Plagiarism is a grave academic and moral breach that involves using someone else’s research, work, ideas, or creative work without proper acknowledgement and passing it off as one’s own. It erodes the credibility of science and intellectual honesty [1].

The editorial article entails understanding the types of plagiarism, its effects on medical research and researchers, methods to detect plagiarism, and methods to avoid it.

Diagnosing a disease is the first step in treatment. So let’s try to comprehend all the different types of plagiarism.

1. Direct plagiarism: Copying material verbatim without quote marks or citation. For example, duplicating a passage from a journal paper without proper attribution. This is fairly prevalent among rookie researchers, although plagiarism tools readily detect it ^[2].
2. Self-plagiarism: Reusing previously submitted material without permission or acknowledgement of earlier use. An example is submitting the identical research proposal to two separate courses without disclosing it. This style of study is just recycling previous research and presenting it as fresh information. It may raise publishing numbers quickly, but it does not contribute much to academic development ^[3].
3. Mosaic plagiarism: Patching together phrases or ideas from many sources without adequate attribution, even if the substance has been rephrased, is mosaic plagiarism. Many orthopedic operations have become increasingly complicated, requiring multiple stages. Mosaic plagiarism occurs when several treatments or surgical methods are used from past research and claimed to be wholly unique without proper credit to previous researchers ^[4].
4. Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting someone else’s work in your own words while forgetting to acknowledge the source. For example, recent paraphrasing programs with word jugglers can assist in preparing a document to evade detection by plagiarism software; however, claiming work as your own without crediting earlier researchers constitutes plagiarism ^[5].
5. Accidental plagiarism: The field of research and medical discovery is constantly evolving, with thousands of ideas being published each day, especially by students. Unintentional plagiarism can occur when sources are cited due to ignorance or carelessness. Despite being inadvertent, it is nonetheless deemed immoral ^[6].

Plagiarism claims, if proven accurate, may be a major blow to the academic careers of academics and institutes alike. Here are some of the possible outcomes for researchers and institutes.

1. Academic penalties may include demoted grades, suspension, or expulsion from a program, such as a PhD program.
2. Professional consequences: Plagiarism can result in damage to one’s reputation, rejection and withdrawal of publications, and potentially, legal action.
3. Ethical implications: It significantly undermines faith in research and jeopardizes intellectual integrity [7].
4. Institutional actions: Universities lose academic credibility if their names are connected with plagiarism. There may be action taken by regulatory authorities, such as the National Assessment and Accreditation Council or the Indian Council of Medical Research, on such universities. Universities must implement disciplinary sanctions in accordance with their academic integrity policies [8, 9].

Plagiarism detection software, such as DrillBit and Turnitin, is essential for spotting unoriginal content in academic works. These programs find similarities by comparing supplied documents to huge databases of academic papers, websites, books, and previously submitted student work [10].

Steps to review plagiarism using Turnitin or DrillBit

1. Preparing the document:

1. Make sure your document is in a compatible format (e.g., PDF, Word, or plain text) as specified by the tool
2. Non-text items, such as tables, photos, or code snippets, should be excluded unless expressly required by the tool to ensure proper processing
3. Confirm submission guidelines with your institution, who provide the software for use, such as eliminating bibliographies or cited material.

1. Submitting the document

Access the platform (Turnitin or DrillBit) through its portal or your university’s learning management system. Use the submission instructions to upload the proper format file.

If your educational institution allows it, pick parameters such as excluding references, quoted material, or minor matches (e.g., phrases under five words).

1. Generating the plagiarism report

The program often generates a report within minutes, but larger documents may take longer. The report will show a similarity score, which represents the percentage of text that matches existing sources. The report also highlights matched text and provides links to the sources. Removes properly documented quotes or references, which should not be considered plagiarism [11].

What the mind does not know cannot be seen. Hence, to distinguish between real matches and possible plagiarism, one must know how to analyze a plagiarism report carefully.

