Q. What is an acceptable percentage of matching text?

There is no rule regarding how much similarity is acceptable.

The percentage of original writing will vary depending on the type of writing and the subject area involved. Review your similarity matches to identify any accidental plagiarism or text that requires a citation.

It is important to use your own academic judgement in each individual piece of work. To avoid any possibility of plagiarism, ensure that you write original work in each assessment you submit.

Ask yourself:

• Have I written an original piece of work?
• Have I clearly acknowledged all of my sources?
• Are my sources in my reference list?
• Has any work in this assessment already been submitted to Turnitin?

To interpret this report and determine if you should amend some of your writing, follow the instructions in the Interpreting the Similarity Report FAQ.