{"id":1752,"date":"2026-08-05T00:47:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T19:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/?p=1752"},"modified":"2026-08-06T10:59:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T05:29:04","slug":"is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"Is AI Allowed in Journal Submissions? Journal and Publisher AI Policies and How Much AI Is Acceptable in a Research Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>AI assistance is allowed by almost every major publisher, but AI authorship is banned everywhere, and generative use must be disclosed.<\/li>\n<li>No publisher sets a permitted percentage: the test is whether the intellectual contribution is yours and whether you can be accountable for every claim.<\/li>\n<li>AI detector scores are unreliable, but journal editors and peer reviewers often can sense flat, boilerplate AI writing and become suspicious of your entire research.<\/li>\n<li>Disclose the tool, version, purpose, and extent of your oversight in the exact location your target journal specifies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Glossary_of_Key_Terms\" >Glossary of Key Terms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Is_AI_allowed_in_journal_submissions\" >Is AI allowed in journal submissions?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#What_do_the_major_publishers_say_about_AI\" >What do the major publishers say about AI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#How_much_AI_writing_is_acceptable_in_a_research_paper\" >How much AI writing is acceptable in a research paper<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#The_3_tiers_of_AI_use\" >The 3 tiers of AI use<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#A_practical_working_limit\" >A practical working limit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#What_is_the_30_rule_in_AI\" >What is the 30% rule in AI?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Why_the_30_rule_fails_as_a_compliance_test\" >Why the 30% rule fails as a compliance test<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Will_journals_detect_AI\" >Will journals detect AI?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#How_undisclosed_AI_use_actually_surfaces\" >How undisclosed AI use actually surfaces<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Are_automated_AI_detectors_accurate\" >Are automated AI detectors accurate?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#What_to_do_if_you_are_wrongly_flagged\" >What to do if you are wrongly flagged<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Will_I_get_flagged_for_AI_if_I_use_Grammarly\" >Will I get flagged for AI if I use Grammarly?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Where_the_line_sits\" >Where the line sits<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Red_flags_for_AI_writing\" >Red flags for AI writing<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Red_flags_in_the_text\" >Red flags in the text<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Red_flags_in_the_references\" >Red flags in the references<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Red_flags_in_figures_data_and_methods\" >Red flags in figures, data, and methods<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#How_do_I_declare_use_of_AI\" >How do I declare use of AI?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Where_each_publisher_wants_the_statement\" >Where each publisher wants the statement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#What_every_disclosure_should_contain\" >What every disclosure should contain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Sample_AI_disclosure_statement_templates\" >Sample AI disclosure statement templates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Do_I_need_to_declare_use_of_AI_for_literature_search\" >Do I need to declare use of AI for literature search?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Can_ChatGPT_be_listed_as_a_co-author\" >Can ChatGPT be listed as a co-author?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Can_I_use_AI_to_create_figures_and_images\" >Can I use AI to create figures and images?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Can_peer_reviewers_and_editors_use_AI\" >Can peer reviewers and editors use AI?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#What_happens_if_you_do_not_disclose_AI_use\" >What happens if you do not disclose AI use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Pre-submission_AI_compliance_checklist\" >Pre-submission AI compliance checklist<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Can_I_use_ChatGPT_to_write_my_research_paper_abstract\" >Can I use ChatGPT to write my research paper abstract?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Do_I_need_to_disclose_AI_use_if_I_only_used_it_for_grammar_and_spelling\" >Do I need to disclose AI use if I only used it for grammar and spelling?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Will_my_paper_be_rejected_if_the_AI_detector_score_is_high\" >Will my paper be rejected if the AI detector score is high?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Is_using_AI_in_a_research_paper_considered_plagiarism\" >Is using AI in a research paper considered plagiarism?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#How_do_I_cite_ChatGPT_in_APA_or_Vancouver_style\" >How do I cite ChatGPT in APA or Vancouver style?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Can_I_use_AI_to_translate_my_manuscript_into_English\" >Can I use AI to translate my manuscript into English?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Do_preprint_servers_require_AI_disclosure\" >Do preprint servers require AI disclosure?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/is-ai-allowed-in-journal-submissions-journal-and-publisher-ai-policies-and-how-much-ai-is-acceptable-in-a-research-paper\/#Can_I_use_AI_to_help_respond_to_peer_reviewer_comments\" >Can I use AI to help respond to peer reviewer comments?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Glossary_of_Key_Terms\"><\/span>Glossary of Key Terms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Read this table first: the rest of the article uses these terms exactly as defined here.