Start with the report
Open the source list and sort matches into three groups: (1) things that should be excluded (bibliography, quotes, template text), (2) missing citations or quotation marks, and (3) passages that follow a source too closely. Each group has a different fix.
Fixes that work
- Exclusions: ask your instructor whether bibliography and quotes are filtered; this is standard.
- Citations: every idea, figure or finding from a source needs an in-text citation, even when paraphrased.
- Quotation marks: verbatim wording must be quoted. Keep quotes for definitions or striking phrases only.
- Write from understanding: read the source, close it, write the point in your own words, then check you have not kept its sentence structure. Cite it.
- Add your own analysis: comparison, evaluation and application to your topic are what markers reward, and they never match anything.
Avoid these traps
- Synonym-replacement and paraphrasing tools: they produce awkward text and AI-paraphrased text is detectable.
- Hidden characters or images of text: treated as deliberate misconduct.
- Checking on free sites that store your file: this can create a match against yourself later.
Need a private check first? We provide confidential similarity and AI reports, and proofreading of your own draft for citation and quotation accuracy.
More: how to paraphrase properly · similarity FAQ
This guide is general information. Always follow your own university's current regulations and your supervisor's advice.