Plagiarism Detection
nounPronunciation: /pləˈdʒɪrɪzəm dɪˈtɛkʃən/
The editorial process of screening submitted manuscripts using specialized software and expert review to identify unoriginal content, including paraphrased or directly copied text from previous publications. Detection occurs before or after peer review depending on journal policy.
Plain English
Using computer tools and human review to find if authors have copied text from other sources without giving credit.
Etymology & History
Usage
"Most journals now use plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin or iThenticate as part of their submission screening."
Style guide notes: Use hyphenated form as an adjective; treat as compound noun when used as subject.
Also known as
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of text similarity is acceptable?
Policies vary; most allow 15-25% similarity, but context matters—self-citations and methodological descriptions may be excluded.
Does plagiarism detection catch all types of plagiarism?
Software detects textual matches well but may miss paraphrasing, translation plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty.
Why Test Candidates on This?
Essential for understanding editorial quality control measures and ethical standards in academic publishing practices.
Required skill level: Mid