Introduction
For Indian PhD scholars, plagiarism checks are no longer an optional step—they are an essential part of thesis submission. The University Grants Commission (UGC) requires all universities, including private institutions, to ensure that submitted research meets strict originality standards. Among the various plagiarism detection tools, Turnitin, Urkund (now known as Ouriginal), and Grammarly Premium are the most commonly discussed. While each tool serves the purpose of detecting similarity, they differ in accuracy, accessibility, and suitability for research work. This blog compares these three tools to help scholars decide which is the best fit for their needs.
Turnitin – The Researcher’s First Choice
Turnitin has built its reputation as one of the most accurate and reliable plagiarism detection tools worldwide. It scans documents against a vast database of academic papers, journals, books, and internet content. In India, many private universities subscribe to Turnitin because it meets UGC’s plagiarism checking requirements and provides detailed similarity reports.
However, Turnitin is not directly accessible to individual students unless their university provides access. The reports are highly comprehensive, but they may also highlight common phrases and references that are not actual plagiarism, requiring scholars to interpret the results carefully.
Urkund (Ouriginal) – The UGC-Recommended Tool
Urkund, now called Ouriginal, is specifically recommended by UGC for thesis evaluation in Indian universities. It works by automatically checking submitted documents against multiple databases, including web sources, academic publications, and prior student submissions. One of Urkund’s strengths is its integration with university systems, making it easier for faculty to review student work.
Compared to Turnitin, Urkund is known for having fewer false positives, meaning it may provide a more balanced report for researchers. However, its database is slightly smaller, which may limit its detection scope for certain niche subjects.
Grammarly Premium – Writing Assistance with Plagiarism Check
Grammarly Premium is not primarily a plagiarism detection tool; it is a writing assistant designed to improve grammar, clarity, and style. Its plagiarism checker scans text against billions of web pages but has limited access to academic databases.
For research purposes, Grammarly is best used as a first step—to refine writing and ensure that citations are in place before submitting the work to a more robust tool like Turnitin or Urkund. Many private university scholars use Grammarly to self-check their drafts and reduce unintentional plagiarism before the official submission.
Which One is Best for Research?
- For official submission: Turnitin and Urkund are the most reliable choices since they meet UGC standards.
- For improving drafts: Grammarly is excellent for catching grammar errors, awkward phrasing, and minor citation mistakes before the final plagiarism check.
- For researchers publishing in journals: Turnitin’s broader database offers more thorough scanning, though Urkund remains an equally strong option depending on the institution’s policy.
Practical Tip for PhD Scholars
Using these tools is not about “beating the system” but about improving your work. A good practice is to run your draft through Grammarly for language polishing, then submit it to Turnitin or Urkund for the final similarity check. This approach ensures better writing quality and a lower similarity score.
Conclusion
While all three tools—Turnitin, Urkund, and Grammarly—serve an important role, their effectiveness depends on how and when they are used. Turnitin and Urkund are the most trusted for official plagiarism checks in Indian universities, while Grammarly is best suited for pre-submission polishing. For PhD scholars in private universities, a combination of these tools can help maintain academic integrity while producing a polished, original thesis. Ultimately, the choice is not about picking one over the other, but about knowing how to use each tool effectively for different stages of research writing.