Publishing Ethics

To uphold academic integrity and support continuous learning, the Geological Society of America encourages all authors to engage with resources that promote ethical publishing practices. This initiative aims to enhance academic standards and foster a culture of transparency, originality, and critical thinking within the geoscience community.

At GSA, we recognize that integrity begins with trust—trust that researchers strive to conduct and present their work ethically. But we also believe that fostering a culture of accountability strengthens that trust. This is why we advocate for a Trust but Verify approach: empowering authors to take responsibility for their research while also providing tools and guidance that help ensure accuracy, originality, and transparency.

This section includes guidance and tools to:

  • Enhance Originality and Avoid Plagiarism
    Encouragement and support for developing original research questions, framing novel hypotheses, and thinking beyond replication. Information on what constitutes plagiarism (including self-plagiarism), with access to recommended tools for checking manuscript originality prior to submission.
  • Improve Academic English
    Resources to help authors write clearly and effectively for international scientific audiences, reducing ambiguity and ensuring clarity of communication.
  • Provide Transparent and Reproducible Data
    See our Data Policy for Publications.
  • Adhere to Ethical Peer Review Practices
    Insights into appropriate reviewer behavior, authorship ethics, and how to respond to reviewer feedback professionally and constructively.

Portions of this framework are inspired by established standards, such as those found in Elsevier’s Researcher Academy, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Geophysical Union, and adapted to reflect GSA's commitment to the unique needs of the geoscience publishing community.

By building ethical awareness and equipping authors with practical tools, GSA aims to not only safeguard the integrity of its publications but also nurture a more informed, responsible scientific culture.

Originality, Plagiarism, and Conflict of Interest

Research reports must accurately present findings and objectively discuss their importance, ensuring data integrity and providing enough detail for replication. Fabricated or knowingly false statements are unethical and unacceptable.

Authors bear the responsibility for the originality of their work. Any use of others' work or words requires proper citation, quotation, and necessary permission. Due credit must always be given to the work that influenced the reported research and provides scholarly context. Private information cannot be used without explicit written consent.

Plagiarism, encompassing the presentation of another's work as one's own, the uncredited copying or paraphrasing of substantial content, and the claiming of others' research, is unethical and unacceptable in all its forms. If your work includes previously published material (figures, tables, substantial text), ensure you have obtained the necessary copyright permissions.

Be transparent about any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the interpretation of your work (e.g., funding sources, affiliations, personal relationships).

Free Plagiarism Checking Services

There are several free plagiarism checkers available online that can help you assess the originality of your content. Here are some reputable options:

  1. Scribbr Plagiarism Checker
    Scribbr offers a free plagiarism checker that uses advanced detection technology similar to what many universities employ. While the free version provides a basic similarity score, a premium version is available for more detailed reports.
  2. DupliChecker
    DupliChecker is a user-friendly tool that allows you to check up to 1,000 words per search. It provides percentage-based results and highlights duplicated content.
  3. PlagiarismDetector.net
    This tool offers a free plagiarism checker with deep search capabilities. It supports multiple languages and provides detailed reports, including percentage of plagiarized content.
  4. Small SEO Tools Plagiarism Checker
    Small SEO Tools provides a free plagiarism checker that allows you to upload documents in various formats or enter a URL to check for duplicate content.
  5. PlagiarismRemover.net
    This platform offers a free plagiarism checker that supports multiple languages and allows for unlimited text input. It provides a plagiarism report with percentage and highlights.
  6. Grammarly Plagiarism Checker
    This platform is an online tool that reviews written content for grammatical, spelling, punctuation, and stylistic errors. It is designed to help users improve the clarity, correctness, and effectiveness of their writing.

Tips for Using Free Plagiarism Checkers

  • Word Limits: Be aware that many free tools have word limits per search.
  • Accuracy: Free versions may not be as comprehensive as paid services.
  • Data Privacy: Ensure that the tool you choose does not store or misuse your content.

If you're working on academic or professional documents and require more comprehensive checks, you might consider using premium services like Turnitin or Grammarly Premium, which offer extensive databases and advanced detection algorithms.

Improving Academic English

Clarity & Precision

  • Be direct: Avoid flowery language; state points clearly.
  • Use precise words: Choose vocabulary carefully for exact meaning.
  • Define terms: Explain specialized vocabulary, especially at first use.

Academic Style & Structure

  • Maintain formality: Use an objective tone, avoiding slang and contractions.
  • Organize paragraphs: Focus each on one idea with clear topic sentences and supporting evidence.
  • Use transitions: Employ connecting words for logical flow.
  • Know your genre: Understand the conventions of different academic writing types.

Grammar & Mechanics

  • Ensure correct grammar: Pay attention to agreement, tense, pronouns, and articles.
  • Master punctuation: Use it accurately for clarity.
  • Proofread carefully: Check for all errors; ask others to review too.

Engage with Academic Texts

  • Read critically: Analyze style and structure in your field's literature.
  • Study effective writing: Learn from strong examples.

Seek Feedback & Resources

  • Get feedback: Be open to constructive criticism from peers and mentors.
  • Use resources: Explore writing centers, online guides, and style manuals.
  • Practice consistently: Write often to improve.

Academic Integrity

  • Cite properly: Follow your field's citation style to avoid plagiarism.
  • Understand plagiarism: Know what it is and ensure your work is original and attributed.

Web Sources for Language Improvement

Grammarly
Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)
Writefull for Academics

For more information, see our Ethical Guidelines for Publications.

Ethical Peer Review Practices

  • Be respectful and responsive to feedback: Understand that the reviewers' goal is to improve your manuscript. Address all comments and criticisms thoughtfully and respectfully in your response letter.
  • Provide clear and specific responses: When revising your manuscript, clearly indicate how you have addressed each of the reviewers' concerns. If you disagree with a comment, provide a polite and well-reasoned explanation.
  • Avoid direct contact with reviewers: All communication should go through the journal editor.
  • Do not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.

For more information about our peer review process, please see our Submission, Review, and Decision Process page.