SALT Adopts AI Policy for Authors

Posted on Apr 24, 2026
AI Policy For Authors

Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL (SALT) adopts the following policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) in submitted manuscripts. This policy may be updated periodically as AI tools and disciplinary norms in applied linguistics and TESOL evolve.

Authorship

In accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) authorship criteria, AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) cannot be listed as authors. They do not meet the criteria for authorship as they cannot be held accountable for the work, cannot approve the final version of the manuscript, and possess no legal standing. However, use of AI does not affect authorship eligibility for human contributors.

Uses
  1. Writing Assistance: AI tools may be used to improve the readability and language of the manuscript (e.g., grammar checking, editing). However, AI should not be used to replace authorial reasoning, interpretation, or theoretical framing (e.g., generating the underlying scientific insights, drawing conclusions, or producing the core arguments of the paper).
  2. Data Analysis: AI may be used to assist in coding or analyzing data, provided that authors describe the AI system used, the task performed, key prompts or instructions where relevant, human verification steps, and any limitations affecting reproducibility.
  3. Images: The use of AI to generate illustrative figures and analytic visualizations must be clearly marked in the figure caption. AI-generated images are not acceptable in empirical results sections.
  4. Response to Reviewer Comments: Authors may use AI tools to help draft or refine responses to reviewer feedback, provided that the substance of the response and reasoning used to address the feedback remain the work of the authors.
Disclosure
  1. Where to Disclose: Authors must include a Declaration of AI Use statement in a dedicated section before the References. If AI was used in data analysis or other methodological procedures, that use must also be described in sufficient detail in the Methods section.
  2. What to Disclose: The statement must specify the name of the tool, the version (e.g., GPT-4o, GPT-5), and how it was used (e.g., “used for copy-editing,” “used to generate Python code for data analysis”).
  3. Example of a Disclosure Statement: During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used ChatGPT (OpenAI, Model GPT-4o) to improve the clarity and grammatical accuracy of the Introduction and Discussion sections. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.
Accountability

Authors are fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, including those parts generated by an AI tool. Authors are liable for any breach of publication ethics, including plagiarism, bias, or the presence of inaccurate information (“hallucinations”) and non-existent citations generated by AI, regardless of whether AI use is disclosed.

Compliance

The journal reserves the right to evaluate compliance with this policy through editorial judgment and the use of various internal or external assessment tools. SALT does not commit to any single detection technology but maintains the right to investigate submissions that appear to deviate from these guidelines.