self-plagiarism
C1/C2Formal; Academic; Specialised
Definition
Meaning
The act of presenting one's own previously published or submitted work as if it were new and original.
Reusing substantial portions of one's own prior work, typically in academic or professional contexts, without proper citation or acknowledgment that it has been used before. This violates originality expectations even though one is copying from oneself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While 'plagiarism' typically involves stealing others' work, 'self-plagiarism' is an ethical and professional violation concerning originality and transparency. It is a term of art primarily used in publishing, research, and academia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in concept. Spelling follows regional norms ('plagiarise' vs. 'plagiarize' in verb form).
Connotations
Slightly more common and formalised in American academic discourse, but equally recognised and criticised in British academia.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language but stable, high frequency in academic and publishing contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Person/Entity] + [verb: committed, was accused of, engaged in] + self-plagiarism[Journal/University] + [verb: prohibits, defines, investigates] + self-plagiarismVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Reinventing the wheel (when one fails to cite their own prior, relevant work, forcing unnecessary duplication)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might apply in contexts of reusing proprietary reports or presentations without acknowledgment.
Academic
Primary context. Refers to reusing text, data, or ideas from one's own prior theses, papers, or publications without citation or permission.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in publishing ethics, research integrity, and bibliometrics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The author was found to have self-plagiarised in three of his journal articles.
- You must be careful not to self-plagiarise when submitting chapters from your thesis.
American English
- The professor self-plagiarized by republishing the same data in multiple journals.
- Software can help researchers avoid unintentionally self-plagiarizing.
adverb
British English
- He was accused of acting self-plagiaristically by reusing entire sections.
- (Rarely used)
American English
- She submitted the paper self-plagiarizingly, knowing it contained recycled text.
- (Rarely used)
adjective
British English
- The self-plagiarism allegation was deeply damaging to her reputation.
- They implemented a new self-plagiarism detection tool.
American English
- It was a clear case of self-plagiarism misconduct.
- The self-plagiarism policy is outlined in the author guidelines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Using your old essay for a new class without telling the teacher is wrong.
- Copying your own work from the internet is a problem.
- The student was penalised for self-plagiarism after submitting a paper he had written for another course.
- Academic journals have strict rules against authors republishing their own work.
- The investigation concluded that the researcher had engaged in self-plagiarism by repackaging his doctoral findings in multiple articles without proper attribution.
- Publishers now use sophisticated software to detect not just plagiarism, but also self-plagiarism across vast databases of literature.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SELF-PLAGIARISM: SELF (your own work) + PLAGIARISM (copying). You are 'stealing' from your past self.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY THEFT FROM ONE'S PAST SELF / ACADEMIC RECYCLING WITHOUT A PERMIT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Прямой перевод 'самоплагиат' существует и is understood in academic circles, but is a calque. The concept may be less culturally salient outside Western academia.
- Do not confuse with 'автоплагиат' (rare). The core idea is 'повторное использование своего же текста без указания источника'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with simple revision or building upon prior work (which is acceptable).
- Thinking it's not serious because 'it's my own work.'
- Misspelling as 'self-plagerism'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'self-plagiarism' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically not illegal in a copyright sense (you own your work), but it is a serious violation of academic, professional, and publishing ethics that can lead to retractions, job loss, and reputational damage.
Always cite your own previous publications when you reuse text, ideas, or data. Seek permission from the original publisher if republishing substantial parts. Clearly indicate which parts of a new work build upon your prior publications.
Yes, if you publish the translation without disclosing the original publication and without permission from the original publisher. It is considered duplicate publication.
Building on past work involves creating new analysis, insights, or data, and properly citing prior foundations. Self-plagiarism involves presenting previously published content as new without transparent acknowledgment.