Does Turnitin Detect Paraphrasing tools? Our Honest Answer.

Does Turnitin detect paraphrasing tools? is a question commonly asked by students across social media communities.

While Turnitin is good at spotting exact matches and copied text, it’s less straightforward with paraphrasing. You might get away with paraphrasing if it is done skillfully.

If you reword a sentence from another source but keep the same structure or ideas, Turnitin will highlight it for review, depending on how closely it resembles the original.

A high percentage of students assume that rewording their written content will easily bypass detection by Turnitin.

However, the technology behind Turnitin can still identify similarities in sentence structure, ideas, and phrasing.

It is important to understand how Turnitin detects paraphrasing to ensure that you’re not unintentionally flagged for plagiarism, even if you think you’ve rephrased your sentences the right way.

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What is Turnitin, and how does it work?
- How does Turnitin detect paraphrasing tools?
Can Turnitin DeteToolsraphrasing tools?

What is Turnitin, and how does it work?

Does Turnitin detect paraphrasing tools?

Turnitin is a tool that has been around for over 25 years, with the tool’s primary job being checking for plagiarism in academic work.

Let me demonstrate using an example.

If, for instance, you copy a paragraph from a website without citing it properly, Turnitin will highlight the section and show the source where it came from.

Even if you only change a few words, Turnitin can still flag it if the structure or meaning remains too close to the original.

How does Turnitin detect paraphrasing tools?

Turnitin has a database that includes academic papers, web content, and published research papers & books.

By use of a text-matching algorithm, Turnitin scans through and compares the submitted work to its database.

The tool then searches for patterns, phrases, and sequences of words similar to the content already available in its database.

A good example is if a student copies content from an online article and submits it as their own, Turnitin will recognize that the wording matches closely with an existing source and mark it for review.

Below is a detailed overview of Turnitins database;

Academic papers include a collection of previously submitted schoolwork from universities and colleges from all over the world.
Web content includes published articles, news articles, blogs, and other materials on the web.

Can Turnitin DeteToolsraphrasing tools?

Let’s answer this question using an example.

If you directly copy a sentence like,

“Global warming is caused by the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere” – Source- ChatGPT

Turnitin will highlight this as a match and show you the source.

Even if you tried to rephrase it using a paraphrasing tool,

“The rise in greenhouse gases leads to global warming,” – Source – ChatGPT

Turnitin might still see it as paraphrased because the idea and structure are similar to the original, even though the words are slightly different.

Even when the wording is adjusted to something different, the meaning may still closely resemble the original content copied. This would most likely trigger a similarity match.

Turnitin might struggle to detect well-done paraphrasing where the ideas are restated in a completely different way.

However, if the structure of your work stays too close to the original, the chances of being detected remain high.

Does paraphrasing tools confuse Turnitin?

Let’s look at some examples of paraphrased sentences that may or may not be detected by Turnitin.

These examples will answer your question – Does turnitin detect paraphrasing tools?

Examples of Paraphrased Sentences using Trinka ai

1. An example of a sentence that may be detected by Turnitin

Original: “Technological advancements have greatly improved communication across the globe.”- Source ChatGPT.
Paraphrased sentence: “Improvements in technology have significantly enhanced global communication.”
Why Turnitin may detect it: The structure is nearly the same, while key phrases such as “improvements” and “global communication” remain the same.

An example that may not be detected by Turnitin

Original: “Technological advancements have greatly improved communication across the globe.”- Source- ChatGPT.
Paraphrased sentence: “New technologies have revolutionized how people communicate worldwide.”
Why Turnitin may not detect it: New words have been added. E.g. ‘from across the globe has been rewritten to worldwide’. Notice the structure too has changed.

2. An Example of a sentence that may be detected by Turnitin

Original: “Deforestation contributes significantly to the loss of biodiversity.”
Paraphrased: “Biodiversity loss is significantly impacted by deforestation.”
Why it may be detected: The sentence has just been rearranged with the same core meaning and key terms.

An example that may not be detected by Turnitin

Original: “Deforestation contributes significantly to the loss of biodiversity.”
Paraphrased: “The clearing of forests plays a major role in reducing the variety of species in ecosystems.”
Why it may not be detected: The wording has been changed substantially, using different phrases.

These examples show how Turnitin relies on similarities in structure, phrasing, and key terms, but well-done paraphrasing can somehow escape detection.

How Turnitin Detects Similarities in Paraphrasing

Turnitin doesn’t only look for exact matches but also considers patterns in ideas, sentence structures, and important terms.

When you paraphrase, if your work still keeps these things too close to the original, Turnitin might see it as a similarity.

Here’s how that works:

Same sentence structure with different words:
Even if you change some words but keep the sentence in the same order, Turnitin will quickly know the sentence was paraphrased.

Let’s study the example below:

Original: “The invention of the internet revolutionized global communication.” – Source ChatGPT.
Paraphrased sentence: “The creation of the internet transformed worldwide communication.”
Why the similarity may be detected: The sentence structure and meaning remain almost the same, with only minor word changes.

Key terms repeated in similar ways
If important words like specific names, technical terms, or uncommon phrases appear in the same order as the original, Turnitin may pick up on that.

See the below example.

Original: “Photosynthesis converts sunlight into chemical energy, providing food for plants.” – Source (ChatGPT)
Paraphrased sentence: “Photosynthesis transforms sunlight into chemical energy, supplying nutrition to plants.”
Why Turnitin might detect paraphrasing: The key terms (“photosynthesis,” “sunlight,” and “chemical energy”) are repeated in a very similar format.