<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\"><strong>Term<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"464\"><strong>What it means in a publishing context<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Generative AI<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Technology that produces new text, images, audio, code, or synthetic data. Examples include ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and DALL-E.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Large language model (LLM)<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">A statistical text model trained on large corpora. It predicts likely wording rather than retrieving verified facts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Assistive AI<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Tools that refine text you already wrote: spelling, grammar, punctuation, and readability suggestions. Sometimes exempt from disclosure.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Generative use<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Any use where the tool produces substantive content or restructures your argument. Disclosure is required.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">AI-assisted copy editing<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Springer Nature&#8217;s term for readability, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and tone fixes to human-written text. Exempt from disclosure.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">AI disclosure statement<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">A short declaration naming the tool, version, purpose, extent of use, and human oversight. Placement varies by publisher.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Hallucination<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Plausible AI output that is factually wrong, including invented references, fabricated quotations, and non-existent DOIs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">AI detector<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Software that estimates the probability that text was machine-generated. It measures style, not authorship.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">False positive<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Human-written text incorrectly flagged as AI-generated.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Perplexity<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">A measure of how predictable wording is. Low perplexity, common in careful academic prose, raises detector scores.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Human in the loop<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">The principle that a person reviews, verifies, and takes responsibility for every AI output.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Private AI tool<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">A tool that does not retain, reuse, share, or train on your input. Elsevier requires reviewers and editors to use only these.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">COPE<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Committee on Publication Ethics, whose position statement rules out AI authorship.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">ICMJE<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, which sets recommendations followed by most medical journals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">WAME<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">World Association of Medical Editors, which issued early recommendations on chatbots and scholarly manuscripts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_AI_allowed_in_journal_submissions\"><\/span>Is AI allowed in journal submissions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Every major scholarly publisher now permits some <a href=\"https:\/\/researcher.life\/blog\/article\/prevent-hallucinations-and-keep-your-voice-while-using-ai-to-write-research-papers-prompts-workflow-human-validation-checklist\/\">AI writing assistance<\/a>, and none permit AI authorship. What separates an acceptable submission from a rejected one is disclosure, verification, and how much of the thinking the tool did for you.<\/p>\n<p>Policies from Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor &amp; Francis, Sage, BMJ, the JAMA Network, IEEE, and the Royal Society of Chemistry converge on 4 shared rules, then diverge on the details.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Only humans can be authors, because only humans can be held accountable for a published work.<\/li>\n<li>Authors are fully responsible for accuracy, originality, and every reference, whatever tool produced the draft.<\/li>\n<li>Generative use must be declared: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-ai-to-write-a-research-paper-tools-prompts-and-workflow-to-prevent-hallucination-and-sound-human\/\">using AI for drafting paragraphs or sections, paraphrasing text, summarizing text, etc<\/a>. Basic spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks are often exempt from declaration.<\/li>\n<li>AI must never fabricate, alter, or manipulate research data, results, or primary research images.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Beyond those 4 rules, requirements differ on where the statement goes, what counts as substantive, and how images are handled. The table below maps the current landscape.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_the_major_publishers_say_about_AI\"><\/span>What do the major publishers say about AI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>They all ban AI authorship and all require disclosure of generative use; they differ mainly on where the statement goes and how strictly images are controlled. Check the journal, not just the publisher.