Turnitin Self-Plagiarism: Why Drafts Get Flagged

Self-plagiarism on Turnitin is one of the most common shocks for postgraduate students. You did not copy anyone else — yet the report shows near-total similarity. The match source is often your own earlier upload.

How Turnitin treats stored papers

When a submission is stored in a repository, later submissions can match that stored text. If draft 1 was indexed, draft 2 (even improved) may match draft 1 heavily.

Common causes in Sri Lanka

• Using free “Turnitin” sites that store files.
• Checking via a classmate’s student account with repository on.
• Uploading early chapters to LMS for feedback, then re-uploading the full thesis.
• Multiple supervisors requesting separate portal uploads.

How to prevent it

1. Never use repository-on tools for unfinished drafts.
2. Use No-Repository instructor checks for private pre-submission scans.
3. Keep one official final submission path for your university.
4. Document your revision history for viva or supervisor discussions if needed.

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