Self plagiarism checker
Some authors might consider that re-using their own work counts as “fair use.” This is the idea that small parts of a published work can be copied without permission, if the purpose is to comment on or critique the work, for example. In this case, the author can re-use their own work, as long as they cite the original source. Often, this will mean re-using material that has already appeared elsewhere, such as in a journal.
The two papers should probably not count as two separate papers for the purposes of a publication record.Īnother situation is when a researcher is asked to write a book chapter. However, the re-use of content still needs to be clear. This makes the research available to a much wider audience, so it could be considered ok in this situation. For example, you might publish a very similar paper in two different languages. Is Self-plagiarism Ever OK?Īlthough self-plagiarism is usually unacceptable, there are some situations when it is justified. If the article is re-using earlier work, this cannot be true. In addition, published research should be the most up-to-date knowledge available. It is even considered by some to be a form of research misconduct. It is a way of misleading other researchers who work in your field. It might even have a wider effect, boosting your research group’s or institution’s publication record.Īt a basic level, though, most self-plagiarism is dishonest. Using it to boost your own publication record, for example, might give you an unfair advantage over others. Many in the academic research community frown on self-plagiarism. However, presenting previously published work as new, original content misleads the reader. Referencing your own work is, of course, normally acceptable – as long as it is properly cited. They might even think that, because they are the author, they can do what they like with their own work. Some researchers may see nothing wrong with self-plagiarism. This helps to boost their publication record without actually carrying out new research. This may lead some to be tempted to “cut corners” by re-using their own earlier work.
So why do some researchers self-plagiarize? One answer might be found in the pressure on researchers to “publish or perish.” Many researchers face a lot of pressure to publish if they wish to advance their career or attract funding. Self-plagiarism might not be the worst form of plagiarism, but it is certainly not widely accepted. Others think that it only means copying text or images. Some people think self-plagiarism includes re-using ideas or concepts from earlier works. However, many journals have clear guidelines on how much of the author’s previous work can be re-used in an article. The ethics of self-plagiarism are up for debate. What is Self-plagiarism?Ĭan you plagiarize your own work? Yes! This is called self-plagiarism, which is when someone re-uses large parts of their own work, without citing the original text.Ī researcher might publish two very similar papers in different journals. This is considered more severe than accidental plagiarism, where someone mistakenly copies someone else’s work. For example, complete plagiarism is where someone takes a project or paper created by someone else and presents it as their own. They would probably also agree that some types of plagiarism are more serious than others. Most researchers would say that plagiarism is never acceptable.