Confused by the colors in a Turnitin report? You’re not alone—many struggle to understand what they mean. These color codes show how much of your work matches other sources. In this post, you’ll learn what each color stands for and how to use this information wisely.
Keep reading—it’s simpler than you think!
Key Takeaways
- Turnitin uses five colors to show text similarity: Blue (0%), Green (1-24%), Yellow (25-49%), Orange (50-74%), and Red (75-100%).
- A blue score means no matches. Always double-check citations since Turnitin might skip small phrases or certain file types, like images.
- Green suggests low matching text but may include copied content without proper quotes or citations. Review carefully for mistakes.
- Yellow to red scores signal higher matches, often due to too many quotes or potential plagiarism. Verify sources and rewrite if needed.
- Context matters more than percentages—use the report as a tool to check academic integrity while ensuring fairness in grading.
Understanding Turnitin Color Codes
Turnitin’s color codes make checking for copied content simple. Each color shows how much of your work matches other sources in the Turnitin database.
Blue: No matching text
A blue color code means 0% matching text in the similarity report. This shows no part of the work matches any content in Turnitin’s database, including other student papers or online sources.
While it sounds clean, double-check citations and references to maintain academic integrity.
Some exclusions might affect this result. For example, brief phrases under 10 words can be ignored if set by an instructor. Keep in mind, Turnitin doesn’t match images, diagrams, drawings, translated works, or password-protected files either.
Even perfection needs a second glance.
Green: 1-24% matching text
A green color code means low matching text, between 1-24%. This often happens due to proper use of quotes or common phrases. It is not always a sign of plagiarising, but it needs review.
A similarity score of 20% could mean copied text without quotation marks or citations. Check sources in the Turnitin database carefully.
For students submitting drafts, this score can include their own previous work. Instructors may exclude past submissions to avoid confusion. Even with a low score, academic integrity tools help ensure fairness and transparency in grading and feedback processes.
Always pay attention to small matches that might need corrections!
Yellow: 25-49% matching text
Yellow flags a moderate level of matching text, between 25-49%. This can mean the paper contains too many quotes or copied phrases. It is crucial to check the sources and confirm proper use of quotation marks and citations.
Overuse of direct quotes may inflate this similarity percentage.
For example, a student submits an essay with heavy quoting, causing their score to hit 53%, exceeding allowed limits. Matches often come from multiple sources in the Turnitin database.
Such cases need careful review to avoid plagiarized content while maintaining academic integrity.
Orange: 50-74% matching text
An orange score shows 50-74% matching text. This signals a serious concern for possible plagiarism or overused sources. High percentages like these often mean large parts of the work match content found in the Turnitin database.
A deep review is crucial here. Some sections may need rewriting to avoid copying someone else’s work. In Example 4, removing properly cited quotes and bibliographies might have lowered the similarity score upfront.
Use quotation marks and proper citations to maintain academic integrity while avoiding unnecessary penalties from your instructor or grading tools.
Red: 75-100% matching text
A red color code signals a 75-100% similarity in the Turnitin report. This means most, or all, of the content matches other sources found in their database. High matching text like this raises concerns about academic integrity, possibly showing plagiarism or drafts uploaded repeatedly.
For example, if Eric submits Jane’s paper by mistake, his report might show 25% matching text. Later when Jane submits her original work, she could see a 100% match on hers. To fix a red score, rewrite large sections and cite properly using quotation marks where needed.
Always follow academic policies carefully to avoid issues with grading and feedback from professors.
Conclusion
Interpreting Turnitin’s color codes isn’t rocket science. Each color gives a quick idea of how much text matches outside sources. But percentages alone don’t tell the whole story—context matters.
Use the report as a guide, not a verdict, to maintain fairness and academic standards.
For more information on the differences between Turnitin and its sister service, check out our detailed comparison: Is iThenticate the same as Turnitin?.
