You open the Similarity Report for a thesis on working capital in small manufacturers. In the literature review, an entire paragraph matches one journal article. In the methods chapter, Turnitin highlights a short phrase about semi-structured interviews. The references page also has several matches. All three contribute to the number on the screen, but only a side-by-side check will tell you what needs editing. Start with the literature review paragraph. If the order of its ideas follows the article sentence by sentence, the revision needs to begin with what you want that paragraph to say about your own research.
Quick answer
To reduce similarity in Turnitin, open the largest matches and compare each highlighted passage with its source. The percentage measures how much text matches sources Turnitin checks against. Rewrite passages that follow a source too closely, mark exact wording as a quotation, and add missing citations wherever you rely on someone else’s work. Turnitin’s guide to the similarity score
What Is Raising Your Turnitin Similarity Index?
If you’re trying to work out how to reduce the similarity index in Turnitin, open the source list and click the largest match. Check where it falls in your thesis and whether it covers one continuous passage or several shorter phrases. When a match points to a website that reproduces a published paper, locate the original paper before checking your attribution. Use the table below to decide what each match needs. Turnitin’s guide to interpreting matches
Close paraphraseDoes your paragraph follow the source’s sentence order or repeat distinctive phrasing?Rebuild it around the point you need to make. Keep the citation and check that the revised wording preserves the finding.Direct quotationAre the exact words marked as a quotation, with the required citation and locator?Add quotation marks or block formatting as your citation style requires. Include the page or other locator where applicable.Standard methods wordingIs the match a routine term, or does it cover a full procedure copied from another study?Keep established terms. Describe what you actually did and cite the protocol you used or adapted.Reference entriesAre the highlighted lines complete and accurate bibliographic entries?Keep the publication details intact. Correct genuine formatting errors and follow your university’s report settings.Earlier submissionDoes the match line up with a draft or synopsis you previously submitted?Note the matched pages and submission details. Ask your supervisor or instructor to verify the source.
How to Reduce Your Turnitin Similarity Score, Match by Match
Rewrite a paragraph that follows one source too closely.
Read the original, set it aside, and write down the finding your thesis actually needs. Then decide where that finding belongs in your argument. Reopen the source after rewriting to check that your version keeps the study’s scope and meaning.
The following example uses a fictional source.
Source wording: “Small manufacturers with delayed customer payments often postpone purchases of raw materials, which can interrupt scheduled production” (Rao, 2024).
Before: Small manufacturers facing late customer payments often delay buying raw materials, which can disrupt planned production (Rao, 2024).
After: For this study, one consequence of late payment is worth tracking directly: whether a firm has to put off a materials order. Rao (2024) links those purchasing delays to production interruptions among small manufacturers.
The revised paragraph opens with a decision the researcher is making about their own study. The second sentence credits Rao for the link between purchasing delays and interrupted production.
Fix a quotation or missing citation.
Quote a definition when its wording matters to your analysis, such as when you are comparing how two authors define the same concept. Mark the quoted words and give the source and locator in the required style. If you only need the finding, explain it in your own sentence and cite it where it appears. A source in the bibliography still needs an in-text citation at the relevant claim. Guide to organising sources and citations for a literature review
Investigate a match to your earlier draft.
If the report identifies a student submission that may be yours, record the current chapter and page numbers, the source label shown in the report, and the date, course or assignment name, and submission ID of your earlier upload if available. Share those details with your supervisor or instructor and ask them to verify the match and apply your institution’s rules. A saved earlier draft can match a later submission if Turnitin compares the two. Turnitin’s examples of matches to earlier drafts
Why the Similarity Score Can Change When You Apply Filters
Where available, quote and bibliography filters can remove detected quotations and reference entries from the displayed calculation. A small-match filter can hide matches below the selected threshold. These settings can make a long passage easier to spot among dozens of short highlights. Student-applied exclusions are temporary. Your instructor sees the official score based on the settings that apply to their report. Ask your instructor which settings your department uses for thesis review. Turnitin’s guide to exclusions and filters
How to Avoid Similarity in Turnitin Before Your Next Submission
- Label exact wording in your notes. Put copied lines in quotation marks immediately and record the page number.
- Outline paragraphs around your research question. Give each paragraph a job, such as comparing findings or justifying a variable.
- Check every direct quotation. Compare it with the original and verify the quotation formatting and locator.
- Trace borrowed claims to their sources. Check that each in-text citation points to the right reference entry, especially after moving paragraphs between chapters.
- Follow your university’s submission instructions. Check where to upload drafts, whether resubmissions are allowed, and which report settings apply to the final review.
If your chapter still reads like a series of paper summaries, group your sources around the points where they agree or differ. Guide to writing a thesis literature review
Frequently Asked Questions
What similarity percentage is acceptable for a thesis?
Check the current rules for your university, department and degree programme. Ask which sections and exclusions count toward any stated limit, and have your supervisor review significant matches even when your score meets that limit. Turnitin’s student guide to similarity scores
Why is Turnitin highlighting text I already cited?
Cited text can still match a source. Check whether the passage is a properly marked quotation or a paraphrase that still follows the source’s wording closely. The first may need only a formatting check, while the second needs a rewrite with the citation retained.
Can my earlier draft increase my similarity score?
Yes. If Turnitin compares your current file with a stored copy of an earlier draft, the overlapping passages may appear as matches. Give your instructor the details of both submissions so they can investigate.
Do references count toward the similarity index?
Reference entries can contribute to the displayed score when the bibliography is included. Ask which bibliography settings your institution uses and keep the citation details accurate.
Can two papers with the same score need different revisions?
Yes. A paper with several correctly marked quotations may need a quick citation check. Another paper with the same score and an unattributed paragraph may need substantial rewriting. Read the passages before deciding how much work the draft needs.
Start With the Longest Highlighted Passage
Open it beside the source and read both from beginning to end. If the passage borrows the source’s wording or structure, decide whether the exact wording belongs in a quotation or whether the idea needs to be explained in your own terms. For a final check of citations and layout, see .
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