Why Your References Push Up Your Turnitin Score
Independent guide. Not affiliated with Turnitin, LLC. Read the Turnitin disclaimer.
Reference lists match other papers that cite the same works. If the bibliography isn't filtered, they can add several percentage points.
Why it happens
- The instructor didn't turn on "exclude bibliography".
- Turnitin didn't recognise your section: unusual heading, heading inside a table, or no heading.
- In-text citations and quoted titles also match.
Fixes
- Use a standard heading ("References", "Bibliography", "Works Cited") on its own line.
- Don't put the reference list in a text box or table.
- Ask your instructor to apply the filter if needed.
Our Turnitin reports filter the bibliography and quoted text. See filters explained.
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Frequently asked questions
Why are my references highlighted on Turnitin?
The bibliography filter is off, or Turnitin didn't recognise your reference section heading.
Will that count against me?
Most markers ignore reference-list matches, but they raise the headline number.
How do I help Turnitin recognise references?
Use a clear heading like 'References' or 'Bibliography' on its own line.
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