Key components of a plagiarism report

Overall similarity score

1. Low (0–10%): Generally considered acceptable, often indicating common phrases or properly cited material
2. Moderate (11–25%): Requires evaluation to see whether matches are correctly cited or just coincidental, such as standard language in a given field
3. High (>25%): Raises serious problems and needs a thorough study, which may indicate incorrect paraphrase or uncited information [12].

What to view the plagiarism report

1. 1. Source matches: The report contains individual sources (e.g., journal articles, websites) and their percentage contribution to the total similarity score
   2. Highlighted text: Matched text is highlighted and frequently color-coded (e.g., Turnitin uses blue, green, or red) to signify various sources or severity
   3. Exclusion details: The report should state if references, quotations, or minor matches were eliminated from the score.

How to interpret the report

1. 1. Check quoted material: Ensure that any direct quotes are enclosed in quotation marks and correctly cited. If properly attributed, these should not be considered plagiarism.

1. Review paraphrased content: Even if you rewrite someone else’s work in your own terms, always cite the original source. High similarity in paraphrased areas could indicate mosaic plagiarism.
2. Evaluate common knowledge: Terms related to your field or commonly known facts (e.g., “Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy”) may appear as matches, but they are rarely deemed plagiarism unless specifically copied
3. Examine source types: Academic publications are more relevant than general websites, which may just contain common phrases [13].

Red flags to watch for

1. Large blocks of text match a single source without a proper citation
2. Matches to student papers, which could indicate self-plagiarism or unauthorized collaboration
3. High similarity in sections that are expected to contain original analysis, such as the discussion or conclusion [14].

Avoiding plagiarism requires proactive strategies and a strong awareness of ethical research practices.

Importance of referencing

Referencing is the technique of citing the sources of ideas, data, or direct quotes utilized in your writing. It fulfills several critical purposes:

• Credit to the original authors: It formally acknowledges the creative contributions of others
• Avoid plagiarism: Proper citation is the fundamental approach for ensuring ethical usage of materials
• Support arguments: References provide evidence and context for your claims, which strengthen your research
• Enable verification: This allows readers to easily find and verify the sources you’ve used
• Scholarship: It demonstrates your connection with existing literature and knowledge of the area [15].

Common referencing styles

Various referencing styles are utilized across the disciplines:

• American Psychological Association (APA): A term commonly used in the social sciences and biomedical journals.
• The Modern Language Association (MLA) is primarily used in the humanities.
• Chicago/Turabian provides both notes-bibliography and author-date systems.
• Harvard: Similar to APA, but extensively used in many disciplines.
• Vancouver: A numerical system widely utilized in medical science and biomedical periodicals.
• Researchers need to confirm the preferred style for their discipline with their supervisors or target journal [16].

How to reference correctly

Correct referencing involves both in-text citations and a comprehensive reference list or bibliography.

In-text citations:

• For direct quotes, use quotation marks and include the author, year, and page number.
• When paraphrasing, always cite the author and year, even if the ideas are rephrased in your own words.
• For multiple authors, specific guidelines exist (e.g., in APA, “et al.” is used for three or more authors).

Reference List/Bibliography: This section includes full details of all sources cited in your work. The format will depend on the chosen style (e.g., APA: Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Publisher.), and consistency in formatting (punctuation, italics) is essential.

Tools for referencing

Various tools can assist researchers in managing and generating references:

• Reference management software: Examples include EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley. These tools help researchers navigate different referencing style formats
• Online generators: Such as Cite This For Me and BibMe.
• University resources: Many universities, like MGM University, provide guides or workshops on referencing.

Strategies to avoid plagiarism

• Understand your sources: Read and summarize material in your own words to ensure comprehension.
• Cite while writing: Keep a meticulous track of all sources during the drafting process to avoid accidental omission.
• Use plagiarism detection tools: Tools such as Turnitin or Grammarly can help identify potential unintentional plagiarism in drafts.
• Paraphrase properly: When rewriting ideas, always use your own style and always cite the source.
• Seek guidance: Consult supervisors or university writing centers for any clarification needed regarding citation practices [17].

