If you want to know how to reduce your Turnitin similarity score, start with the real goal. Your goal is not just a lower number. Your goal is a paper where every borrowed word and idea has proper credit. When you fix those citations, the score drops on its own. This guide shows honest fixes with before-and-after examples, plus shortcuts you must avoid.
Step 1: Find What Is Actually Matching
Open your report's source list and start with the largest single match. For each highlighted passage, check which type of match it is:
| Type of match. | Is it a problem? | What to do. |
|---|---|---|
| Quoted in quotation marks and cited. | No. | Do nothing, or shorten very long quotes. |
| Reference list or bibliography. | No. | Ask if the reference list can be excluded. |
| Common phrase or standard term. | No. | Do nothing. |
| Copied text without quotation marks. | Yes. | Add quotation marks and a citation, or rewrite it. |
| Close rewrite (only a few words changed). | Yes. | Rewrite in your own sentence structure and keep the citation. |
| Uncited idea or data point. | Yes. | Add the missing citation. |
Step 2: Quote Correctly, and Sparingly
Use a direct quote when the exact wording matters. This applies to legal rules, formal definitions, or text you analyze directly. Put the words in quotation marks (or a block quote for longer text) and add the citation with a page number. If you quoted a source only because it sounded nice, rewrite the point in your own words instead.
Step 3: Paraphrase Properly
A real paraphrase changes both the sentence structure and the words while keeping the true meaning. It also keeps a citation. Follow these four steps:
- Read the source passage until you fully understand the point.
- Close the source and write the idea from memory in your own voice.
- Compare your sentence with the source. Change any phrase of three or more words that you kept by accident.
- Add the in-text citation right away.
"Peer review delays are among the most common complaints of early-career researchers, who often depend on fast publication for grants and jobs."
Delays in peer review are one of the most frequent complaints of early-career researchers, who often rely on quick publication for funding and jobs (Smith, 2021).
Because their grants and job prospects often hinge on publishing fast, junior researchers are hurt most by slow peer review (Smith, 2021).
The close rewrite keeps the original skeleton and just swaps synonyms. Turnitin flags this pattern, and universities treat it as patchwriting even when cited.
Step 4: Synthesize Instead of Summarizing Sources One by One
Literature reviews often score high because each paragraph summarizes one paper at a time. Group your paragraphs by theme instead. Compare multiple studies in your own words ("While Lee (2019) and Patel (2020) found X, Ortiz (2022) argues Y"). This builds a stronger argument and cuts word overlap.
Step 5: Handle Methods Sections and Self-Citation
- Methods: Standard lab steps often match published papers. Cite the original method, state what you changed, and check your journal's rule on method overlap.
- Your own published work: Always cite it. If your thesis includes your own published articles, follow your school's rules and the publisher's license.
- Earlier drafts: Ask your teacher or supervisor to remove your old draft from the Turnitin repository match list.
What Not to Do
Never use these tricks: AI synonym spinners, swapped look-alike letters, hidden white text, pasted text images, or paid "beat Turnitin" rewriters. Schools treat these tricks as academic misconduct, and modern software spots them right away.
Fix the citation issue and the score takes care of itself. For typical ranges, see what a good Turnitin similarity score looks like.
Our thesis editing services, research paper editing service, and Scopus journal publication support help you quote, cite, and synthesize sources the right way. We never spin text to hide matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it allowed to reduce my similarity score?
Yes, when you fix real issues by adding missing citations, marking quotes, and rewriting close overlap in your own words. Using word spinners or hidden characters is misconduct.
Does paraphrasing remove the need to cite?
No. A paraphrase puts another author's idea into your own words. You must still cite the source of the idea.
Will quotation marks lower my Turnitin score?
Only if your instructor turns on the "Exclude quotes" filter. Even when quotes count toward the score, properly quoted and cited text is not plagiarism.
Can I reuse text from my own published paper in my thesis?
Usually yes, if you follow your university's rules for including published chapters and cite the original paper. Reusing your own text without citing it is self-plagiarism.