Your Report Just Came Back. What Does All This Mean?
You open your Turnitin Originality Report and see:
- A percentage at the top
- Color-coded text throughout your paper
- A list of matching sources
- Numbers and statistics you don't understand
Panic sets in. But understanding your Turnitin report isn't complicated—it just requires knowing what each element means.
This guide teaches you to interpret every aspect of your report like a professor would.
Part 1: The Overall Similarity Percentage
What It Shows
The percentage at the top (displayed as a colored bar) shows how much of your paper matches content in Turnitin's database.
Critical Understanding: This is NOT the plagiarism percentage. It's the matching percentage.
How to Interpret It
| Score | Color | Typical Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0-15% | Blue | Excellent - Very original work |
| 15-25% | Green | Good - Acceptable level of originality |
| 25-50% | Yellow | Caution - Requires review |
| 50%+ | Red | Significant concern - Likely issue |
Important Context
These are general guidelines. Different professors have different standards:
- Literature essay: 30-40% might be acceptable (quotations are expected)
- Science lab report: 20-30% might be acceptable (standard methodology)
- Philosophy paper: 15-20% might be expected (original arguments)
Part 2: The Color-Coding System
Understanding the Colors in Your Text
Blue (or Gray) Highlighting: Text that doesn't match anything in the database (original content)
Green: One or two matching phrases (minor match)
Yellow: Several matching phrases (moderate match)
Red: Large blocks of matching text (significant match)
Orange/Pink:** Extremely high match (very large matching sections)
What This Means
Green sections are usually fine—small matching phrases are normal.
Yellow sections need checking—make sure they're cited properly.
Red sections are serious—verify these are legitimate citations or paraphrases.
Part 3: The Source Breakdown
Understanding the Matching Sources List
Your report shows each source your paper matched, ranked by amount of matching content.
Example Report:
- 1. Wikipedia (15% match)
- 2. Journal of Psychology, Vol. 45 (8% match)
- 3. Another Student Paper (6% match)
- 4. Blog.com (4% match)
How to Interpret
Academic journal match: Expected and usually fine (especially if cited)
Wikipedia match: Be careful—Wikipedia isn't a citable source for most professors
Student paper match: This requires careful review. Did you plagiarize, or did you independently come to similar conclusions?
Blog match: Question the source's credibility. Would your professor approve this source?
Part 4: Analyzing Specific Matched Sections
Step-by-Step: How to Review Flagged Content
- Click on a highlighted section in your paper
- Review the matched source that appears
- Ask yourself:
- Is this section cited in my paper?
- Is it a direct quote (should be in quotation marks)?
- Is it a paraphrase (should still be cited)?
- Did I write this independently?
- Determine appropriate action:
- If properly cited: No action needed (this is legitimate)
- If paraphrased but not cited: Add citation
- If identical but not quoted: Rewrite and cite
- If you wrote this independently: Discuss with professor (may be coincidence)
Part 5: Identifying True Plagiarism vs. False Positives
Red Flag #1: Large Matching Sections Without Citations
What you see: A paragraph highlighted in red or orange that appears to match another source, but there's no citation in your paper.
What it means: Likely plagiarism or at least very poor paraphrasing.
What to do: Rewrite the section in your own words and add proper citation if you're using that source's ideas.
Red Flag #2: Student Paper Matches with High Similarity
What you see: Your paper shows 15%+ match to another student's paper.
What it means: Could be coincidence, or could indicate plagiarism between students.
What to do: Review the matching sections carefully. If you wrote independently, you can explain this to your professor. If you copied, you need to rewrite.
Red Flag #3: Matches to Wikipedia (When Not Supposed to Use It)
What you see: 8-12% of your paper matches Wikipedia content.
What it means: You may have used Wikipedia as a source without proper citation, or you paraphrased without attribution.
What to do: Most professors don't accept Wikipedia as a source. Replace those sections with information from academic sources, properly cited.
Part 6: Understanding the Statistics
Word Count
Shows total words in your paper. Useful for checking if you met length requirements.
Excluded Words
Common words, names, and short phrases that Turnitin doesn't count as matching (reduces false positives).
Longest Match
The longest continuous sequence of text that matches a source. A 50-word longest match is more concerning than a 5-word longest match.
Matching Phrases
Total number of distinct phrases that matched sources. More phrases = more matching content scattered through your paper.
Part 7: What the Report DOESN'T Tell You
❌ Intent
The report doesn't show whether you intentionally plagiarized or accidentally failed to cite.
❌ Quality
The report doesn't judge if your own analysis is good or bad—just if it's original.
❌ AI Generation
While newer versions have AI detection, the main report is about plagiarism, not AI content. (See Turnitin's separate AI checker for that.)
❌ Academic Value
A paper can be 100% original and still be a bad paper. Similarity score ≠paper quality.
Part 8: Common Report Misinterpretations
❌ Myth: Any match is bad
Reality: 20-30% match is normal for properly cited academic work.
❌ Myth: The similarity percentage is my plagiarism score
Reality: It's matching percentage. Plagiarism is a human judgment, not an algorithm output.
❌ Myth: If Turnitin doesn't flag it, there's no plagiarism
Reality: Turnitin misses 10-20% of plagiarism, especially from sources not in its database.
❌ Myth: All professors use the same standards for interpreting reports
Reality: Different professors have different acceptable levels based on their field and assignment.
Part 9: If Your Report Shows Concerning Results
Step 1: Don't Panic
A high similarity score doesn't automatically mean you'll fail or face plagiarism charges.
Step 2: Review Thoroughly
Examine every highlighted section. Assess whether each is cited properly.
Step 3: Create an Action Plan
- Make a list of sections that need improvement
- Decide whether to add citations, rewrite, or remove content
- Estimate time needed for revisions
Step 4: Consider Talking to Your Professor
If you're unsure whether your content is properly addressed, ask. Most professors prefer students who take plagiarism seriously.
Step 5: Make Revisions
Rewrite problematic sections in your own words or ensure proper citations.
Step 6: Resubmit (If Allowed)
Some professors allow revised submissions. If yours does, resubmit to show improvement.
FAQ: Turnitin Report Questions
Q: Will my professor see the same report I see?
A: Yes. You and your professor see the same report with the same highlighting and statistics.
Q: Can I delete or hide parts of my report?
A: No. The report is permanent and visible to your professor.
Q: Does Turnitin show me who wrote papers I matched to?
A: No, for privacy. You see that you matched "Student Paper" but not which student or which school.
Conclusion: Your Report Is a Tool, Not a Verdict
Turnitin's Originality Report is designed to help you and your professor assess your work's originality. It's a starting point for conversation, not a final judgment.
Understanding how to interpret it correctly means:
- Not panicking over normal similarity levels
- Identifying real problems that need fixing
- Improving your writing through better citation practices
- Building academic integrity habits
Use the report as a learning tool to understand how to write better, more original academic work.