How to reduce plagiarism percentage in Turnitin
Every academic seeks to present original content, and Turnitin often stands as the gatekeeper to ensure the authenticity of written works. If you have an essay or paper that seems to have a high similarity index on Turnitin, this guide will help you navigate through the reduction process. Before delving deep, let’s understand what Turnitin is truly scanning for.
5 Ways to Reduce Similarity on Turnitin
Understanding Turnitin’s process is the first step. Now, let’s explore actionable steps to reduce that similarity score.
1. Cite Your Sources Appropriately
Citation is vital in academic works. Ensure your paper has in-text citations and a referenced bibliography. Whether you’re using APA, MLA, Turabian, or Chicago style, proper citation can greatly decrease similarity percentages.
2. Implement Double Quotation Marks
For any direct quotations, always use double quotation marks (“…”). Turnitin recognizes these and will not flag the content as plagiarized. Remember, single quotation marks won’t work in this context.
3. Minimize Overquotation
While quoting is vital, excessive use can suggest a lack of originality. If specific terminology cannot be altered without changing its meaning, consider using indirect quotations.
4. Master the Art of Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing isn’t merely changing a few words here and there. It’s about understanding the content and expressing it in an entirely new manner. Avoid just using synonyms as Turnitin can detect the similarity in the structure of the sentence.
5. Refrain from Word-to-Word Copying
Even if you exclude minor matches, Turnitin is adept at identifying similarities in phrasing. It’s always best to use your own words as much as possible.
How Does Turnitin Scan for Similarity?
It’s crucial to note that Turnitin doesn’t directly detect plagiarism. Instead, it showcases the level of similarity between your submission and the vast array of resources in its database.
What Makes Up Turnitin’s Database?
- Previously submitted papers by students.
- Publicly available online content, both archived and current.
- Publications like newspapers, journals, and books.
This vast resource is due to Turnitin’s affiliations with library databases, subscription-based publications, publishers, and digital reference collections.
How to Circumvent Turnitin Detection
If you’re looking to work around Turnitin, here are some strategies:
| Method | Description |
| Change Document Format | Converting your document from Word to formats like PDF can sometimes evade Turnitin’s algorithms. |
| Rephrase Entire Content | Turnitin focuses on sentence structures. Completely rephrasing content can make it undetectable. |
| Swap Characters | Substituting English characters with similar-looking foreign ones can trick the system. |
| Professional Paraphrasing | Comprehensive paraphrasing can render a document unique, making it hard for Turnitin to detect similarities. |
In conclusion, while Turnitin is a formidable tool for ensuring academic honesty, understanding its mechanisms and applying the mentioned strategies can help in presenting authentic content. Always prioritize genuine understanding and originality over short-cuts. After learning how to reduce plagiarism, it’s useful to know what level of plagiarism is acceptable in Turnitin.
Frequently Asked Question
1. Can Turnitin Detect Paraphrased Content?
While Turnitin is sophisticated, it primarily identifies identical content and structures. Skillfully paraphrased content remains largely undetectable.
2. Is It Possible to Trick Turnitin by Changing Document Formats?
While changing formats can sometimes work, it’s not foolproof. Turnitin’s algorithms constantly evolve to catch such tactics.
3. Does Turnitin Only Recognize Published Works?
No, Turnitin’s vast database includes student-submitted papers, ensuring that even non-published academic works can be used for comparison.
