"This Assignment Will Be Submitted to Turnitin": What It Means
"This assignment will be submitted to Turnitin" means your file is sent to Turnitin automatically when you submit it. Turnitin checks it against web pages, publications and other students' papers, creates a similarity report, and in many institutions an AI writing report for your instructor. You do not need to do anything extra. Here is what happens next and what to check before you click submit.
Where you see this message
- Canvas: "This assignment will be submitted to Turnitin" or "Plagiarism Review: Turnitin" on the assignment page.
- Moodle: a note that your submission will be checked by Turnitin, often with an agreement checkbox.
- Blackboard and Brightspace: similar wording on Turnitin assignments.
Some versions also ask you to accept Turnitin's end-user licence agreement the first time you submit.
What happens after you submit
- Your file goes to Turnitin with your name and course.
- A similarity report is created, usually within minutes.
- If your institution uses AI detection, an AI writing report is created, normally for your instructor only.
- Your paper is usually stored in the student repository, so future papers are checked against it, including your own.
- You may receive a digital receipt with a submission ID.
Things to check before you submit
- Is this the final version? If resubmissions are not allowed, you cannot replace it.
- Is the file readable? Upload .docx or a text PDF, not a scanned image.
- Is the reference list headed clearly? A heading such as "References" helps Turnitin exclude it. See high similarity from references.
- Have you used a draft assignment? If it stored your paper, your final version may match it.
- Do you know your score? If not, check it first, so the first time you see it is not after submission.
Can you see the report?
Only if your instructor allows it. Some release it immediately, some after the due date, some never. See what "originality reports available" means.
Can you refuse to have your paper submitted to Turnitin?
Some institutions offer an alternative, such as submitting drafts and notes for a manual check. Policies vary, so ask your instructor or read your institution's academic integrity policy. Turnitin itself does not decide this.
The two reports Turnitin creates
Both screenshots below come from the same 24-page, 6,364-word paper. The similarity report found 1% overall similarity. The AI writing report flagged 51% of the qualifying text as likely AI-generated. Tap either one to see it full size.
Screenshots shown for illustration. Your own reports arrive as full PDFs in your dashboard.
Related: what "Turnitin enabled" means and how to submit to Turnitin.
Frequently asked questions
What does this assignment will be submitted to Turnitin mean?
Your file is sent to Turnitin automatically when you submit, and a similarity report is created. Many institutions also create an AI writing report for the instructor.
Is my paper stored by Turnitin?
Usually yes. Most assignments save papers to the student repository so future papers can be checked against them.
Will I see my Turnitin score?
Only if your instructor allows it, either immediately, after the due date or after grading.