Turnitin Filters and Settings: Bibliography, Quotes and Small Matches
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Turnitin, LLC. Read the Turnitin disclaimer.
The same document can show 9% or 30% on Turnitin depending on the filters. Knowing them explains most "why is my score so high?" moments.
The main filters
| Filter | What it removes | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Exclude bibliography | Reference lists | Often lowers the score a lot |
| Exclude quotes | Text inside quotation marks | Removes correctly quoted matches |
| Exclude small matches | Matches below a word count or % | Removes common phrases |
| Exclude sources | Specific sources (e.g. your own earlier draft) | Removes one source's matches |
The sample below lists "Bibliography" and "Quoted Text" under Filtered from the Report:
Repository settings
Instructors also choose whether your paper is stored in the repository. Stored papers match future submissions, which is why resubmissions sometimes show 100%. See 100% similarity.
Check your own work with the right filters
Our Turnitin reports ($3.50) filter bibliography and quotes and aren't saved to any repository. For high AI scores, our editors humanize for $5.99 per 200 words.
Frequently asked questions
Can students change Turnitin filters?
Usually not. Instructors set filters, though in some views anyone opening the report can toggle them.
Does excluding the bibliography lower the score?
Yes, if reference-list matches were counted.
Which filters do your reports use?
Our reports filter the bibliography and quoted text, as shown at the top of the sample report.
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