Avoiding Plagiarism in Academic Research
A clear explanation of what counts as plagiarism in academic research, how to avoid it in practice, and how journals detect and respond to it.
A clear explanation of what counts as plagiarism in academic research, how to avoid it in practice, and how journals detect and respond to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is paraphrasing always safe if I cite the source?
Citation is necessary but not always sufficient. Paraphrasing must be substantive — restating the idea in your own words — rather than a light edit of the original phrasing. A close paraphrase, even with citation, can still be problematic.
What similarity score is acceptable?
There is no universal threshold. Editors look at the distribution of overlap rather than a single percentage. Heavy overlap concentrated in a few passages is more concerning than a low percentage spread across a reference list and common phrases.
Can I reuse my own conference paper in a journal article?
It is often acceptable to develop a conference paper into a journal submission, but the relationship must be disclosed in the cover letter, the conference paper cited, and the journal version must contain substantive new material.
What happens if EP Journals detects plagiarism in my submission?
If plagiarism is identified during screening or review, the manuscript is rejected and the authors are informed. Where appropriate, the matter is documented in line with COPE-style procedures, and serious cases may be reported to the authors' institution.