In today’s world, the issue of research originality has become quite acute, as rapid technological development makes it possible to freely view, copy, and download other researchers’ work. However, a paper that has a high level of plagiarism and does not contain a sufficient number of the author’s original perspectives risks being rejected for publication. In this article, we will consider the key aspects that will help increase the originality of your work.
Originality of a scientific article
The originality of a scientific paper is a percentage indicator that reflects the level of originality of the author’s text compared with materials already published on the Internet.
Each journal has its own requirements regarding the originality of submitted materials. Typically, the originality of a paper should be at least 75-85%. Official requirements regarding the percentage of originality can be found on the official websites of journals on the page outlining their anti-plagiarism policy.
Editorial boards of reputable scientific journals carry out a strict process to check compliance with publication ethics regarding plagiarism in scientific articles. If the originality level of a paper does not meet the journal’s established requirements, the journal’s editorial office may:
- not allow the paper to proceed to peer review
- send the paper back for revision to improve originality
- reject the paper for publication
What is considered plagiarism in a scientific article?
- verbatim copying of another author’s ideas and statements
- use of data without citing the original source (figures, statistical data, etc.)
- self-plagiarism
- paraphrasing text without citing the original source
It is also worth adding that misappropriation of someone else’s intellectual property is a serious violation of the principles of academic integrity, which can lead to negative consequences for a researcher’s reputation and career.
What aspects should be considered to increase the originality of your work?
Citation rules
The presence in a paper of even fully paraphrased text without indicating the source is considered plagiarism. Citing the sources used in your work demonstrates that you follow the principles of academic integrity. It is recommended to use a single citation style that your chosen journal follows, for example APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.
Wording in the text
The anti-plagiarism system will recognise template wording in the text as borrowing (for example, “The relevance of the study lies in…”). Diversify the text with analysis, and write clearly and accurately.
Self-citation
This aspect is not prohibited; however, it should be used to supplement information already present in the paper and should not be overused. It reduces the originality and novelty of your work and also negatively affects your image in the academic community. The acceptable percentage of self-citations in a paper is, on average, 10-12%.
Free programmes for checking text originality
We have selected effective free services for checking text originality. Using them will help improve the quality of the article already at the writing stage.
- PlagiarismCheck. The programme analyses the submitted text by comparing it with materials from a database to identify similar passages and potential cases of plagiarism.
- Duplichecker. The tool highlights matches, provides reports with links to original sources, and allows you to quickly correct problematic sections. In addition to plagiarism checking, Duplichecker offers additional functions: grammar analysis, spelling checks, and SEO analysis.
- Turnitin. After checking, the service generates a detailed report with highlighted matches and an originality percentage, pointing to specific sources.
- Small SEO Tools. A free online service that brings together various tools for working with texts and websites. The platform provides tools for checking text originality, grammar, and so on.
We recommend checking the originality level of your work yourself before submitting it for consideration by a journal’s editorial office, even if you are confident in the originality of the information presented in the study. Sometimes authors unintentionally duplicate information because they may not know that an identical or similar work already exists. Therefore, the self-checking stage should be approached very responsibly. High originality of a scientific article is a sign of professionalism, competence, and conscientiousness on the part of the author, which is especially valued by leading scientific journals.
The modern world needs high-quality and original research that makes a significant contribution to the development of science and supports the development of society.
Need help with publishing a scientific article? Contact the company Scientific Publications! Our specialists will support you at all stages of the process and select a suitable journal. We will also check the originality of your work using modern software. If you still have questions, fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards successful publication!
