Turnitin Colour Codes Explained: Every Colour and Score
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Turnitin, LLC. Read the Turnitin disclaimer.
Turnitin uses colour in three separate places. Most confusion comes from mixing them up.
1. The similarity icon or flag
| Colour | Score | Usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | No matching text | Nothing matched |
| Green | 1 word to 24% | Normal for referenced work |
| Yellow | 25 to 49% | Likely reviewed |
| Orange | 50 to 74% | High |
| Red | 75 to 100% | Very high |
Colours vary by integration, and one version of Turnitin's guide shows green as 0% and blue as 1-24%. Trust the percentage, not the colour.
2. Highlights inside the similarity report
Each source gets a number and a colour. Highlights identify sources; they don't rank how serious a match is.
3. Highlights inside the AI writing report
Likely AI-generated sentences are highlighted (cyan/light blue in most versions). Grey or "--" means no AI report was produced. See AI score meaning.
Colour guides
Blue · Green · Yellow · Canvas flags
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Frequently asked questions
What do Turnitin colours mean?
On the similarity icon: blue no matches, green up to 24%, yellow 25-49%, orange 50-74%, red 75-100%. Inside reports, colours identify sources.
Is a red highlight worse than blue?
No. Highlight colours identify sources, not severity.
What colour is AI text?
Likely AI text is highlighted (typically cyan/light blue) in the AI writing report.
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