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Assuming common knowledge does not require citation, even historical facts may need a source in academic writing
• Over-reliance on a single source without diversifying your literature
• Poor note-taking can lead to confusion between your original ideas and sourced material.

Related ethical considerations in research

Beyond plagiarism, responsible conduct of research also includes:

• Authorship: Only individuals who have made significant contributions should be included as co-authors.
• Data integrity: Fabricating or falsifying data is another form of academic misconduct that must be avoided.
• Cultural sensitivity: Respecting intellectual contributions from diverse cultural or indigenous knowledge systems is important.
• Open access and fair use: Understanding copyright laws and obtaining necessary permissions for using copyrighted material.

By adhering to these principles and utilizing available resources, researchers can uphold academic integrity and ensure their work is credible and original.

To detect plagiarism using software like DrillBit, analyze the plagiarism report, and reduce plagiarism, PhD students should follow a systematic process involving preparation, submission, detailed analysis, and strategic revision.

If a plagiarism report identifies issues, several proactive strategies can be employed to reduce the similarity score and ensure originality [17, 18].

Review and revise matched content

• Proper citation: Add any missing citations for paraphrased or quoted material, adhering to the appropriate referencing style (e.g., APA, MLA) as per your university’s guidelines.
• Paraphrase effectively: Rewrite matched sections in your own distinct phrasing while preserving the original meaning. Always cite the source. For example, if the original is “Machine learning algorithms improve prediction accuracy by analyzing large datasets,” a proper paraphrase would be “By processing extensive data, machine learning models enhance the precision of predictions.”
• Use quotation marks: For any verbatim text, enclose it in quotation marks and provide a precise citation, including page numbers if applicable.

Strengthen original contributions

• Add analysis: Incorporate your own unique insights, interpretations, or critiques to distinguish your work from the source material
• Diversify sources: Avoid over-reliance on a single source, as this can lead to an inflated similarity score. Utilize multiple sources to support your arguments comprehensively
• Synthesize ideas: Combine information and perspectives from various sources with your own original thoughts to create a coherent and unique narrative.

Utilize reference management tools

• Employ software such as Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote to effectively organize your sources and automatically generate accurate citations, thereby minimizing errors
• Consult style manuals (e.g., APA 7^th Edition) or university resources to ensure consistent and accurate formatting.

Re-run the plagiarism check

• After making revisions, resubmit your document to DrillBit or Turnitin to confirm that the similarity score has decreased to an acceptable level.
• Pay particular attention to sections that still show high matches and revise them further as needed.

Seek feedback

• Share your revised draft with your PhD supervisor or trusted peers to obtain their input on proper citation and the overall originality of your work.
• Utilize university writing support services, if available (e.g., at MGM University), for guidance on effective paraphrasing and referencing.

Best Practices for Avoiding Plagiarism Proactively:

• Take detailed notes: When conducting research, meticulously record full source details and clearly distinguish between direct quotes, paraphrased material, and your own original ideas.
• Cite during drafting: Integrate citations as you write to prevent inadvertently omitting sources later.
• Understand common knowledge: Familiarize yourself with what constitutes common knowledge within your specific field to avoid unnecessary citations for widely accepted facts or principles.
• Use plagiarism tools proactively: Run drafts through detection software such as Turnitin or DrillBit before the final submission to identify and rectify any potential issues early.
• Stay updated on guidelines: Adhere to your institution’s (e.g., MGM University’s) academic integrity policies and specific referencing requirements.

By implementing these strategies, researchers can maintain academic integrity, ensure the originality of their work, and enhance its overall credibility.

Plagiarism is an academic fraud. There are ample tools available to detect it. Simple techniques like writing in your own words and adding your perspective and explanation with appropriate citation helps to decrease risk of plagiarism. Technique of using plagiarism software like drillbit, helps to detect plagiarism and correct it.