Struggling with high similarity scores in Turnitin? The tool often flags quotes and bibliographies, even when they’re properly cited. This guide will show you how to exclude those from your Similarity Report.

Keep reading—it’s easier than you think!

Key Takeaways

• Turnitin allows users to exclude quotes, bibliographies, and small text matches using filters in the similarity toolbar.
• Proper formatting is essential for exclusions to work, including standard citation styles and supported quotation marks like “…” or 《…》.
• Filters can be adjusted before submitting or after reports generate by accessing the “FILTERS AND SETTINGS” panel through the red Filter icon.
• Exclusions focus on real content overlap while skipping common phrases, formatted references, and direct quotes. Adjusting these settings lowers false positives in Similarity Reports.
• Always review file formatting and recheck exclusion results if similarity scores remain high despite applying filters.

Understanding the Turnitin Exclusion Features

Turnitin offers tools to skip certain text in reports. These can help lower false matches and focus on real issues.

Exclude Quotes

Quotes enclosed in double quotation marks, like “…” or “…”, can be excluded from Turnitin’s similarity report. This tool helps students focus on real content overlap instead of quoted text.

Supported styles include «…», »…«, and《…》, among others. Block quotes get ignored when files are uploaded as .doc or .docx formats. Single quotes (‘…’) often fail since some word processors treat them as apostrophes.

To activate this filter, use the similarity toolbar within your submission settings. If missed before submission, filters can still adjust post-report generation with ease. Next up: understanding how to exclude bibliographies!

Exclude Bibliography

Turnitin can ignore bibliographies using its exclusion tools. For English papers, it uses a machine-learning algorithm to spot citations. Words like “bibliography” or “works cited” help mark reference lists.

For non-English texts, Turnitin relies on common phrases that indicate the start and end of bibliographic sections.

Starting words include terms like “endnote,” “citations,” or “list of references.” Ending cues might be “appendix” or “figure.” This feature helps focus on original text while leaving out standard citation formats in similarity reports.

Next, explore how to exclude small matches for better accuracy.

Exclude Small Matches

Skipping small matches can lower false positives in your Similarity Report. This feature identifies short, insignificant text overlaps. You can set a word limit or percentage threshold under Turnitin’s filters to ignore these minor matches.

For example, excluding sentences with fewer than 5 words helps cut out generic phrases or common terms like “according to” or “in conclusion.”.

Using this tool simplifies student submissions and fosters academic integrity. Built-in algorithms handle in-line citations and bibliographic materials effectively for English texts.

Adjusting settings before submission ensures accuracy right off the bat.

How to Set Up Exclusions Before Submission

Start by exploring the settings in Turnitin to fine-tune your submission. Customize filters for quotes, small matches, or bibliography sections to clean up your similarity report.

Accessing Turnitin Settings

Find the Turnitin exclusion settings in the assignment’s setup page. Open the “Turnitin plagiarism plugin settings” section to adjust filters before submissions start. By default, exclusions like quotes or bibliographies are off.

Change these settings early, as edits can’t be made once students submit. Teachers control this through class and assignment management tools on their dashboard.

Configuring Filters and Settings for Exclusions

Turnitin helps students and teachers manage academic integrity. Configuring filters ensures accurate similarity reports for submissions.

1. Open Turnitin settings under the assignment or class section of your student hub or administrator hub.
2. Look for the “Filter and Settings” option in the similarity toolbar.
3. Turn “Exclude Quoted Material” to “Yes”. This excludes text within double quotes or indented formats, like block quotes.
4. Set the “Exclude Bibliography” filter to “Yes”. Properly formatted headings like “References” or “Works Cited” must appear on a separate line for this to work.
5. Enable the “Exclude Small Matches” feature if needed. Specify a word count threshold, such as 5 or 10 words, to skip minor matches.
6. Double-check all filter changes before submission through class and assignment management tools.
7. Save your preferences in user profile settings so future submissions follow these rules.

Managing Exclusions After Report Generation

You can tweak the settings even after submitting your file. Use the similarity toolbar to turn off quotes or bibliography matches for a cleaner report.

Adjusting Settings in the Similarity Report

Tweaking settings in the Similarity Report helps fine-tune results. This process can reduce unnecessary matches and improve accuracy.

1. Open the report and locate the red Filter icon on the similarity toolbar.
2. Click the icon to access the “FILTERS AND SETTINGS” panel.
3. Check boxes for exclusions like quotes, bibliography, or small matches based on your needs.
4. Set a word count threshold for small matches if needed (e.g., 5-10 words).
5. Hit “APPLY CHANGES” to save your adjustments instantly.
6. Review how changes impact the similarity score after applying them.

This approach makes reports more precise and removes irrelevant content from matching results effectively.

Excluding Quoted Materials Post-Submission

After generating the similarity report, find the red Filter icon on the similarity toolbar. Click on it to open the “FILTERS AND SETTINGS” panel. In this section, locate and check the box labeled “exclude quoted material.” This step ensures direct quotes are removed from calculations.

