Canada university similarity report guide: academic integrity before submission

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Updated September 6, 2026 · 6 minute read

Academic integrity starts during research

Good source practice is more than adding a bibliography at the end. As you research, record where ideas, data, quotations, and images come from. When you draft, distinguish your own interpretation from what the source says. This makes a later report easier to understand and makes revision more honest.

How to examine source matches

Start with the most substantial matches, then assess the context. A properly cited quotation may be fine. A reference list may contribute to a result. But an exact sentence without a citation, or a paragraph that follows a source’s structure too closely, needs closer attention. Do not rely on a number alone.

Questions to ask before you submit

• Have I cited every source I quoted, paraphrased, summarised, or used for evidence?
• Does each citation follow my faculty or course style guide?
• Have I represented sources accurately rather than taking claims out of context?
• Can I explain my research and drafting process if my instructor asks?
• Have I checked my university’s policy on collaboration and AI-assisted work?

Use feedback to strengthen future papers

If your instructor allows resubmission or feedback, use it to learn—not simply to change wording. Improve how you plan paragraphs, integrate evidence, and explain ideas in your own voice. Those habits help across courses, including graduate research and professional writing.