Plagiarism Detection Policy

Plagiarism and Similarity Detection Policy

All manuscripts submitted to Educational Regent Multidisciplinary Journal (ERMJ) are subject to a mandatory similarity check and originality verification as part of the editorial process, before peer review and, where necessary, at subsequent stages.

The journal uses specialised similarity-detection tools as technical support for editorial assessment. Reports generated by these systems do not, by themselves, constitute an automatic criterion for acceptance or rejection. These reports are carefully examined by the editorial team, considering the context, nature, extent, and location of the identified matches.

Interpretation of Similarity Scores

Similarity percentages are assessed as general guidance and interpreted contextually according to the following ranges. No percentage alone guarantees the originality of a manuscript or automatically confirms the existence of plagiarism.

Similarity score of up to 15%

This is generally considered acceptable, provided that the matches correspond to properly referenced quotations, bibliographic references, conventional methodological descriptions, or commonly used technical terminology. Nevertheless, a manuscript may be questioned or rejected if it contains unattributed use of texts, ideas, data, tables, or figures, even when the overall similarity score is low.

Similarity score between 16% and 25%

This requires detailed editorial review. In such cases, authors may be asked to revise the manuscript, strengthen the paraphrasing, improve the citations, or reduce the identified similarities before the editorial process can continue.

Similarity score between 26% and 40%

This is considered potentially problematic. The manuscript may be returned for substantial revision or rejected, depending on the extent, relevance, source, and location of the matching content.

Similarity score above 40%

This is generally considered unacceptable and may indicate plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, or redundant publication. Following the corresponding editorial assessment, the manuscript may be rejected without proceeding to peer review. If this situation is identified after publication, the article may be subject to a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, as appropriate.

Unacceptable Practices

Regardless of the overall similarity score, a manuscript may be rejected if any of the following practices are detected:

  • Reproduction of texts, ideas, data, tables, or figures without proper attribution.
  • Plagiarism in substantive sections of the manuscript, including the Results, Discussion, or Conclusions.
  • Inappropriate recycling of an author’s own text or redundant publication without appropriate citation or editorial justification.
  • Improper use of previously published material under incompatible licences.
  • Unjustified fragmentation of results for the purpose of generating multiple publications (salami slicing).

Procedure in Cases of Suspected Plagiarism

When plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, or redundant publication is suspected, the editorial team will:

  • Assess the seriousness, extent, location, and context of the similarities.
  • Verify the original sources and the possible existence of related publications.
  • Request, where appropriate, a formal explanation from the corresponding author.
  • Evaluate the response and supporting documentation before reaching a decision.

Editorial measures may include:

  • Requesting modifications or corrections.
  • Rejecting the manuscript.
  • Publishing a correction or expression of concern.
  • Retracting the article.
  • Notifying the authors’ affiliated institutions in particularly serious cases.

All decisions will be made in accordance with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international standards of integrity in scientific publishing.

Originality Statement

By submitting a manuscript to Educational Regent Multidisciplinary Journal, authors declare and guarantee that the work is original, that all sources used have been properly cited, and that the content complies with this Plagiarism and Similarity Detection Policy.

Failure to comply with these provisions constitutes a breach of publication ethics and may result in the corresponding measures.