iThenticate

iThenticate is Emory's text similarity detection software that checks for potential plagiarism in academic and professional writing. Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.

iThenticate now also includes AI Writing Detection within the Enhanced Similarity Report, providing an additional compliance tool to support reviews of manuscripts, publications, and grant proposals. This capability can help investigators identify potential AI-generated or AI-paraphrased content that may warrant further review under sponsor expectations, including NIH guidance on fairness, transparency, and integrity in application review, while reducing risks associated with proposal compliance concerns, publication issues, and allegations related to research misconduct.

NIH Expectations for Originality

NIH expects research applications to reflect the applicant’s original ideas, work, and analysis. Generative AI should not be used to create the scientific ideas, rationale, or substantive content of an NIH submission. Any use of AI should be limited, carefully reviewed, and consistent with sponsor expectations for fairness, transparency, and research integrity.

Relevant NIH guidance

For additional information, see Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications; Notice Number: NOT-OD-25-132.

Peer Review Restrictions

  • NIH explicitly prohibits peer reviewers from using generative AI tools to analyze applications or formulate critiques for grant proposals.
  • NSF has issued similar guidance to the research community regarding the use of AI in NSF merit review.

Resources

We highly recommend the use of this software to any faculty member submitting manuscripts, publications, grant proposals to federal or private entities. Please note iThenticate is a tool to detect potential plagiarism and ensure the integrity of your research work, but it is not the only information used to determine if plagiarism has occurred.

Faculty members can create an Emory iThenticate account using their Emory login and password via this link. If you already have an account, log in here.

For any questions, email us at rio@emory.edu.

How it Works

iThenticate allows the review and comparison of documents in about 5 to 15 minutes for every document uploaded. Once you have an account, login in with the credentials you created and follow these steps:

  • Click on “Upload” under “My Files”
  • Under “Manage Files” you will see the similarity percentage. Click on the number to see the report.
  • You can click on “exclude match” to exclude findings that are not relevant

FAQs

We strongly recommend the use of iThenticate to protect your research from potential plagiarism. We know that our students, faculty, and staff work hard to develop innovative work, and that they support Emory’s commitment to research integrity. This tool aims to help you avoid any documentation errors.

iThenticate identifies material that matches text from documents found in their extensive database. Highlighted text will include text that has been properly quoted and cited so it is not necessarily plagiarized. You will need to verify that every highlighted section has been properly quoted, summarized or paraphrased. As a result, iThenticate makes it easier for you to identify and attribute any material that may contain unintentional plagiarism.

yes. None of the submission are shared with others at Emory University or outside our institution. iThenticate is a private, secure database that is only accessible by your own account. iThenticate does not share or resell uploaded files, and your submissions are not searchable by any other account, nor used by any other Turnitin service. Submissions can also be deleted from your account and removed from the database at any time.

You are not required to use iThenticate at this time, but we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this plagiarism prevention tool in an effort to maintain individual and institutional research integrity.