<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\"><strong>Publisher<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"83\"><strong>AI as author<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"214\"><strong>Disclosure threshold<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"214\"><strong>Key restriction<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">Elsevier<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Declare when AI makes substantive changes to sentence structure or organization; basic grammar checks are exempt<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">No general-purpose AI images for graphical abstracts; no AI alteration of primary research images<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">Springer Nature<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Declare generative use in the Introduction, Preface, or Acknowledgements; AI-assisted copy editing is exempt<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Generative AI images and video are generally not permitted, with narrow labeled exceptions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">Wiley<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Declare in Methods or Acknowledgments when AI generates substantial text or restructures arguments<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">No AI creation or alteration of research data, results, photographs, micrographs, or diagnostic images<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">Taylor &amp; Francis<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Declare tool name with version, how it was used, and why, in a specific AI usage statement<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">No AI in the creation or manipulation of research results, clinical samples, or diagnostic images<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">Sage<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Assistive use (spelling and grammar) needs no disclosure; generative use must be declared in Methods or Acknowledgements<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Prohibits AI-generated participants, themes, data, images presented as novel, and fabricated references<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">BMJ<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Declare in the contributor section, with a fuller description in Methods if AI was used in the research<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">May run screening tools before and after publication; inadequate declaration can trigger rejection<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">JAMA Network<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Report in the Acknowledgment section, naming tool, version, manufacturer, and the sections affected<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Prompts, their sequence, and ethics review details are required when AI forms part of the study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">IEEE<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Disclose AI-generated content in the Acknowledgments, identifying the system and the sections affected<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Editing and grammar enhancement fall outside the core requirement, though disclosure is still recommended<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"113\">Royal Society of Chemistry<\/td>\n<td width=\"83\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Follows published principles of transparency, human oversight, and accountability; check journal guidance<\/td>\n<td width=\"214\">Emphasizes governance and human oversight across editorial and publishing workflows<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These documents are revised frequently: Elsevier updated its journal policy in June 2026, and BMJ commits to reviewing its policy at least every 6 months. Read the target journal&#8217;s instructions for authors on the day you submit.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_AI_writing_is_acceptable_in_a_research_paper\"><\/span>How much AI writing is acceptable in a research paper<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There is no permitted percentage. No major publisher sets a word count, a share of text, or a detector score as the limit. The test is qualitative: whether the intellectual contribution is yours, and whether you can defend every sentence.<\/p>\n<p>A useful way to think about it: AI can help you say what you already know. It cannot create research for you. Elsevier states directly that AI tools must never substitute for human critical thinking, expertise, and evaluation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_3_tiers_of_AI_use\"><\/span>The 3 tiers of AI use<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"133\"><strong>Tier<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"312\"><strong>Typical tasks<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"179\"><strong>Disclosure status<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"133\">1. Assistive<\/td>\n<td width=\"312\">Spelling, grammar, punctuation, reference formatting, consistency checks<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Generally not required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"133\">2. Generative or substantive<\/td>\n<td width=\"312\">Drafting or rewriting sections, restructuring arguments, summarizing literature, translation, code generation, support for data visualization<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Required, in the location your journal specifies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"133\">3. Prohibited<\/td>\n<td width=\"312\">Fabricating data or references, generating results, altering primary research images, simulating participants<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Not acceptable at any level of disclosure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_practical_working_limit\"><\/span>A practical working limit<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Keep AI out of the Results as much as possible: these must come from your data and your judgment. If necessary, use AI only for language editing here.