Turnitin Similarity: How to Reduce It Below 10% Safely
Every student submitting a research paper, thesis, or dissertation faces one major concern — the Turnitin similarity index. Universities around the world, especially in the USA and UK, use Turnitin to detect plagiarism and check originality. A high similarity percentage can delay submission, reduce grades, or even lead to rejection. However, lowering your Turnitin score is not about tricking the software; it’s about improving your writing, citation, and paraphrasing skills. This article explains how to reduce your Turnitin similarity below 10% safely and ethically, with expert help from AJOHAZ, a leading academic support service trusted by researchers worldwide.
Understanding Turnitin Similarity
Turnitin is a plagiarism detection software that compares your text against billions of web pages, journals, and student papers. It generates a similarity report showing which sections match existing sources. A similarity score below 10% is usually considered excellent, while 15–20% may be acceptable depending on the institution. Anything above 25% often raises red flags and requires revision.
At AJOHAZ, trained editors and research specialists manually review Turnitin reports, identify problematic areas, and rework the text without affecting meaning or academic tone.
Why High Similarity Happens
Many students assume plagiarism only occurs when text is copied deliberately. In reality, even properly cited material or common academic phrases can trigger Turnitin matches. Major causes include:
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Copy-paste from sources without proper paraphrasing
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Overuse of direct quotations
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Poor citation formatting (APA, MLA, or Harvard)
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Self-plagiarism — reusing your old work
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Similar structure or sentence patterns to online texts
Recognizing these issues is the first step to reducing similarity safely and effectively.
Step 1: Paraphrase Deeply, Not Superficially
Replacing words with synonyms does not fool Turnitin. The software identifies patterns and sentence structures, so surface-level paraphrasing is easily caught. Deep paraphrasing means rewriting the idea in your own academic voice, changing sentence structure, and integrating it into your argument logically.
AJOHAZ experts perform deep human paraphrasing, rewriting sentences naturally while maintaining your academic intent and ensuring Turnitin-safe originality.
Step 2: Cite Every Source Correctly
Incorrect citation is one of the most common reasons for high similarity. Always follow your institution’s citation style, whether APA 7th, Harvard, or MLA. Even a single missing reference can be flagged.
When paraphrasing, make sure every borrowed idea is followed by an in-text citation. Direct quotes should be used sparingly, enclosed in quotation marks, and cited properly.
AJOHAZ offers citation formatting and reference management services, ensuring every citation aligns perfectly with the required style.
Step 3: Avoid Copying Definitions and Theoretical Lines
Theoretical and conceptual frameworks often contain standard definitions found in multiple sources. Instead of copying, try summarizing the definition in your own words and adding your own interpretation. For example, if defining “Postcolonial Identity,” discuss it briefly in your style and attribute it to the author in-text.
AJOHAZ specialists help rewrite literature review and theoretical frameworks using original, Turnitin-safe language.
Step 4: Manage Quotations Wisely
Turnitin counts all quoted text in its similarity score, even if properly cited. Limit quotations to essential parts and paraphrase the rest. Replace large block quotes with short paraphrased summaries.
At AJOHAZ, editors manually review long quotations and reframe them for lower similarity without losing meaning or academic depth.
Step 5: Rewrite Repetitive or Template-Based Sentences
Certain academic phrases — like “The purpose of this study is to…” — appear in thousands of documents. Turnitin recognizes these as common text and may highlight them. Try rephrasing repetitive structures into new patterns.
AJOHAZ uses AI-assisted human editing tools to identify such repetitive phrases and rewrite them naturally, keeping your writing clear and original.
Step 6: Exclude References and Bibliography from the Report
Turnitin often counts reference lists as copied text. You can request your instructor to exclude the reference section from the similarity report. If that’s not possible, ensure your reference entries follow proper formatting so they are recognized as standard citations.
AJOHAZ editors format reference lists professionally in APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago styles, reducing technical similarity issues.
Step 7: Review and Re-Check Before Submission
Always upload your document to Turnitin for a preliminary check before final submission. Review the color-coded report carefully and note matched sections. Do not panic over small matches — the goal is not zero similarity but authentic originality.
AJOHAZ offers Turnitin pre-check services with full reports, ensuring your document is ready for submission with similarity below 10%.
Step 8: Use Professional Turnitin Reduction Services
If you’ve tried paraphrasing and still face high similarity, it’s time for expert intervention. Professional editors understand academic tone and know how to reduce similarity while preserving research quality.
AJOHAZ provides specialized Turnitin reduction and rewriting services for theses, proposals, and journal articles. Every project is handled manually by qualified academic writers, ensuring 100% safety and originality.
Common Myths About Turnitin
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“Using Turnitin removal software can erase plagiarism.”
False. No tool can bypass Turnitin safely. Only genuine rewriting reduces similarity. -
“Citations increase plagiarism.”
Wrong. Proper citations prove authenticity and academic honesty. -
“A 0% score means best work.”
Not always. A 0% score might indicate incomplete citation or over-simplification. A balanced 5–10% shows responsible research writing.
AJOHAZ: Trusted Turnitin Reduction Experts
AJOHAZ is a professional research support platform helping students worldwide achieve academic success. With years of experience in thesis writing, editing, and Turnitin-safe paraphrasing, AJOHAZ guarantees plagiarism-free documents and professional formatting.
AJOHAZ Services Include:
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Turnitin Report Check and Reduction
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Deep Human Paraphrasing
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Thesis and Proposal Editing
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APA/Harvard Formatting
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Literature Review and Data Analysis Help
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Journal Article Rewriting and Proofreading
Website: www.ajohaz.com
Email: ajohazteam@outlook.com
Helpline / WhatsApp: +92 324 9514394
Reducing your Turnitin similarity is not about shortcuts — it’s about writing ethically and intelligently. A similarity score below 10% is achievable with careful paraphrasing, accurate citations, and expert review. Whether you are working on your thesis, research article, or proposal, professional support can save time and ensure success.
Contact AJOHAZ today for a free consultation and get your work professionally reviewed, paraphrased, and formatted for a guaranteed low Turnitin similarity score.
