How to Use iThenticate

Getting started with iThenticate

In this guide, you will learn how to set up your iThenticate account and perform your first plagiarism check. After reading this, you’ll be able to ensure your manuscripts are free of plagiarism before submission.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to iThenticate.com.
2. Click on the "Sign Up" button located at the top right corner of the homepage.
3. Fill in the required information, including your email address and a secure password.
4. Choose a subscription plan that fits your needs. iThenticate does not offer a free tier, but you can start with a trial if available.
5. Once registered, check your email for a confirmation link and click on it to activate your account.

Step 2: Your first plagiarism check

1. After logging in, click on the "Upload" button on the dashboard.
2. Select your manuscript file (Word, PDF, or text files are supported) and click "Open".
3. Fill in the details about your document, such as the title and author.
4. Click on the "Submit" button to start the plagiarism check.
5. Wait for the scan to complete, which may take a few minutes depending on the document size.
6. Once done, click on the document title in the results list to view the report.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the "Settings" menu to adjust your preferences, such as excluding certain sources or customising the match sensitivity.
2. Review the "Similarity Report" carefully. Pay attention to highlighted sections and the sources listed.
3. Use the "Compare" feature if you want to see how your document compares to previous submissions or other documents in the database.

Pro tip

Make use of the "Exclude" option to filter out common phrases or references that are not relevant to your work, saving you time in reviewing the results.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid uploading documents with extensive quotes or references without proper citations. This can lead to misleading similarity scores, making it look like you have plagiarised content when you haven’t. Always ensure to cite correctly.