<\/li>\n<li>Draft the Introduction and Discussion yourself, then use AI to tighten what you wrote. Always supply PDFs or URLs of articles that you want to cite in these sections, and never ask AI to combine literature search and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-ai-to-write-a-literature-review-without-hallucinations-prompts-and-steps-for-human-validation\/\">writing a review of the literature<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-verify-ai-generated-citations-references-steps-checklist-examples\/\">Verify every reference<\/a> in the original source; never trust an AI-supplied citation. Keep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/ai-literature-search-how-to-use-ai-for-searching-evaluating-and-synthesizing-research\/\">AI-assisted literature search<\/a> separate from AI-assisted writing.<\/li>\n<li>Rewrite the key implications or arguments of your paper in your own voice so the manuscript reflects your analysis, not the model&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li>Retain prompts, outputs, and dated drafts: several publishers may ask for documentation. Many AI tools provide permanent, shareable links of their output.<\/li>\n<li>If AI generates anything that you do not understand or cannot defend, it should not be in the paper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_30_rule_in_AI\"><\/span>What is the 30% rule in AI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The 30% rule is an informal rule of thumb, not a policy. It usually means keeping an AI detector score below 30%. No publisher, standards body, or ethics organization recognizes it, and it appears in no instructions for authors.<\/p>\n<p>The phrase circulates in 2 unrelated contexts. In student and forum discussions it describes a detector threshold. In business writing it describes a 70\/30 split between automated and human work. Neither has any standing in scholarly publishing.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_the_30_rule_fails_as_a_compliance_test\"><\/span>Why the 30% rule fails as a compliance test<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Detector percentages estimate style, not authorship, and different tools return different scores on identical text.<\/li>\n<li>A manuscript scoring 5% can still breach policy if undisclosed AI wrote the Discussion.<\/li>\n<li>A manuscript scoring 45% can be fully compliant if the writing is human, heavily edited, and properly declared.<\/li>\n<li>Editors judge intellectual contribution and transparency, not a number on a dashboard.<\/li>\n<li>Chasing a threshold encourages paraphrasing tools, which introduce errors and can themselves trigger integrity checks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_journals_detect_AI\"><\/span>Will journals detect AI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Often, yes, though rarely through detection software alone. BMJ states it may use screening tools before and after publication, and most publishers run integrity checks at submission. In practice, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/ai-detection-in-academic-writing-ai-detectors-accuracy-false-positives-and-researcher-concerns\/#What_do_journal_editors_and_reviewers_really_pay_attention_to\">editors and reviewers usually notice content problems first.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_undisclosed_AI_use_actually_surfaces\"><\/span>How undisclosed AI use actually surfaces<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Automated integrity screening at submission, alongside plagiarism and image checks.<\/li>\n<li>Reviewer suspicion: Sage instructs reviewers who suspect undisclosed generative AI to raise it with the editor.<\/li>\n<li>References that cannot be located, which copy editors and production teams catch routinely.<\/li>\n<li>Numbers in the text that contradict the tables, figures, or abstract.<\/li>\n<li>Sophisticated prose that doesn\u2019t say anything meaningful or hold together logically (called \u201cAI slop\u201d on social media).<\/li>\n<li>Reader reports after publication, which can trigger a correction, an expression of concern, or a retraction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Disclosure rates suggest most AI use still goes undeclared. A cross-sectional study of 25,114 submissions to 49 BMJ Group journals found that only <a href=\"https:\/\/peerreviewcongress.org\/abstract\/authors-self-disclosed-use-of-artificial-intelligence-in-research-submissions-to-49-bmj-group-biomedical-journals\">5.7% disclosed AI use<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AI Usage for Research | What&#039;s Okay and What&#039;s Not\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/N_-9cUfBCfM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_automated_AI_detectors_accurate\"><\/span>Are automated AI detectors accurate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AI detectors currently are reliably enough to stand alone as evidence. Vendor claims and independent findings diverge sharply, and several universities disabled Turnitin\u2019s AI detector over false positive concerns. Treat any score as a prompt to look closer, not as proof.<\/p>\n<p>Many detectors measure perplexity: how predictable the wording is. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-academic-writing-definition-types-examples-characteristics\/\">Academic writing<\/a> is predictable by design, so precise scientific writing and non-native English can both score as machine-like. This is also why AI-generated text can also appear on a plagiarism scan; much of academic phrasing is standard (e.g., \u201cAll participants gave written informed consent\u201d).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_if_you_are_wrongly_flagged\"><\/span>What to do if you are wrongly flagged<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Ask which tool produced the score, which version, and what threshold was applied.<\/li>\n<li>Offer provenance: dated drafts, tracked changes, notes, outlines, and version history.<\/li>\n<li>Point to your disclosure statement if you did use AI within policy.<\/li>\n<li>Provide raw data, analysis scripts, and lab records where relevant.<\/li>\n<li>Ask the editor to assess the manuscript on verifiable content, not on a percentage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_I_get_flagged_for_AI_if_I_use_Grammarly\"><\/span>Will I get flagged for AI if I use Grammarly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Using Grammarly, Paperpal, or MS Word\u2019s spellcheck for spelling, grammar, and punctuation is not a policy breach at any major publisher, and it normally needs no disclosure. Its generative rewriting features are treated differently and should be declared.