Turnitin Similarity Score Explained: How It Works & Why It Matters
Turnitin is one of the world’s most trusted plagiarism detection tools, widely used by universities, researchers, and academic institutions. It checks your submitted document against billions of sources — including journals, research papers, websites, and student submissions — to detect similarities. The result is a “Similarity Score”, a percentage that indicates how much of your writing matches existing published content.
🔍 What Is a Turnitin Similarity Score?
The Turnitin Similarity Score measures the percentage of text in your paper that matches other existing sources.
- 0–10%: Excellent. Your work is mostly original.
- 11–30%: Acceptable, but review to ensure proper citations.
- 31–50%: High similarity — recheck and rewrite overlapping sections.
- Above 50%: Very high — may be considered plagiarism in most institutions.
It’s important to note that a high similarity score doesn’t always mean plagiarism — it might include common phrases, references, or properly cited quotes. However, reducing similarity improves academic credibility.
Turnitin Color Codes & Their Meanings
| Color | Similarity Percentage Range | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 0% | No matching text – 100% original. |
| Green | 1% – 24% | Minor matches – generally acceptable. |
| Yellow | 25% – 49% | Moderate similarity – review needed. |
| Orange | 50% – 74% | High similarity – significant matches detected. |
| Red | 75% – 100% | Extremely high similarity – possible plagiarism. |
💡 Tip: For academic submissions in Bangladesh, a similarity score below 15–20% is usually considered acceptable by most universities.
📚 How Turnitin Detects Plagiarism
Turnitin uses advanced AI and machine learning to compare your writing with:
- Academic publications and journals
- Online databases and websites
- Student submissions from around the world
- Turnitin’s proprietary repository
Every match is highlighted in color, showing exact or paraphrased similarities. This allows students and researchers to revise and improve their writing before final submission.
✍️ How to Reduce Your Turnitin Similarity Score
To maintain a low similarity percentage:
✅ Rewrite copied sentences in your own words
✅ Use QuillBot or Grammarly to paraphrase effectively
✅ Properly cite quotes and references
✅ Avoid copying entire sections, even with citations
✅ Run a similarity check before your final submission
Tools like QuillBot Premium (available on Tech Haat Bangladesh) can help you paraphrase complex text while maintaining original meaning — an effective way to lower similarity.
📈 Ideal Turnitin Similarity Score for Students in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, universities typically accept a Turnitin similarity score under 20% for undergraduate submissions and under 15% for research or thesis work.
Professional researchers and publishers often target below 10% for maximum originality and publication approval.
💡 Why Turnitin Is Essential for Academic Success
- Ensures originality and credibility
- Helps avoid unintentional plagiarism
- Builds writing discipline and citation awareness
- Strengthens research papers and journal submissions
⚖️ Comparison: Turnitin vs Grammarly vs QuillBot
| Feature | Turnitin | Grammarly Premium | QuillBot Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plagiarism Detection | ✅ Advanced Database (Global Sources) | ✅ Limited Web Check | ⚠ Not Available |
| Similarity Report | ✅ Detailed with % & Highlights | ⚠ Basic | ❌ No Report |
| Paraphrasing Tool | ❌ Not Included | ⚠ Light Suggestions | ✅ Advanced AI Paraphraser |
| Grammar & Style Check | ⚠ Basic | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Moderate |
| Academic Database Access | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Best For | Researchers, Students | Professionals, Writers | Students, Bloggers |
| Availability in Bangladesh | ✅ via Tech Haat | ✅ via Tech Haat | ✅ via Tech Haat |
Turnitin vs Other Plagiarism Checkers
| Feature | Turnitin | Grammarly Premium | QuillBot Plagiarism Checker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database Size | Very Large (Academic & Web) | Medium | Small |
| Academic Access | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Accuracy | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Suitable For | Universities, Researchers | Writers, Bloggers | Students |
| Availability in Bangladesh | Through Tech Haat | Direct Purchase | Direct Purchase |
Turnitin is an essential tool for anyone involved in academic or research work in Bangladesh. Understanding the color-coded similarity report helps you maintain originality and academic integrity.
If you’re looking for official Turnitin access or similarity reports, Tech Haat is your best choice — trusted by over 25,000+ customers across Bangladesh.
🔗 Visit: www.tech-haat.com