Keeping the same ideas or points in the same order:
Even if you completely rewrite sentences, Turnitin might flag your work if the main ideas or argument points follow the same order as the one from the original.

See the below example:

Original: “First, climate change causes extreme weather events. Then, it leads to rising sea levels and finally, disrupts agriculture.”- Source – ChatGPT.
Paraphrased sentence: “Initially, climate change triggers severe weather. Afterward, it results in higher sea levels and ultimately affects farming.”
Why Turnitin might detect paraphrasing: Though the wording is different, the order of ideas is the same as that of the original.

Common phrases
Certain phrases are common in academic writing, and using them in the same context as another source can lead to them being seen as similar.

See the below example:

Original: “The results of the study suggest a significant correlation between diet and mental health.” – (source ChatGPT)
Paraphrased sentence: “The findings of the research indicate a strong link between nutrition and mental health.”
Why Turnitin might detect paraphrasing: a strong link is a common way to phrase the same idea.

In summary, Turnitin knows paraphrased content when it scans and finds similarities in the structure, phrasing, or key terms of your work.

Simply swapping words is not enough; changing the overall structure and rephrasing ideas in new ways can help the paraphrasing tools not to be detected by Turnitin.

How to Paraphrase Properly Without Being Detected by Turnitin

To avoid paraphrasing detection by Turnitin, you need to completely rephrase ideas in a new way rather than just interchanging words.

You should also understand the original text well enough to rewrite the concept in your own words.

Here’s how to do it effectively:

Change the sentence structure
You should not just interchange words.

Make sure to rearrange how the information is presented and use a different sentence pattern or structure.

Here is an example:

Original: “Climate change causes rising sea levels, which endanger coastal cities.”(source-ChatGPT)
Properly paraphrased sentence: “Coastal cities are at greater risk as sea levels rise, a result of ongoing climate change.” (Source – Trinka AI)
Why it works: The sentence structure has been altered, and different phrasing is used while it keeps the original meaning.

Use synonyms for key terms (where appropriate)
Replace words with synonyms, but make sure they fit the context.

Example:

Original: “The rapid expansion of technology is transforming the global economy.”(Source ChatGPT)
Paraphrased sentence: “The swift growth of technology is reshaping the world economy.” – (Source – Trinka ai)
Why this works: Synonyms like “rapid” a” and “transforming” to “reshaping” have been used, and the phrasing has changed.

Break down complex ideas into simpler parts
If the original text is detailed or complex, explain it in simpler terms using your own words. This not only changes the structure but also makes the idea clearer.

Example:

Original: “Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.”
Paraphrased sentence: “Plants use photosynthesis to turn sunlight into energy, which is stored in sugars like glucose.”
Why this works: The idea is explained in simpler terms with different wording, yet the core meaning remains the same.

Summarize the main idea:
Instead of paraphrasing sentence by sentence, try to summarize the overall meaning or the main idea.

This helps to avoid using too many similar phrases or structures.

Example:

Original: “The study found that regular exercise reduces stress levels by improving mood and mental health.”(Source – ChatGPT)
Paraphrased sentence: “The research concluded that exercising frequently can lower stress and boost mental well-being.” (Source- Trinka ai)
Why this works: The key idea is summarized in new words with a different sentence structure.

Use a different order of information:
Change the sequence of how the information is presented.

This will make your rewritten work less likely to resemble the original.

Example:

Original: “The economy benefits from technological innovation because it leads to job creation and boosts productivity.” – (Source- ChatGPT)
Paraphrased sentence: “By creating jobs and enhancing productivity, technological innovation greatly supports the economy.”(source- Trinka ai)
Why this works: The order of information has been flipped, and the wording has been adjusted, which makes the paraphrased sentence unique

Focus on changing the structure, wording, and presentation of ideas.

This way you can paraphrase effectively without having trouble with Turnitin.

What is the acceptable percentage for Turnitin?

Is 30% OK on Turnitin?

Is 50% high on Turnitin?

Is a 20% Turnitin score okay?

Is 5% on Turnitin bad?
What percentage is too low for Turnitin?

You will find all these types of questions everywhere. Turnitin doesn’t have a universally set acceptable percentage for all submissions.

The similarity score only measures how much of your submission matches other sources.

It’s up to your institution or instructor to define what percentage is acceptable.

Typically:

A green score (1-24%) often suggests a safe level with minimal matching content.
A yellow score (25-49%) or above may require a closer look, especially if the assignment involves too much quoting without original input.
Scores in orange (50–74%) or red (75–100%) are concerning, indicating significant portions of text matching other sources.

What happens if you get caught plagiarizing?

If you get caught plagiarizing in college, there are several potential consequences of plagiarism which may vary depending on the institution.

Warning: You may get a warning or be asked to revise and resubmit the work.
Grade Penalty: You might receive a lower grade or even fail the assignment.
Academic Disciplinary Action: In serious cases, schools can take disciplinary action that may include probation, suspension, or even expulsion.

My advice is to always cite your sources properly and avoid relying on close paraphrasing too much.

An AI tool like Trinka AI might be able to help with the correct paraphrasing.

Conclusion

So to answer our question, Does Turnitin can detect paraphrasing tools?, Well, it depends on how closely your paraphrased text resembles the source.

The key thing is for you to make sure you properly cite your work and significantly rework the ideas in your own words while maintaining academic integrity.

While Turnitin is a useful tool for identifying similarities, it is not a definitive measure of plagiarism on its own.

Institutions use it to help students develop better writing habits, but ultimately, how you paraphrase and cite your sources will determine your success.