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_the_line_sits\"><\/span>Where the line sits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Generally exempt from disclosure:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Spelling, grammar, and punctuation correction<\/li>\n<li>Formatting of citations and references that you have provided the tool<\/li>\n<li>Consistency checks for tense, hyphenation, and reference formatting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Declare these:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Full-paragraph rewriting, regeneration, or &#8220;improve it&#8221; style features (including Copilot in MS Word)<\/li>\n<li>AI-generated first drafts, outlines, summaries, or abstracts<\/li>\n<li>Translation of substantial passages<\/li>\n<li>Any output that changes meaning, structure, emphasis, or argument<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_flags_for_AI_writing\"><\/span>Red flags for AI writing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Editors and reviewers look for patterns, not single words. The strongest signals are verifiable defects: references that do not exist, numbers that do not match the tables, and confident claims with no source behind them.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_flags_in_the_text\"><\/span>Red flags in the text<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Generic openings and closings that could introduce almost any field<\/li>\n<li>Confident assertions with no citation, or citations that do not support the claim made<\/li>\n<li>Uniform sentence rhythm and paragraphs of near-identical length<\/li>\n<li>Overuse of stock <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/effective-transition-words-for-research-papers-flow-in-academic-writing\/\">transitional phrases<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/what-is-hedging-language-meaning-examples-and-importance\/\">hedging phrases<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fluency that outstrips the depth of the analysis<\/li>\n<li>Leftover chatbot phrasing, such as references to a knowledge cutoff or to being a language model<\/li>\n<li>Abrupt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/active-vs-passive-voice-academic-writing\/\">shifts in voice<\/a> between sections written at different times<\/li>\n<li>Mixed spelling conventions within a single manuscript<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_flags_in_the_references\"><\/span>Red flags in the references<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Citations that cannot be located in any database<\/li>\n<li>DOIs that resolve to a different article, or that do not resolve at all<\/li>\n<li>Real authors paired with titles they never wrote<\/li>\n<li>Journal names that do not exist, or that are subtly misspelled<\/li>\n<li>Reference lists dominated by famous papers with none of the niche literature<\/li>\n<li>Publication dates that precede the method or technology being cited<\/li>\n<li>Page ranges and volume numbers that do not match<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Red_flags_in_figures_data_and_methods\"><\/span>Red flags in figures, data, and methods<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Values in the text that contradict the tables, figures, or abstract<\/li>\n<li>Statistical tests named but not reported, or reported without assumptions or confidence intervals<\/li>\n<li>Methods described too vaguely to reproduce<\/li>\n<li>Images with implausible anatomy, labels, scale bars, or repeating textures<\/li>\n<li>Data visualizations that cannot be traced back to a stated dataset<\/li>\n<li>Sample sizes that change between the abstract, methods, and results<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_declare_use_of_AI\"><\/span>How do I declare use of AI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Name the tool and version, state why and how you used it, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-check-for-hallucinations-in-ai-text-examples-and-checklist-for-researchers-and-students\/\">describe how you verified its output<\/a>, and confirm that you take responsibility for the entire paper. Place the statement where your target journal requires: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/methods-section-research-paper\/\">Methods,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-write-the-acknowledgments-section-of-a-research-paper-examples-and-tips\/\">Acknowledgments<\/a>, or a dedicated AI section.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_each_publisher_wants_the_statement\"><\/span>Where each publisher wants the statement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\"><strong>Publisher<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"464\"><strong>Placement of the AI disclosure<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Elsevier<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">A separate AI declaration section included at submission; the Methods section if AI formed part of the research methodology.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Springer Nature<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Introduction, Preface, or Acknowledgements; the Methods section or equivalent for journal articles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Wiley<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Methods or Acknowledgments, with a cover letter note at some journals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Taylor &amp; Francis<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">A specific AI usage disclosure statement within the article<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">Sage<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">Methods or Acknowledgements, depending on where the tool was used<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">BMJ<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">The contributor section, with a fuller description in Methods if used during the research<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">JAMA Network<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">The Acknowledgments section. JAMA also has extensive guidelines on when AI was part of the study methodology, including discussing bias specific to AI in the Discussion section.