Start with the reason for the match
When a report highlights a passage, first identify what it is. It may be a correctly quoted source, a reference entry, a common phrase, a required template, or a section that is too close to someone else's wording. The right response depends on that context—not on the percentage alone.
Four sound ways to improve a draft
1. Quote direct language accurately
When the exact wording is important, use quotation marks or your required block-quote format and provide a complete citation. Do not lightly rewrite a distinctive sentence merely to avoid a match.
2. Paraphrase from understanding
Read the source, make notes, then explain the idea in a different structure and in your own academic voice. A synonym swap is not genuine paraphrasing. Cite the original source even when the wording is entirely yours.
3. Add your own analysis
Explain why the evidence matters to your argument. Compare authors, assess limitations, connect theory to your data, or state your reasoned conclusion. This is where academic work becomes yours.
4. Keep a careful source trail
Maintain a reference manager or research notes while drafting. It is much easier to cite correctly as you write than to reconstruct sources at the end of a long project.
Shortcuts to avoid
- Do not use hidden characters, substitutions, translation loops, or text spinners.
- Do not remove valid citations to make a score appear lower.
- Do not copy a source and rearrange a few words.
- Do not rely on a number as proof that an assignment meets your institution's rules.
Use a report to guide meaningful revision
Check a working draft, review each source match, and leave time for careful improvements.
Check my documentFurther reading
Turnitin’s student materials describe similarity information as support for improving writing and source use. Read the student guide.