When AI tools like ChatGPT shape how we write, originality have grown complex. It is safe to say that we use AI tools almost every single day. And thus, Turnitin was born. It is dedicated to detecting plagiarism and identifying text that might be generated by AI.
Nowadays, Turnitin is being adopted by many famous universities. It is essential to learn to use it properly and have a thorough understanding of its reports. This guide explains how Turnitin AI detection works, how to use it, and most importantly, how to interpret its reports responsibly.
1、How it work?
Turnitin’s AI detection is different from plagiarism checks, it focuses on analyzing linguistic patterns, sentence structure, text coherence and syntax to estimate whether a passage sounds like it was written by a large language model.
Recently, Turnitin’s AI Writing Detection Model Overview further explains that its system now distinguishes between AI-generated text and AI-paraphrased text, providing more nuance in interpretation.
As Turnitin notes , the model calculates the likelihood that parts of your text were generated by AI.
However, The percentage generated by Turnitin’s AI writing detection model is not necessarily the percentage of the entire submission … it should not be used as the sole basis for adverse actions against a student.(Turnitin Support Guide – AI Writing Detection) It outputs a percentage—probabilistic, not definitive.
So, their detection should be viewed as an indicator, not evidence of misconduct.
2.How to use it?
Using Turnitin’s AI detection is straightforward:
1. Upload your document
Acceptable formats include .docx and .pdf (text-based). Avoid scanned or image-only files, as Turnitin can’t process them.
2. Enable AI writing detection
For most institutions, this is automatically activated for instructors. If you manage your own Turnitin account, check the submission settings before uploading.
3. Submit and wait for processing
Depending on file size, reports usually generate within a few minutes. You’ll receive two indicators:
- Similarity Score (for plagiarism checking)
- AI Writing Indicator (for potential AI-generated text)
4. Open your report
The AI Writing Indicator appears as a blue icon next to the submission title.
- If Turnitin detects AI content with moderate to high confidence (20–100%), it displays a percentage in blue.
- If the detection is below 20%, the system replaces the number with an asterisk (*%), indicating low confidence.
- Gray indicates that the file could not be processed for AI writing (for example, scanned documents or images of text).
5. Use Turnitin AI detection in Aceessay.ai
On the Aceessay website, we has integrated the Turnitin AI detection function. You can checkout Aceessay AI detecctor page to try Turnitin AI detector and download the detection report. Also we provide bypass Turnitin function through which you can convert your AI text to the version which cannot be detected by Turnitin.
3.How to Read and Interpret the Report
The cost of Turnitin’s detection service is very low. The value of this report does not lie in mere numbers; it’s about understanding what those colors and percentages actually signify.Only by effectively using the reports provided by Turnitin can it truly contribute to the improvement of your writing.
a. Key Elements of the Report
Once the AI report is open, the challenge is not just seeing the data but understanding what it’s telling you.
Each Turnitin AI report displays two layers of information:
- Quantitative (the percentage of suspected AI-written text)
- Qualitative (color-coded highlights showing where AI may appear).
Firstly, you need to clearly understand what each color represents.
(Turnitin Enhanced Report Guide )
b. Making Sense of Numbers
Turnitin’s percentages reflect probabilities, not certainties.
- 0–19% (*%) → Low confidence — often stylistic coincidence.
- 20–79% → Moderate confidence — requires contextual review.
- 80%-100％ → High confidence — AI-like writing patterns dominate.
Turnitin’s internal testing reports a false-positive rate of around 4% at the sentence level, and below 1% at the document level.
So, if your essay has a 15% AI score doesn’t prove AI use—it simply signals linguistic similarity.
Take this Turnitin report as an example. Don’t forget to pay attention to the content in the “Detection Groups” section below. It will tell you approximately what percentage of the content was generated by AI and what percentage was rewritten using AI tools. This method can help you eliminate some tools that perform poorly in humanizers.
c. interpret the report effectively:
1. Look for color clusters, not isolated highlights—single cyan or purple phrases may be normal.
As this article is highlighted in cyan, it indicates that this section of the language is possibly generated by AI and needs to be rewritten. This kind of highlight is very convenient. It enables you to quickly identify which part of your article has problems.
2. Understand writing context. Academic and technical writing often follows fixed formulas (“This study explores…”, “The results indicate…”), which can trigger AI-style signals. So do not change the structure and style easily just because of the AI rate, considering whether the phrasing simply reflects disciplinary conventions.
3. Check tone variation. Human writing has rhythm, emphasis, and small imperfections; AI writing tends to be balanced but emotionless. Reading flagged sections aloud can reveal whether the flow feels too uniform or detached.
4.Understanding the Limitations
Even Turnitin acknowledges that AI detection is guidance, not evidence.
Turnitin may also make false detections. Human-written texts can be wrongly labeled as generated by AI, and there is also some AI-generated content that can evade AI detection.
Besides, ESL submissions sometimes receive inflated AI scores, even when entirely human-written.writers whose first language is not English often rely on simpler sentence structures, limited vocabulary range, and predictable phrasing patterns to ensure grammatical accuracy.
For instance, a 2024 study cited by the University of San Diego Law Library found that AI detectors disproportionately flagged essays from non-native English writers as “AI-assisted” compared to native-level counterparts. Educators should therefore interpret ESL reports with caution.
In summary, the AI report is a mirror—imperfect but useful. It reflects patterns in writing and prompts reflection on how we create and learn. So being familiar with Turnitin is of great benefit to us.
I hope that through this blog, you can learn more about it.
About the Author
Claire Dawson is a dynamic content strategist at AceEssay, blending creativity with data-driven insights to craft compelling narratives and optimize SEO strategies. With a solid background in Marketing and Digital Media, Claire thrives on helping brands, especially in the academic space, grow their digital presence.