REPORT READING GUIDE
How to read a Turnitin report
A practical reading checklist for similarity matches, AI indicator states and document details, with links to Turnitin’s official guidance.
Check the document and report type first, then examine passages and sources. Keep similarity and AI-writing findings separate. This guide explains what to look for; it is not a sample of a report delivered by Textsure.
01 — Identify the document and report
Before reviewing a score, confirm that the report belongs to the intended file version. Note the provider, report type and generation details shown. Keep any available settings with the report so later comparisons have context.
02 — Read the matched passages
Look at the source and citation context of each relevant match. An attributed quotation and an unattributed passage need different responses. The similarity percentage alone does not decide whether plagiarism occurred.
- Open or identify the matched source where available.
- Check whether quotation marks and attribution fit the passage.
- Record any report filters before comparing another version.
Source: Turnitin: Understanding the similarity score for students ↗
03 — Read the AI indicator separately
In Turnitin’s current guidance, *% means a result above 0% and below 20% is not shown as an exact percentage. A gray indicator without a percentage means the submission could not be processed for AI detection; it is not a 0% result. An error indicator means processing failed.
04 — A worked reading example
Illustrative scenario, not a detection result: a literature-review paragraph is highlighted in a similarity report. Start by checking its source and attribution. Do not conclude that the paragraph was AI-written from that highlight. If a separate AI report is available, review it on its own terms.
Suggested review note: ‘Checked the highlighted passage against the listed source; reviewed quotation and citation formatting; retained the report settings with this document version.’ This records the review process without claiming that a score proves originality.
05 — Keep the delivered report with your document
Open the completed order in My reports and download the available report files. Keep them with the version of the manuscript that was checked. Any sample-labelled entries or diagrams are illustrations, not results for your uploaded work.
Common questions
What percentage is acceptable?
Use the policy and instructions that apply to your work. This guide does not prescribe a universal pass threshold or guarantee acceptance.
Does a missing AI score mean 0% AI?
No. A missing score can be a processing or eligibility state. Read the indicator explanation instead of replacing it with zero.
Provider features can change. Official documentation describes the provider product, not a guarantee of Textsure package contents. This guide is not an institutional decision or an endorsement by a provider.