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"160\">IEEE<\/td>\n<td width=\"464\">The Acknowledgments section, identifying the affected sections of the article<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_every_disclosure_should_contain\"><\/span>What every disclosure should contain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Full name of the tool, its version or model, and the developer<\/li>\n<li>Dates on which the tool was used<\/li>\n<li>The specific sections or tasks affected<\/li>\n<li>The reason the tool was used<\/li>\n<li>The extent of human review, editing, and verification<\/li>\n<li>An explicit statement that the authors take full responsibility for the content<\/li>\n<li>Prompts, settings, and outputs as supplementary material where the journal asks for them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sample_AI_disclosure_statement_templates\"><\/span>Sample AI disclosure statement templates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4>Template 1, language and readability:<\/h4>\n<p>In preparing this manuscript, the authors used [tool name, version, developer] to improve language and readability. The authors subsequently reviewed and revised the text as required, and accept full responsibility for the content of the published article.<\/p>\n<h4>Template 2, literature search and synthesis:<\/h4>\n<p>The authors used [tool name, version, developer] on [dates] to identify and summarize literature relevant to the Introduction. Every source was independently located, read, and verified by the authors, who accept full responsibility for the accuracy of all citations and claims.<\/p>\n<h4>Template 3, AI used within the research:<\/h4>\n<p>[Tool name, version, developer] was used to [task], as described in the Methods. Prompts, model settings, and outputs are provided in the supplementary material. The authors verified all outputs and accept full responsibility for the analysis and conclusions.<\/p>\n<p>Adapt the wording to your journal&#8217;s preferred format. Unless the journal specifies otherwise, keep the statement in the manuscript rather than only in the cover letter.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_to_declare_use_of_AI_for_literature_search\"><\/span>Do I need to declare use of AI for literature search?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In most cases, yes. Wiley&#8217;s guidance covers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-use-ai-to-write-a-literature-review-without-hallucinations-prompts-and-steps-for-human-validation\/\">AI for literature review<\/a> and data collection explicitly, and Sage lists assistance with literature review and compilation of sources as a disclosable use. Elsevier treats research-stage AI use as a Methods item.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Declare it whenever AI selected, screened, ranked, extracted from, or summarized the sources you cite.<\/li>\n<li>Report it in the Methods section for systematic reviews and for any search intended to be reproducible. Although some tools claim that they can serve as the \u201csecond reviewer\u201d required in a systematic review design, not all journals accept using AI in place of a competent human reviewer.<\/li>\n<li>Give the tool, version, dates, queries, databases, and screening criteria so the search can be repeated. Some journals ask for prompts and shareable links to be included in supplementary materials, so always save these.<\/li>\n<li>Verify every record in the original database: AI tools invent plausible but non-existent citations.<\/li>\n<li>Ordinary database search engines that happen to rank results algorithmically are usually treated as standard tools. As long as you didn\u2019t use the AI component (e.g., you used Scopus but not Scopus AI), you don\u2019t need an AI declaration for these.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Systematic reviews carry the highest burden. If AI touched screening or data extraction, PRISMA-style reporting expects that step to be described in enough detail to reproduce, including how disagreements between the tool and a human reviewer were resolved. Be sure to stay abreast about development of the <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12694947\/\">PRISMA-trAIce Checklist<\/a> (not currently registered on EQUATOR Network at the time of writing this article).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_ChatGPT_be_listed_as_a_co-author\"><\/span>Can ChatGPT be listed as a co-author?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No. Elsevier, Springer Nature, Wiley, Taylor &amp; Francis, Sage, BMJ, the JAMA Network, and IEEE all prohibit it, as does COPE. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/first-author-vs-corresponding-author-in-a-research-paper-how-to-decide-authorship-with-examples-templates\/\">Authorship<\/a> requires accountability, consent to publication, and approval of a final version. Only humans can provide those.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/first-author-vs-corresponding-author-in-a-research-paper-how-to-decide-authorship-with-examples-templates\/#Can_AI_Be_Listed_as_an_Author_on_a_Research_Paper\">Do not list an AI tool in the author byline<\/a> or the contributor list.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/blog\/how-to-cite-generative-ai-in-academic-writing-apa-mla-chicago-ieee-turabian-and-ama\/\">citing an AI tool<\/a> as the primary source for a factual claim; cite the original literature instead.<\/li>\n<li>Every named author must still meet the journal&#8217;s and ICMJE authorship criteria independently of any AI use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_use_AI_to_create_figures_and_images\"><\/span>Can I use AI to create figures and images?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AI can be used for figures in some cases but never for research data. Publishers separate explanatory diagrams from research images. For example, Elsevier permits AI help with flow charts and schematics but prohibits AI-generated or AI alteration of primary research images.