Where to Check Similarity on Turnitin Before Submitting A Complete Guide for StudentsAcademic honesty is a top priority in education, and tools like Turnitin play a vital role in maintaining it. One of the main features of Turnitin is the similarity check, which helps students and instructors identify copied or closely matched text from other sources. Before submitting any paper, it’s a good idea to check the Turnitin similarity score to ensure your work is original.
This topic will guide you through where and how to check similarity on Turnitin before submitting your assignment, as well as how to understand and reduce similarity if needed.
What Is Turnitin?
Turnitin is an online plagiarism detection software widely used in schools, colleges, and universities around the world. It compares your submission with
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Online sources (websites, topics, etc.)
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Previously submitted papers
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Academic journals and publications
The system provides a similarity report, highlighting matched content and showing a similarity percentage score.
Why Check Similarity Before Submitting?
Checking your similarity report before final submission helps you
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Identify unintentional plagiarism
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Fix improperly cited content
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Improve originality
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Avoid academic penalties
Knowing what your report shows allows you to revise your work to meet academic standards.
Where to Check Similarity on Turnitin
Let’s look at how and where you can check similarity on Turnitin before the final submission.
1. Use the Draft Submission Option (If Available)
Many institutions allow students to submit a draft version of their work to Turnitin. This is often set up by the instructor and is typically called a ‘draft assignment’ or ‘test submission’.
Here’s how to check similarity in a draft submission
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Log in to your Turnitin account (through your school portal or LMS like Moodle, Canvas, or Blackboard).
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Go to the class and assignment titled as Draft or Practice.
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Upload your file (PDF, Word, or other accepted formats).
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Wait for the similarity report to generate. This can take from a few minutes to about 24 hours.
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Click on the similarity score to open the detailed report.
This method is safe, as the draft usually doesn’t get stored in the official Turnitin repository, so the final submission won’t show a high match to your own work.
2. Check Through Your Institution’s Learning Management System (LMS)
Some institutions integrate Turnitin into their LMS. You can check similarity as part of your regular assignment workflow. Depending on the settings made by your instructor, you might be able to
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See a similarity score after submission
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Resubmit your paper multiple times before the deadline
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View a detailed breakdown of the matched sources
Log into your LMS, find your course, and look for Turnitin assignments. If the option is enabled, submit your paper early and use the report to make revisions.
3. Use Turnitin Self-Check Tools (If Provided)
Some universities or libraries offer a Turnitin self-check portal. These tools are made available for students to check their work before formal submission.
To use this
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Ask your instructor or librarian if your school offers this option.
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You may need a special class ID and enrollment key.
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Once enrolled, you can upload your paper and get a similarity report.
Note Not all institutions provide this access, so it depends on your school’s policies.
Understanding the Similarity Report
The Turnitin similarity report gives you a percentage that indicates how much of your paper matches other sources. Here’s how to interpret it
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0-10% Generally acceptable and considered original.
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11-24% Might be acceptable, but review to ensure proper citations.
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25% or more Too high likely includes too many quotes or copied material.
The report also uses colors
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Blue No matches
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Green 1%-24%
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Yellow 25%-49%
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Orange 50%-74%
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Red 75%-100%
Review the highlighted areas in the report to see which sections are problematic.
How to Reduce Turnitin Similarity
If your similarity score is too high, don’t panic. You can revise your paper using the following tips
a. Paraphrase Properly
Avoid copying phrases directly. Rephrase the information using your own words while maintaining the original meaning.
b. Use Quotations Sparingly
Use direct quotes only when necessary, and always put them in quotation marks with proper citation.
c. Cite Your Sources Correctly
Follow the required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Even paraphrased content must be credited.
d. Avoid Long Block Texts from One Source
Don’t rely heavily on one source. Combine information from various materials and add your own analysis.
Best Practices Before Final Submission
To make the most of Turnitin and avoid plagiarism issues
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Submit drafts early to get your report before the deadline.
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Allow time to revise your work based on the similarity feedback.
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Understand your school’s policies on acceptable similarity scores.
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Always keep a backup of your submitted document for reference.
What If Turnitin Shows a High Similarity to Your Own Work?
This can happen if
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You already submitted the same work previously.
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You submitted your draft to a Turnitin repository.
In this case, you’ll need to contact your instructor to explain the situation. Some instructors can exclude certain sources or reset the submission status.
Knowing where to check similarity on Turnitin before submitting helps you stay in control of your academic work. Whether it’s through a draft submission, your LMS, or a self-check tool, using Turnitin wisely can help you produce more original content and avoid unintentional plagiarism.
Always aim to submit your assignments early, review your similarity report carefully, and revise your work as needed. By doing so, you not only improve your writing but also demonstrate academic integrity and responsibility.