Use proper double-quotes for formatting. Supported quotation marks help Turnitin recognize materials correctly. After selecting this option, click “APPLY CHANGES.” The system will update your report immediately without needing a new submission.

Excluding Bibliographic Materials Post-Submission

To remove bibliographic materials post-submission, use the similarity toolbar. Click the red Filter icon to open “FILTERS AND SETTINGS.” Check the box marked “exclude bibliography.” Properly formatted references will be excluded after applying changes.

Make sure to click “APPLY CHANGES” to save your preferences.

This step adjusts your similarity report instantly. Always double-check that your sources follow academic standards for formatting. If any errors appear, revise and recheck formatting before resubmitting or making further adjustments in Turnitin settings.

Tips for Optimizing Turnitin Submissions

Fine-tune your Turnitin filters to spot real issues, not harmless matches; this saves time and lowers stress.

Reviewing Exclusion Impact on Similarity Scores

Adjusting exclusions can drop your similarity score by a noticeable margin. Filters like “exclude bibliography” and “exclude quotes” cut down on irrelevant matches, helping to provide a clearer picture of originality.

For example, removing lengthy citations or direct quotes might reduce unnecessary overlap without impacting the content’s integrity. These changes often fine-tune the Similarity Index for accuracy, though human review remains key.

Assess these updates carefully using Turnitin’s similarity toolbar. Exclusions may highlight patterns or problem areas that still require editing. If scores remain unexpectedly high after applying filters, inspect small matches or unfiltered sections closely to spot overlooked issues.

Best Practices for Using Exclusion Filters

Exclusion filters can help improve your Turnitin submissions. They ensure irrelevant matches don’t inflate the similarity report.

1. Review formatting before uploading your work. Educators often specify how to format quotes and bibliographies for accurate exclusion.
2. Use supported quotation marks around direct quotes. Turnitin only recognizes standard marks like “these” for exclusions.
3. Double-check citation styles in your paper. Incorrect formats may prevent proper exclusion of bibliographic sources in the report.
4. Set up filters before submitting your file. Access the “similarity toolbar” in Turnitin settings to exclude quotes, bibliography, or small matches.
5. Check the similarity score after applying filters. A higher-than-expected score may mean some exclusions didn’t work correctly.
6. Make changes directly in the similarity report post-submission if needed. You can exclude items manually using the settings during a review.
7. Resubmit papers if issues persist with bibliographic matches or other exclusions not functioning as intended.
8. Keep track of updates to Turnitin’s academic integrity tools to stay informed on new features and improvements.
9. Educators should clarify submission rules early for student success. Miscommunication on exclusions can lead to penalties or confusion.
10. Always review feedback and grading details provided through Turnitin’s system, ensuring exclusions align with expectations set by instructors or institutions.

Common Questions About Turnitin Exclusions

Students often wonder how to fine-tune exclusion settings in Turnitin reports, so explore this section for clear answers and helpful tips.

How to Exclude Direct Quotes

Set “EXCLUDE QUOTED MATERIAL” to “Yes” in the Turnitin settings. This will skip text inside double quotes, indented blocks, or supported marks like «…» and 《…》. Indented block quotes work best in .doc or .docx files.

Single quotation marks won’t be excluded.

After submission, click the red Filter icon on the similarity toolbar. Check “Exclude Quotes” to remove quoted text from your report. Properly formatted direct quotes then won’t raise similarity scores in the student hub or administrator tools!

What to Do If Exclusions Are Not Working

Check your file’s formatting. Improper formatting can confuse Turnitin’s exclusion tools. Use supported quotation marks for quotes and standard phrases in bibliographies to match Turnitin’s rules.

Files edited in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or Apple Pages usually avoid these problems.

If matches still appear, adjust filters manually in the similarity toolbar after the report generates. For persistent errors with citation detection, try header-based exclusions or resubmit your document with better formatting.

Communicate issues to educators early; they may clarify assignment settings through the administrator hub.

Does Turnitin Run a Global Plagiarism Check?

Turnitin scans its massive database for matches. It checks academic papers, websites, and online publications. This includes content from schools, colleges, and research hubs worldwide.

Its Similarity Report flags text overlaps but doesn’t decide plagiarism itself.

The system doesn’t check unpublished or offline work unless uploaded by users. It also won’t cross-compare submissions made private in a class folder. Teachers can control these settings using the Administrator Hub or Student Hub tools for more precise management of files and assignments.

Conclusion

Excluding references in Turnitin is simple, but it takes a bit of setup. Use the filters to remove quotes and bibliographies for more accurate reports. Always check your Similarity Report after submission to fine-tune settings if needed.

These steps save time and help focus on real issues, not formatting quirks. Keep tweaking until your report looks just right!

For more insights into how widespread Turnitin’s plagiarism detection capabilities are, check out our detailed article on whether Turnitin runs a global plagiarism check.