Plagiarism Screening

The Green Discourse maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against plagiarism. The journal will address any form of plagiarism identified in a manuscript submitted to it in accordance with its publication ethics and editorial policies.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use or close imitation of the language, ideas, or intellectual work of others without proper acknowledgment and presenting such work as one's own. All submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Any material taken verbatim from another source must be clearly identified through appropriate quotation marks, indentation where applicable, and proper citation. Reproduction of text beyond fair use limits or any graphic material requires written permission from the copyright holder and appropriate acknowledgment of the original source.

Screening Process

All submitted manuscripts are screened for similarity using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin). Similarity reports are interpreted qualitatively and contextually by the managing editor in consultation with the editorial team, considering legitimate similarities such as references, quotations, legal texts, methodological descriptions, and commonly used phrases.

Similarity Index Guidelines

As a general guideline (not an automatic decision rule), the journal applies the following similarity ranges:

• Similarity index above approximately 40% – may indicate extensive overlap and will normally result in rejection due to unacceptable levels of similarity, subject to editorial review.
• Similarity index between approximately 20% and 40% – may require substantial revisions. Authors may be required to improve citation practices and enhance paraphrasing in the affected sections.
• Similarity index below approximately 20% – is generally considered acceptable, although minor revisions related to citation or paraphrasing may still be required.

Revision and Resubmission

In cases requiring revision, authors must resubmit the revised manuscript along with an updated similarity report that shows how they have adequately addressed all concerns. Final editorial decisions are based on both the similarity assessment and scholarly judgment, in accordance with the journal's ethical standards.