Pre-submission guide

How to check a document online before submission

A report is most useful when you give yourself enough time to understand the matches, improve your citations, and make your own academic decisions.

Home / Guides / Checking a document online

Updated September 6, 2026 · 6 minute read

Use a check as part of revision—not a replacement for it

Students often search for a “Turnitin check online” when a deadline is close. The useful goal is not to chase a particular number. It is to see where wording overlaps with published material, check whether every borrowed idea is properly acknowledged, and make a calm decision about the final draft.

A similarity report highlights matching text. It does not decide whether plagiarism has happened. Quotations, reference lists, standard phrases, assignment instructions, and correctly cited material can all contribute to a percentage. Read the underlying matches before changing anything.

A responsible pre-submission workflow

  1. Finish your own draft first. Make sure the argument, evidence, and structure reflect your own work.
  2. Check citations and quotation marks. Every direct quote needs clear quotation marks and the required citation style.
  3. Review the report match by match. Look at the source and context; do not react only to the total percentage.
  4. Revise genuinely. Add your own analysis, cite the original source, or quote correctly where appropriate.
  5. Proofread the final version. Check references, headings, tables, spelling, and your institution's submission rules.
Important: A low percentage is not a guarantee of academic integrity, and a higher percentage is not automatically misconduct. Your course policy and instructor's judgment matter.

What should you prepare before uploading?

Use the final file format requested by your institution, normally Word or text-based PDF. Remove tracked changes, comments, draft notes, and personal information that is not required. Keep a copy of your original file and your reference list. If your school has a specific rule about pre-submission checks or repositories, follow that policy first.

When should you run the check?

Do it early enough to revise responsibly. For an important essay, thesis chapter, or dissertation, plan the report review before the final day. You need time to check source matches rather than making rushed wording changes that weaken your writing or citation accuracy.

Ready to review your draft?

Start a document check, then use the report to support careful citation and revision.

Check my document

Further reading

Turnitin explains that a similarity score shows matched text and should be reviewed in context. Read Turnitin’s similarity-report guidance.