Turnitin Blue Meaning: Blue Icon, Flag and Highlight
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Turnitin, LLC. Read the Turnitin disclaimer.
Blue appears in three places on Turnitin, and it means something different in each.
1. Blue similarity icon or flag
On the standard scale, blue means no matching text, the best similarity result. Some integrations use blue for 1 to 24% instead, so read the number next to it.
2. Blue highlight in the similarity report
Highlight colours belong to sources. Blue text matches whichever source was given blue. Check the source number.
3. Cyan / light-blue highlight in the AI report
This is the blue that matters most: it marks sentences Turnitin considers likely AI-generated.
Quick reference
| Where | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Similarity icon | No matches (or 1-24% in some integrations) |
| Similarity highlight | Text matching a source |
| AI report highlight | Likely AI-generated sentence |
Blue similarity doesn't mean low AI. Check both: $3.50. Too many cyan sentences? Our editors rewrite them for $5.99 per 200 words.
Frequently asked questions
What does blue mean on Turnitin?
On the similarity icon, usually no matching text. In the AI report, cyan/light-blue highlights mark likely AI text.
Is blue good on Turnitin?
On the similarity icon, yes: it's the lowest band. But it says nothing about AI writing.
Why is my blue highlight in the similarity report?
That source was assigned blue. Highlight colours identify sources.
See your Turnitin AI and similarity scores first.
- Turnitin similarity report (PDF)
- Turnitin AI writing report (PDF)
- Not stored in any shared repository
- Ready usually within 30 minutes
2 free checks with every 10 you buy.
Get my Turnitin reportsFlagged as AI? Our editors rewrite it by hand.
- Human editors, not another AI tool
- Aims for a 0% Turnitin AI score, proofreading included
- Fresh Turnitin AI report of the edited file as proof
- Delivered within 12 to 24 hours
Questions? WhatsApp us on +254706770780.