Self-citations: How much is too much?
What is a self-citation?
A self-citation is a reference in a document to work authored or co-authored by the same author(s).
In collaborative research, overlap may also arise through shared co-authors rather than identical author lists.
Is it OK to cite myself?
Yes. Self-citation is common and often appropriate. Researchers frequently build iteratively on their own previous work, particularly in specialized fields or long-term research programmes.
In fact, citing one’s own previous work is often necessary to properly situate new research within its development over time. Reusing substantial parts of previously published work without appropriate acknowledgement or citation is sometimes referred to as self-plagiarism in academic publishing and is generally discouraged.
How much self-citation is too much?
There is no universal threshold for how much self-citation is considered too high. Appropriate levels vary significantly depending on the subject area, type of document, and the extent to which the research builds on previous work by the same authors.
Self-citation becomes more notable when it makes up a large proportion of the reference list or when key ideas are supported primarily by an author’s own prior publications rather than a broader range of relevant sources. In some cases this may be expected, particularly in highly specialized or long-running research programmes.
Some authors deliberately include excessive self-citations in an attempt to increase citation-based metrics such as h-index values. This is considered inappropriate in academic publishing.
However, most self-citation reflects normal scholarly practice and appropriate engagement with prior work.
The key consideration is whether the references collectively reflect the wider body of relevant research, rather than focusing predominantly on a single research lineage.
How does Thrix check self-citations?
Thrix adds this comment when it detects a high level of self-citation in the references. This may occur where there is a high proportion of self-cited references or a high absolute number of self-citations.
Example comment
9 references (25%) appear to have the same authors as this document, and 14 references (39%) appear to share at least one co-author. Self-citations may be appropriate depending on the subject and document type. However, you may want to consider whether sufficient engagement with work by other researchers has been included.
How should I respond if Thrix flags high self-citation?
Review the references identified in the comment and consider whether they provide a balanced representation of relevant work. In particular, consider whether key contributions from other researchers have been included alongside related work by the same authors.
In many cases, no change may be needed. Higher levels of self-citation can be expected in some disciplines, document types, or collaborative research environments. However, if important external work appears to be missing, you may wish to consider whether additional references would improve the breadth and balance of the reference list.
You may also wish to review whether all self-citations included are necessary and relevant. Consider removing self-citations that are outdated, superseded by later work, only loosely related, or included primarily for completeness.
Self-citation is a normal and important part of academic writing. The aim is not to avoid citing your own work, but to ensure that your references accurately reflect the wider body of relevant research. Thrix highlights unusually high levels of self-citation to help you review whether your reference list is appropriately balanced for your document.