Plagiarism and AI Policy

Plagiarism and AI Policy

Liberal Journal of Language and Literature Review

The Liberal Journal of Language and Literature Review is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and transparency. This policy outlines the journal’s guidelines for preventing plagiarism and regulating the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in academic writing and research.

1. Plagiarism Policy

1.1 Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the unacknowledged use of another person’s ideas, words, data, or creative expressions. It includes, but is not limited to:

a. Direct Plagiarism

Copying sentences, paragraphs, or substantial text verbatim from another source without citation.

b. Mosaic (Patchwork) Plagiarism

Rearranging or modifying phrases from a source while retaining its structure without proper attribution.

c. Self-Plagiarism

Reusing one’s previously published work—including data, analysis, or text—without disclosure or proper citation.

d. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Rewriting another author’s ideas too closely to the original wording or structure, even if a citation is provided.

e. Data, Idea, or Concept Plagiarism

Using unpublished or published ideas, interpretations, or data without acknowledgment or permission.

1.2 Plagiarism Detection Procedures

a. Initial Similarity Check

All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening using reliable similarity detection software such as Turnitin, iThenticate, Grammarly, or equivalent tools.

b. Acceptable Similarity Index

The journal follows these general guidelines:

  • Total similarity: should not exceed 15–20%, excluding bibliography.

  • Single-source similarity: should not exceed 3–5%.

However, the editorial team evaluates each report carefully, considering academic conventions, quotations, and methodological overlaps.

1.3 Handling of Plagiarism Cases

a. Minor Plagiarism

Issues related to improper citation or minor text overlap may require authors to revise and resubmit the manuscript.

b. Major Plagiarism

Substantial copying, unattributed ideas, or repeated patterns of similarity will lead to:

  • Immediate rejection

  • Possible submission ban for a defined period

c. Post-Publication Plagiarism

If plagiarism is discovered after publication:

  • The editorial board will investigate

  • The article may be retracted

  • A retraction notice will be issued

  • The author’s institution may be informed

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy

The journal recognizes the increasing relevance of AI tools—such as ChatGPT, Bard, Grammarly, and other generative systems—in academic work. To safeguard academic integrity, the following guidelines must be followed.

2.1 Permissible Use of AI Tools

Authors may use AI tools for the following supportive purposes:

  • Grammar and spelling correction

  • Language polishing

  • Formatting assistance

  • Generating research ideas (not final text)

  • Managing references or bibliographies

  • Coding assistance (in computational linguistics)

These uses are allowed as long as the author retains full intellectual responsibility for the content.

2.2 Impermissible Use of AI Tools

Authors must not use AI tools for the following:

  • Generating the main text of the manuscript (e.g., literature review, analysis, discussion, results)

  • Producing data, examples, or fabricated citations

  • Creating arguments or interpretations that the author does not critically review

  • Rewriting entire sections without significant human contribution

  • Masking plagiarism through AI paraphrasing

Such practices constitute academic misconduct.

2.3 Disclosure Requirement

Authors must disclose any use of AI tools in their methodology or acknowledgments section.
Disclosure should include:

  • The name of the tool

  • The purpose for which it was used

  • The extent of assistance

Example statement:
“The authors used Grammarly for language editing and ChatGPT for generating preliminary research ideas. All interpretations, analyses, and final text were developed by the authors.”

Failure to disclose AI use is considered a breach of ethical standards.

2.4 AI-Generated Content Checks

The journal reserves the right to:

  • Use AI-detection tools

  • Request clarifications from authors

  • Reject manuscripts suspected of AI-generated content without proper disclosure

Final decisions are made by the editorial board after careful examination.

3. Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that:

  • All content is original, accurate, and properly cited

  • AI-generated text is not presented as human scholarly work

  • Data, examples, and arguments are authentic and verifiable

  • Permissions for copyrighted materials are secured

  • All plagiarism and AI-use disclosures are accurate and transparent

4. Reviewer and Editor Roles

Reviewers

  • Report suspicious textual similarities or AI-generated patterns

  • Maintain confidentiality and objectivity

Editors

  • Evaluate similarity and AI-detection reports

  • Ensure policy compliance

  • Make final decisions regarding acceptance, revision, or rejection

5. Penalties for Violations

Depending on the severity, penalties may include:

  • Manuscript rejection

  • Retraction of published articles

  • Prohibition from future submissions (temporary or permanent)

  • Notification to the author’s institution

  • Public retraction notice if required

6. Commitment to Ethical Scholarship

The Liberal Journal of Language and Literature Review aligns its policies with international ethical guidelines, including:

  • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics)

  • ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors)

  • Best practices in academic publishing

The journal is dedicated to fostering transparent, responsible, and ethical research and publication practices.