How to Check Plagiarism on Turnitin: A Step-by-Step Guide

Academic integrity is at the core of every credible assignment, research paper, and thesis. With increasing access to digital content, ensuring originality has become more important than ever. That’s where Turnitin comes in — the most reliable plagiarism detection tool used by schools and universities worldwide.

If you're asking, "How do I check plagiarism on Turnitin?", this step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process — from submission to interpreting the report — so you can ensure your work is completely original.

✅ What is Turnitin?

Turnitin is a web-based plagiarism checker designed for academic use. It compares submitted content against:

• Billions of web pages

• Online journals and eBooks

• Academic research databases

• Previously submitted student papers

Turnitin doesn’t just detect copy-paste plagiarism. It also flags poorly paraphrased content and even identifies AI-generated text. The result is a Similarity Report — a detailed breakdown of any matches found in your document.

📥 How to Check Plagiarism on Turnitin: Step-by-Step

Here’s exactly how you can check plagiarism using Turnitin, whether through your institution or via a trusted external service.

🟢 Step 1: Access Turnitin

Most users access Turnitin in one of two ways:

• Through your school or college: If your institution has a Turnitin subscription, log in through your LMS (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, or Google Classroom).

• Through a verified provider: If you don’t have direct access, you can request a Turnitin plagiarism check through a trusted source like our Research Guide.

🟢 Step 2: Upload Your File

• Locate the assignment portal or Turnitin interface.

• Upload your document (DOCX, PDF, or TXT format).

• Provide a title and confirm the submission.

• You’ll receive a digital receipt once it’s uploaded.

📌 Tip: Submit drafts if your instructor has enabled multiple attempts.

🟢 Step 3: Wait for the Similarity Report

• After submission, Turnitin starts scanning your file.

• Report generation typically takes 5–30 minutes, but it may vary.

• Once ready, you'll see a Similarity Score in percentage.

🟢 Step 4: Open the Plagiarism Report

Click the score to view a detailed Similarity Report. The report will show:

• Percentage of matched content

• Color-coded text highlights for plagiarized or matched phrases

• Exact sources with links and document titles

• Match overview with each instance of duplication

🟢 Step 5: Interpret the Results

Here’s how to understand your report:

Turnitin also detects AI-generated content, so if you've used tools like ChatGPT, make sure your ideas are original and not entirely AI-written.

🔄 What If Your Plagiarism Is High?

If your Similarity Index is too high:

• Check all flagged content: See if citations are missing or incorrect.

• Paraphrase better: Rewrite in your own words instead of just changing a few terms.

• Quote and cite: Use proper quotation marks and references.

• Use Turnitin's resubmission feature: If allowed, revise and resubmit.

🎓 Why Check Plagiarism Before Submitting?

• ✅ Avoid academic penalties or rejection

• ✅ Build your credibility as a researcher or student

• ✅ Learn proper citation and paraphrasing

• ✅ Ensure compliance with your institution’s policies

📍 Don’t Have Access to Turnitin?

If you’re an independent researcher, writer, or student without Turnitin access through a school, you can request a full plagiarism report (with AI detection) through our trusted Research Guide.

You’ll receive:

• ✅ Detailed Similarity Report

• ✅ AI Detection Result

• ✅ Feedback for revision if needed

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to check plagiarism on Turnitin is a valuable skill for any student, researcher, or writer. By following the correct process, reviewing your report carefully, and making necessary revisions, you ensure your content is both ethical and high-quality.

Turnitin doesn’t just protect you from plagiarism — it teaches you how to write better.

For Turnitin checks, AI detection, or academic guidance, visit our Research Guide How to Check Plagiarism on Turnitin and get expert support today.