<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\"><strong>Image type<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"179\"><strong>Typical position<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"237\"><strong>Requirement if permitted<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Explanatory diagrams: flow charts, decision trees, timelines, schematics<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Often permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Disclose the tool and version in the caption and in the general AI statement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Data visualizations: plots, charts, graphs, heatmaps<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Permitted only when derived from the real underlying dataset<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Describe the reproducible analytical method in the Methods section<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Primary research images: microscopy, histology, blots, scans, patient images<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Not permitted<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Use established image processing software only; no AI adjustment of brightness or contrast<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Graphical abstracts<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Accepted by some publishers (e.g., Elsevier) but must comply with publisher\u2019s AI use guidelines<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Use dedicated scientific illustration tools rather than general-purpose image generators<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Journal cover art<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Case by case<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Obtain prior permission from the editor and publisher, and clear all third-party rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Springer Nature is stricter than most: generative AI images and video are generally not permitted for publication, with a narrow set of exceptions that must be legally sourced and clearly labeled as AI-generated. Confirm the rule before you invest time in artwork.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_peer_reviewers_and_editors_use_AI\"><\/span>Can peer reviewers and editors use AI?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Only in a limited supportive role, and never by uploading the manuscript. Elsevier, Springer Nature, Taylor &amp; Francis, and Sage all instruct reviewers and editors not to put unpublished manuscripts into generative AI tools.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re peer reviewing a manuscript:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not upload the manuscript, its figures, or any part of it into a public AI tool.<\/li>\n<li>Do not ask an AI tool to write, summarize, or evaluate the review report.<\/li>\n<li>Polishing the language of a review you wrote yourself is generally acceptable, with disclosure.<\/li>\n<li>Declare AI use in the review report, naming the tool and the purpose; basic spelling checks are exempt.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Elsevier asks reviewers and editors to use only private tools that do not retain, share, or train on inputs. Sage states that reviewers who generate reports inappropriately with AI will not be invited to review again.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_you_do_not_disclose_AI_use\"><\/span>What happens if you do not disclose AI use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Consequences scale with severity, from an editorial query to rejection, correction, or retraction. Sage states that editors may reject a submission at any stage if inappropriate undisclosed AI use comes to light.<\/p>\n<table width=\"624\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\"><strong>Situation<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"237\"><strong>Likely outcome<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"179\"><strong>Usual stage<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Undisclosed minor language editing<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Request to add or amend a statement<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Copy editing or production<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Undisclosed generative drafting<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Desk rejection or a demand for major revision<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Editorial screening or peer review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Fabricated or unverifiable references<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Rejection and possible research integrity investigation<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Any stage<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Fabricated or altered data or images<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Retraction and referral to the authors&#8217; institution<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Peer review or post-publication<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"208\">Reviewer uploads a manuscript to a public tool<\/td>\n<td width=\"237\">Removal from the reviewer pool and a confidentiality breach report<\/td>\n<td width=\"179\">Peer review<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sage and its editors investigate concerns jointly, following COPE guidance and the publisher&#8217;s corrections and retractions policy. A disclosed use that an editor considers inappropriate is usually recoverable; an undisclosed one is far harder to defend.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pre-submission_AI_compliance_checklist\"><\/span>Pre-submission AI compliance checklist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Read the target journal&#8217;s instructions for authors on the day you submit, not from memory.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm whether that journal restricts AI to language improvement only.<\/li>\n<li>List every AI tool used, with version, developer, and dates.