Plagiarism Policy

Introduction

Heighpubs Otolaryngology and Rhinology (HOR) enforces a strict anti-plagiarism policy to safeguard the integrity of scholarly publishing. Plagiarism undermines academic credibility, disrespects intellectual contributions, and violates ethical standards established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). HOR uses advanced plagiarism detection tools (such as iThenticate and Turnitin) to screen every submission.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism can take several forms, including but not limited to:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, figures, or tables without citation.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Replacing words but retaining structure and ideas from another work.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work without disclosure.
  • Data Plagiarism: Using data or images from other studies without permission or attribution.
  • Improper Paraphrasing: Failing to substantially rewrite or credit original sources.

Screening Procedures

Every manuscript submitted to HOR undergoes plagiarism screening before peer review. Detection thresholds:

  • Acceptable overlap: ≤15% (excluding references, methods, and common phrases)
  • Minor issues: 16–25% overlap; returned to authors for revision
  • Serious plagiarism: >25% overlap; immediate rejection

Handling Detected Plagiarism

  • Authors are notified with a similarity report.
  • Minor overlap: authors revise and resubmit.
  • Major overlap: manuscript is rejected.
  • Post-publication detection: correction, expression of concern, or retraction issued following COPE flowcharts.

Example: If a published article is found to contain 30% unattributed overlap with another study, HOR will issue a retraction notice linked to the original article.

Author Responsibilities

  • Submit only original work with proper citations.
  • Avoid duplicate submissions to multiple journals.
  • Retain raw data and provide when requested.
  • Disclose reuse of previously published material.

Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

  • Report suspected plagiarism immediately.
  • Maintain confidentiality during investigations.
  • Follow COPE flowcharts in decision-making.

Sanctions

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
  • Retraction of published articles.
  • Notification of authors’ institutions and funders.
  • Temporary or permanent ban on future submissions.

Acceptable Practices

HOR acknowledges that scholarly writing often requires referencing prior studies. Acceptable practices include:

  • Proper paraphrasing with citation
  • Short, attributed quotations with quotation marks
  • Reuse of methods descriptions with acknowledgment

FAQs

Does HOR allow preprint posting?

Yes, but authors must disclose preprint availability at submission.

What is the penalty for self-plagiarism?

Undisclosed self-plagiarism leads to rejection or retraction. Proper disclosure may permit republication in special cases (e.g., extended analyses).

Can images be reused?

Yes, if proper attribution is given and copyright permissions are secured when required.

Do reviewers check plagiarism?

Yes, alongside automated tools, reviewers help detect unattributed material.

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