Plagiarism Policy
Nexus Universal Journal maintains zero tolerance for plagiarism and is committed to preventing and detecting all forms of plagiarism.
Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the unauthorized use of another person's intellectual work or ideas without proper attribution. This includes:
- Copying text, ideas, or data without citation
- Paraphrasing without acknowledgment of the original source
- Self-plagiarism: reusing one's own previously published material
- Partial plagiarism: mixing original work with plagiarized content
- Translating without proper attribution
Plagiarism Detection Process
All submissions undergo systematic plagiarism detection using industry-standard software. The journal checks for:
- Text similarity against published literature
- Inappropriate levels of similarity
- Proper citation and attribution
- Self-plagiarism and duplicate submissions
Acceptable Levels of Similarity
Minor similarities in citations and common phrases are acceptable. However, extensive similarity indicating plagiarism will result in rejection. The journal considers context, citation practices, and the nature of matching text when evaluating similarity reports.
Author Responsibilities
Authors must:
- Ensure all work is original
- Properly cite all sources and references
- Clearly distinguish their contributions from others' work
- Disclose any prior publication of portions of the manuscript
- Obtain permissions for reused content when required
Consequences of Plagiarism
Violations of this policy result in:
- Immediate rejection of the submission
- Notification to the author's institution
- Potential banning from future submissions
- Reporting to relevant academic organizations
- Retraction of previously published articles if plagiarism is discovered
Proper Citation Practices
Authors should follow appropriate citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard) for their discipline. Each citation should clearly identify:
- The original author or source
- Publication date
- Title of the work
- Publisher and location information
- Page numbers or URLs as appropriate
Appeals Process
If authors believe their manuscript was incorrectly flagged for plagiarism, they may submit a formal appeal with explanation and evidence. The Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal within 10 business days.
Resources for Authors
Authors are encouraged to use plagiarism detection tools before submission to ensure originality. Many institutions provide free access to plagiarism detection software. Proper citation management tools such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote can help avoid inadvertent plagiarism.
Contact for Inquiries
For questions about plagiarism policy or to report suspected plagiarism, contact: editor@nujournal.in