Similarity Checks Explained

Low Text Similarity

The text of every submitted manuscript is checked using the Content Tracking mode in Turnitin. This mode ensures that manuscripts with a low overall percentage similarity (but potentially higher similarity from a single source) are not overlooked. If the similarity level from any single source is significantly high, the manuscript is returned to the author for paraphrasing and proper citation of the original source.

Important: Text taken from multiple sources, even with an overall low similarity percentage, may still be considered plagiarism if the manuscript largely consists of copied material without sufficient original contribution or proper attribution.

High Text Similarity

Some manuscripts might show a low overall similarity percentage but have a high percentage from a single source. For example, a manuscript might have less than 20% overall similarity, but 15% similarity from a single article. In such cases, the similarity index exceeds the acceptable limit for a single source. Authors are strongly advised to thoroughly rephrase similar text and properly cite the original source to avoid plagiarism and copyright violations.

Types of Plagiarism

Scholarly manuscripts build upon previously published work, making the line between legitimate representation and plagiarism sometimes subtle. However, the following practices are considered plagiarism:

1. Reproducing words, sentences, ideas, or findings of others as one’s own without proper acknowledgement.
2. Text recycling (self-plagiarism): Using substantial parts of one's own previous publications in a new paper without proper citation and acknowledgment of the original source.
3. Poor paraphrasing: Copying complete paragraphs and modifying only a few words, or changing sentence structure without significantly altering the original wording.
4. Verbatim copying of text without using quotation marks and without acknowledging the original author.
5. Improper citation: Correctly citing a source but failing to paraphrase adequately (unintentional plagiarism). Manuscripts mixing paraphrasing and direct quotes without clear distinction (e.g., quotation marks) are unacceptable. Authors must either paraphrase correctly or use direct quotes, citing the source in both cases.
6. Excessive similarity: High similarity percentages in the Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, or Discussion sections often indicate plagiarism, as these parts typically require original expression. While technical terms and standard procedures may be exceptions, editors will carefully review these sections.

Action on Plagiarism in Published Manuscripts

If a published manuscript is found to contain plagiarized text after careful investigation and approval by the Editor-in-Chief, it will be retracted from the journal website. A ‘Retraction Note’ and a link to the original article will be published on the electronic version of the plagiarized manuscript, and an addendum with the retraction notification will appear in the relevant journal issue.