Prevention is better than cure. Plagiarism should be addressed through an instructional system focused on research integrity. Many institutions have introduced courses on responsible research conduct, but these mainly benefit students. Experienced researchers often lack such training. Research integrity must be incorporated into continuing education for this group. Training should go beyond major ethical violations like fabrication and plagiarism, focusing instead on ethical writing principles. This approach assumes that written works represent an implicit contract with readers, implying originality and accuracy. While plagiarism and misconduct cannot be entirely eliminated, improving detection and punishment is essential. Ethical writing training indirectly addresses other misconduct forms. Internalizing ethical writing principles can reduce plagiarism and extend to other areas of research and personal conduct. The article thanks Maryellen Reardon for comments and notes that the author has written an online resource on avoiding plagiarism. Evidence-based medicine emphasizes rigorous standards for clinical interventions. However, its own tools may lack sufficient evidence. Funnel plots, used to detect publication bias in meta-analyses, are widely used but have limitations. They may not always reflect publication bias due to factors like study heterogeneity and sample size. The Cochrane Handbook acknowledges issues with funnel plots but provides extensive guidance. The QUOROM and MOOSE statements recommend using funnel plots for publication bias detection. A review of BMJ articles shows funnel plots are often used for publication bias testing, but many studies do not perform these tests or interpret results accurately. Evaluation of funnel plots reveals technical and interpretative challenges. The validity of statistical tests for publication bias depends on assumptions that are often unmet in practice. Funnel plots may not reliably detect publication bias due to study heterogeneity and other factors. The prevention of publication bias is more desirable than diagnostic or corrective analysis. Evidence-based methods, including funnel plots, should be based on solid evidence. Misleading tests may lead to poor treatment decisions. A symmetrical funnel plot may not reflect true bias, and an asymmetrical one may not necessarily indicate publication bias. The authors have contributed to methodological research in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The manuscript was written by JPAI and JL, with critical comments from other authors. Funding was provided by AHRQ. No competing interests were declared. The article discusses the Flynn effect, a rise in population IQ scores, and its possible link to increased complex problem-solving skills from media and computer games. BMJ Learning offers interactive case histories to help medical professionals learn in a safe environment.Prevention is better than cure. Plagiarism should be addressed through an instructional system focused on research integrity. Many institutions have introduced courses on responsible research conduct, but these mainly benefit students. Experienced researchers often lack such training. Research integrity must be incorporated into continuing education for this group. Training should go beyond major ethical violations like fabrication and plagiarism, focusing instead on ethical writing principles. This approach assumes that written works represent an implicit contract with readers, implying originality and accuracy. While plagiarism and misconduct cannot be entirely eliminated, improving detection and punishment is essential. Ethical writing training indirectly addresses other misconduct forms. Internalizing ethical writing principles can reduce plagiarism and extend to other areas of research and personal conduct. The article thanks Maryellen Reardon for comments and notes that the author has written an online resource on avoiding plagiarism. Evidence-based medicine emphasizes rigorous standards for clinical interventions. However, its own tools may lack sufficient evidence. Funnel plots, used to detect publication bias in meta-analyses, are widely used but have limitations. They may not always reflect publication bias due to factors like study heterogeneity and sample size. The Cochrane Handbook acknowledges issues with funnel plots but provides extensive guidance. The QUOROM and MOOSE statements recommend using funnel plots for publication bias detection. A review of BMJ articles shows funnel plots are often used for publication bias testing, but many studies do not perform these tests or interpret results accurately. Evaluation of funnel plots reveals technical and interpretative challenges. The validity of statistical tests for publication bias depends on assumptions that are often unmet in practice. Funnel plots may not reliably detect publication bias due to study heterogeneity and other factors. The prevention of publication bias is more desirable than diagnostic or corrective analysis. Evidence-based methods, including funnel plots, should be based on solid evidence. Misleading tests may lead to poor treatment decisions. A symmetrical funnel plot may not reflect true bias, and an asymmetrical one may not necessarily indicate publication bias. The authors have contributed to methodological research in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The manuscript was written by JPAI and JL, with critical comments from other authors. Funding was provided by AHRQ. No competing interests were declared. The article discusses the Flynn effect, a rise in population IQ scores, and its possible link to increased complex problem-solving skills from media and computer games. BMJ Learning offers interactive case histories to help medical professionals learn in a safe environment.