system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
My work has been plagiarized.

**\*\*\*RANDOM UPDATE**

**You guys! I read through the thesis again - specifically the parts this person copied from my work - and I just realized something. I AM SHOCKED and actually AMUSED that she literally copy/pasted the EXACT SAME FOUR paragraphs in consecutive order and pasted them in THREE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE PHD. I don't understand how her supervisors, degree committee, AND examiners did not notice that the EXACT same paragraphs have been placed in three different parts of the thesis?!?!?! How the heck was this passed through from a TOP INSTITUTION?! Her thesis supervisor even has a Wikipedia page - that's how important he is! I am almost tempted to share the name of this university because it is just absolutely unbelievable at this point that this was passed through various stages of a PhD committee and accepted. WOW.**

**\*\*\*\*\*\*IMPORTANT EDIT!!!**

**I uploaded this person's PhD thesis into a free online plagiarism checker (Scribbr, powered by Turnitin) and this is the report that has come back!!!**

**"High risk of plagiarism: We have detected several similarities. It's important to review the issues carefully to avoid committing plagiarism, which can lead to course failure, academic probation or a damaged reputation."**

**It seems this person has plagiarized a significant portion of this thesis from various sources!!! I am almost tempted to pay money to get Premium information about the exact nature of the plagiarism - including the percentage, sources, etc.!!!**

**EDIT AGAIN: I paid for Premium. It seems that OVER 50% OF THE PHD THESIS HAS BEEN PLAGIARIZED WORD FOR WORD from various sources!!! I am at a loss for words.**

**EDIT AGAIN: Thanks very much everyone for all your helpful suggestions and advice. I'm now working to take action. I will keep everyone updated if/once something happens!\*\*\*\*\*\***

I recently looked at my Google Scholar and noticed a new citation on one of my journal articles (published in 2019). It led me to a recently submitted (summer 2022) PhD thesis at a top institution in the US (top 10). The person's site of study is similar to my own PhD (finished in 2021 from a top UK university), but the topic is different and in a different field (though both are in the social sciences).

So I went through the thesis and this person cited me in a few places without quotes. I then noticed that at least 4 pages altogether have been COPY/PASTED WORD FOR WORD from my published journal article as well as my PhD thesis (available from my university repository, if requested). The person did not even care to change my British spelling to her American one (which features in the rest of the thesis).

I noticed also that she copy/pasted my entire Bibliography in its exact same formatting and simply added and removed references relevant to her topic, though the bulk of the references are mine - in my exact formatting. She also used my exact font, which is neither Times or Ariel or those generic ones. What really bothers me most (even more than the blatant word for word plagiarism), is that she copied the EXACT style of my writing - the way I introduced and concluded chapters, and even copied my style of description and imagery. For example, if I used certain phrasing to explain how I reached the site of study (it's an ethnography so the description is quite vivid), she also used similar phrasing. The way I explained my positionality, she somehow also found a way to similarly explain hers. The topic may be completely different, but the nuances of my writing style have been copied completely.

I'm just completely shocked and appalled that such a top institution doesnt use Turnitin for PhD theses (my university does)?! Because if they did it would pick up that 4 whole pages in her thesis have been lifted from my published work. I've contacted the university's Student Conduct office, but do you think I have a case even though the actual plagiarism is only 4 pages out of 100? When I write my complaint report, can I add in points about copying my Bibliography word for word and copying the style of my writing?

Is it even worth putting in a complaint? I feel disgusted by this person, especially since they've now gotten a prestigious postdoc fellowship and I'm sure will continue to advance well in their career with a PhD from a top institution.

Would love to hear any thoughts and advice.

EDIT: Thank you all very much for your suggestions and advice. I will write the complaint ASAP and try to involve the person's supervisors/degree committee/etc. Still cant believe this person got away with it from a top university. 😷
gpt
By the time one reaches PhD level, there's no excuse for not understanding what does and doesn't constitute plagiarism. The fact that 4 pages! Of her finished work have been lifted from your own is absolutely unacceptable. I'd absolutely be contacting the relevant people at the institution, and upholding the complaint, it's a very serious matter.