FAQ | T-detector Help Center

1. Why doesn't T-detector ever index my paper in Turnitin, no matter how many times I check?

Our Turnitin integration is configured to never store submitted papers. That means you can run multiple checks without worrying your work will be saved in Turnitin’s database.

2. What does % mean in the Turnitin AI report?

Since July 16, 2024, if Turnitin estimates the AI-written portion of a paper to be between 1%–19%, it shows as “%” instead of giving an exact number. If the percentage is 0% or 20% and above, the precise figure will appear. This change reflects Turnitin’s position that AI detection isn’t fully reliable within that lower range. If your institution doesn’t require a 0% AI score, *% is generally considered acceptable.

3. Will the AI score from T-detector match the one my school sees in Turnitin?

Yes—if you submit the exact same content, the AI proportion should be consistent. However, even minor edits (such as sentence rewrites, formatting, or grammar tweaks) may lead to differences in your school’s results. To stay aligned, we strongly recommend rechecking with T-detector after any changes.

4. Can I use T-detector after submitting my paper to my school’s Turnitin?

Yes, but be aware that if your paper was already submitted to your school’s Turnitin account, checking it again in T-detector will likely trigger a high plagiarism score—since your original is now in the Turnitin database. That said, AI scoring is unaffected and can still be verified.

5. Why was my work flagged as AI even though I didn’t use AI tools like ChatGPT?

No current tool, including Turnitin, can detect AI content with 100% accuracy. Even software like Grammarly or Quillbot may inadvertently affect how your writing is interpreted. To lower the risk of being flagged, try simplifying or rewording overly formal or robotic-sounding phrases.

6. What happens if I don’t download my report within 24 hours?

For privacy protection, all documents and reports are automatically deleted 24 hours after processing. Unfortunately, they can’t be recovered after that. However, a copy is also sent to your registered T-detector email—so be sure to check there if you missed downloading in time.

7. Is my reference list counted toward the duplication rate?

No. Our Turnitin Detector is set to automatically exclude reference lists from duplication analysis. This aligns with the standard practices of most universities and academic journals.

8. Why does Turnitin show 0% AI while GPTZero shows a high score?

Turnitin uses a more cautious and refined AI detection approach to avoid unfairly penalizing students. It focuses on discouraging full AI-written submissions rather than flagging every possible instance, which is why its results may be lower than tools like GPTZero.

9. Why did my AI report fail to generate?

Turnitin's AI reports won’t generate if the document is:

Written in a non-English or non-Spanish language
Below 320 words or above 29,999 words

If none of these apply, please try resubmitting your document.

10. Will my AI score always stay at 0% in Turnitin?

Not necessarily. Turnitin updates its AI detection algorithm regularly. Although your current report may show 0%, future updates might slightly affect past scores. However, this won’t impact your current assignments.

11. Why did unflagged parts of my paper become marked as AI after editing?

AI detection evaluates your document as a whole—not individual sections in isolation. Changing one area can affect how the entire paper is interpreted.

For example, if you edit flagged content, previously unflagged sections may now appear more "AI-like" due to shifts in tone, grammar, or structure.

Let’s say Sam wrote a 1,000-word paper divided into sections A–E. Initially, section C was flagged. After editing C, a re-check might show that C is clear but now section A is flagged.

That’s because AI detection reassesses the full document each time. Results aren’t locked to specific sentences—they reflect your paper’s most current state.

12. Will my AI score always stay at 0% in Turnitin?

Not necessarily. Turnitin updates its AI detection algorithm regularly. Although your current report may show 0%, future updates might slightly affect past scores. However, this won’t impact your current assignments.