Introduction
Review articles form a crucial part of many PhD dissertations in Indian private universities, especially in the literature review section. They summarise existing research, analyse trends, and identify gaps in the field. However, the nature of a review article makes it highly vulnerable to plagiarism. Since the content is built entirely on previously published work, improper paraphrasing or missing citations can quickly result in high similarity scores. Understanding these risks is essential for any scholar who wants to maintain academic integrity.
Why Review Articles Are Plagiarism-Prone
A review article relies on information, ideas, and data already published by other researchers. While this is its strength, it also poses a challenge—there is a thin line between summarising and copying. Scholars might unintentionally reproduce the same phrasing, sentence structure, or sequence of ideas from the original work. In some cases, they may use direct quotations without proper formatting or fail to credit the source, which leads to plagiarism.
The Pressure to Include More Sources
Many PhD supervisors encourage students to cite a wide range of sources to make the literature review more comprehensive. While this improves the depth of research, it also increases the risk of accidental plagiarism. A hurried scholar may copy sentences directly from multiple articles, assuming short extracts are harmless. Unfortunately, plagiarism detection tools identify even a few copied phrases, making this a risky approach.
Common Mistakes in Review Articles
- Over-reliance on one or two sources instead of synthesising information from many.
- Copying methodological descriptions from published studies.
- Using published data tables or figures without permission or proper credit.
- Directly translating non-English studies without acknowledging the original authors.
- Failing to paraphrase technical definitions accurately.
Best Practices for Writing Original Review Articles
- Read and interpret before writing—avoid copying text directly from your source while drafting.
- Paraphrase with understanding—restructure the information, not just the words.
- Cite every idea that originates from another researcher, even if paraphrased.
- Use your own analysis—add critical commentary instead of merely listing findings.
- Limit direct quotations to essential cases where the original wording is important.
How Plagiarism Checks Impact Review Articles
In private universities across India, plagiarism detection software often flags literature review chapters with high similarity percentages. This does not always mean intentional misconduct, but it signals poor paraphrasing or excessive reliance on original wording. Scholars should therefore run plagiarism checks early and revise risky sections multiple times before submission.
Conclusion
Review articles play an important role in building the foundation of a PhD dissertation, but they also come with significant plagiarism risks. By approaching them with careful paraphrasing, proper citation, and original analysis, scholars can avoid academic misconduct while producing a strong, credible literature review. For PhD candidates in Indian private universities, mastering these skills is essential not only for passing plagiarism checks but also for contributing ethically to their field of study.