Plagiarism and Similarity Check

EMAS is committed to publishing original scholarly works and maintaining the integrity of the academic record. All submitted manuscripts are screened using reliable similarity-detection software before entering the peer-review process. Additional screening may also be conducted after revision or before final publication.

The similarity report is used as an initial screening tool and does not, by itself, determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors will evaluate the nature, extent, source, and context of all identified similarities.

The overall similarity index should not exceed 30%, excluding the bibliography, properly formatted quotations, and minor commonly used phrases. However, a manuscript with a similarity score below this threshold may still be considered unacceptable if it contains unattributed copying, inappropriate paraphrasing, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, or substantial overlap with a particular source.

The plagiarism screening procedure includes:

  1. Initial screening: Every submitted manuscript is checked before peer review to identify possible textual overlap with published or unpublished sources.
  2. Editorial assessment: The editorial team reviews the similarity report to distinguish legitimate similarities from plagiarism, text recycling, or redundant publication.
  3. Revision or clarification: Authors may be required to revise the manuscript, provide clarification, correct citations, or submit supporting documentation.
  4. Editorial action: Manuscripts containing substantial or intentional plagiarism will be rejected. When plagiarism is identified after publication, EMAS may issue a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the seriousness of the violation.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original, that all sources are properly cited, and that previously published material is clearly acknowledged. Submitting the same or substantially similar manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is prohibited.

EMAS reserves the right to reject or take appropriate editorial action against any manuscript that violates its publication ethics and plagiarism policy.