouldn't put that phrase in quotation marks, because it shows no originality of thought or expression. Two of his phrases, however, are so striking that they do require quotation marks: technology begets more technology and autocatalytic process. For example, The power of technology goes beyond individual inventions because technology “begets more technology.” It is, as Diamond puts it, an “autocatalytic process” (301). Once you cite those words, you can use them again without quotation marks or citation:
"As one invention begets another one and that one still another, the process becomes a self-sustaining catalysis that spreads exponentially across all national boundaries."
This is a gray area: words that seem striking to some readers are commonplace to others. If you use quotation marks for too many common phrases, readers might think you're naïve or insecure, but if you fail to use them when readers think you should, they may suspect you're trying to take credit for language and ideas not your own. Since it's better to seem naïve than dishonest, especially early in your research career, use quotation marks freely. (You must, however, follow the standard practices of your field. For example, lawyers often use the exact language of a statute or judicial opinion with no quotation marks.)
To give you an example, I am currently putting together a new course syllabus and while the proposed title is not really out of the ordinary, if I google parts of it it comes up a few times only, and only once in the title of a paper. Because I do not know whether I need to use quotation marks and credit the term, I have now decided to use a different title for the course.
Of course, I could always use this method of checking with Google, but even then I am not sure if the simple fact that a phrase or term only comes up a few times/once in a title of an article is enough to justify putting it in quotation marks. Also, that would imply that I would need to constantly be checking Google when I write.
So I am wondering whether there is an easier way to decide when I have to put something in quotation marks and credit it with a citation and when not. I assume people will say that one just has to go with one's experience, but surely there is a big grey area and I am afraid of being accused of borrowing a term without acknowledgment. I get anxious about these things rather easily, but I am still wondering.
/Edit： I should clarify that my main fear is not really what is described in the Turanian but rather that I come up with a term or phrase by myself without realizing that someone somewhere has used this before and it is not considered a common phrase but an original term that should be put in quotation marks. Maybe I am a bit paranoid but this is my concern.
Anyways, any comment or suggestion would be appreciated.