<\/li>\n<li>Map each use to a tier: assistive, generative, or prohibited.<\/li>\n<li>Verify every reference individually in the original source.<\/li>\n<li>Check every number in the text against the tables, figures, and abstract.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm no AI touched primary research images or underlying data.<\/li>\n<li>Write the disclosure statement in the exact location the journal specifies.<\/li>\n<li>Keep prompts, outputs, and dated drafts in case the editor requests documentation.<\/li>\n<li>Confirm that all listed authors are human and meet the journal&#8217;s authorship criteria.<\/li>\n<li>Check the co-authors&#8217; contributions too: you are accountable for the whole submission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_use_ChatGPT_to_write_my_research_paper_abstract\"><\/span>Can I use ChatGPT to write my research paper abstract?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You can use it to tighten an abstract you drafted, but generating one from scratch is generative use that must be declared, and some journals allow language improvement only. Abstracts are also where fabricated numbers do the most damage, since they are indexed, quoted, and read far more often than the full text.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_I_need_to_disclose_AI_use_if_I_only_used_it_for_grammar_and_spelling\"><\/span>Do I need to disclose AI use if I only used it for grammar and spelling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Usually no. Elsevier, Springer Nature, Sage, and IEEE all treat basic grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks as exempt from disclosure. The obligation begins the moment the tool restructures sentences, reorganizes paragraphs, or drafts outlines or entire sections.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_my_paper_be_rejected_if_the_AI_detector_score_is_high\"><\/span>Will my paper be rejected if the AI detector score is high?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A score alone rarely causes rejection at a reputable journal, because detector output is contested evidence. Editors act on verifiable problems: fabricated references, unsupported claims, mismatched numbers, and flat, boilerplate writing that doesn\u2019t say anything meaningful. Keep dated drafts so you can demonstrate provenance if a score is queried.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_using_AI_in_a_research_paper_considered_plagiarism\"><\/span>Is using AI in a research paper considered plagiarism?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not automatically. Undisclosed generative use is normally handled as a transparency and authorship breach rather than plagiarism. It becomes plagiarism when the tool reproduces another author&#8217;s wording or ideas without attribution, which LLMs are known to do because they do not track sources reliably.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_cite_ChatGPT_in_APA_or_Vancouver_style\"><\/span>How do I cite ChatGPT in APA or Vancouver style?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Cite it as software, never as an author or as evidence for a claim. APA style formats a chatbot as a software reference: developer, year, model name with version, and a bracketed descriptor. Sage advises citing the original sources instead wherever possible, and reserving tool citations for generated images or visualizations.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_use_AI_to_translate_my_manuscript_into_English\"><\/span>Can I use AI to translate my manuscript into English?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes at most publishers. Taylor &amp; Francis lists translation among supported uses, and Sage lists translation of research materials as a disclosable use. Declare it, then have a professional editor check technical terminology, because machine translation often mishandles discipline-specific vocabulary.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_preprint_servers_require_AI_disclosure\"><\/span>Do preprint servers require AI disclosure?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Policies vary by server, so the safe practice is to include the same disclosure statement you would submit to a journal. Journals will see the preprint during screening, and any mismatch between the 2 versions invites questions about transparency that are easy to avoid.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_use_AI_to_help_respond_to_peer_reviewer_comments\"><\/span>Can I use AI to help respond to peer reviewer comments?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Treat the response letter like the manuscript: AI may polish your wording, but the scientific reasoning must be yours. Do not paste confidential reviewer comments or an unpublished manuscript into a public tool, and declare substantive AI help in the revised submission if the journal asks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Key Takeaways: AI assistance is allowed by almost every major publisher, but AI authorship is banned everywhere, and generative use must be disclosed. No publisher sets a permitted percentage: the test is whether the intellectual contribution is yours and whether you can be accountable for every claim. AI detector scores are unreliable, but journal editors [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_ayudawp_aiss_exclude":false,"_ayudawp_aiss_summary":"AI detector scores are unreliable, but journal editors and peer reviewers often can sense flat, boilerplate AI writing and become suspicious of your entire research. Check the journal, not just the publisher. &nbsp; These documents are revised frequently: Elsevier updated its journal policy in June 2026, and BMJ commits to reviewing its policy at least every 6 months. Do not paste confidential reviewer comments or an unpublished manuscript into a public tool, and declare substantive AI help in the revised submission if the journal asks.","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_provider":"manual","_ayudawp_aiss_summary_hash":"e5ba395f26b8a5de1e7d714aace31cb73e12eaab"},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Is AI Allowed in Journal Submissions? 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