Direct answer
Direct Answer — In the Turnitin AI writing report, the "decrease" order option sorts the list of flagged sentences so that those with the highest AI detection probability appear first. When an instructor or reviewer selects this sorting option, the report reorders all flagged sentences from the most likely (highest AI score percentage) to the least likely (lowest AI score percentage) of having been generated by artificial intelligence [1]. This feature helps users prioritize which sentences to examine most closely during their review.
How Do I Use the "Decrease" Order Option in the Turnitin AI Writing Report to View Flagged Sentences?
Accessing the "decrease" order option is straightforward once you have opened the AI writing report for any submitted paper. Inside the report, a dedicated sorting control appears near the flagged sentences panel, allowing you to toggle between "Increasing" and "Decreasing" order. Selecting "Decreasing" immediately reorganizes the flagged sentence list so that the sentences with the highest AI probability score appear at the top [2].
This sorting tool is particularly valuable for instructors who need to focus their review time efficiently. Rather than scanning through every flagged sentence in arbitrary order, the decrease sort surfaces the most concerning content first—typically sentences scored above 80% or 90% AI probability [2]. Many institutional guides recommend that reviewers begin their analysis with the highest-probability sentences and then work downward, as this approach provides the clearest picture of where AI generation may have been concentrated in the paper [1][2].
The sort applies to the individual sentence-level breakdown, not to the overall AI score on the report cover page. Instructors can switch back and forth between Increasing and Decreasing order at any time during their review session without losing any data or annotations [2]. Once the decrease order is active, each sentence still displays its individual probability percentage, making it easy to see exactly how the algorithm scored each passage.
What Does the AI Score Mean When Sentences Are Sorted by Decreasing Probability in Turnitin?
When sentences are sorted by decreasing probability, the AI score displayed next to each sentence represents Turnitin's confidence that the specific passage was generated by an AI writing tool. Sentences at the top of the list—those with the highest percentages—are ones that Turnitin's detection model identifies with the greatest confidence as machine-generated [3]. These scores are drawn from the same detection algorithm that produces the overall paper-level AI score shown on the report cover.
It is important to understand that a high probability score on an individual sentence does not necessarily mean the sentence was AI-written; rather, it means the detection model found strong stylistic and statistical patterns consistent with AI-generated text [3]. Turnitin's guidance emphasizes that the decreasing sort should be used as a starting point for human judgment, not as a definitive label. Instructors are encouraged to read the highest-scored sentences in context and consider the writing patterns across the entire submission.
The decreasing sort also reveals how AI detection distributes across a paper's structure. In many cases, certain sections—such as introductions or literature reviews—may cluster at the top of the sorted list because AI-generated content often concentrates in formulaic sections [3]. By examining the top of the decrease-sorted list, reviewers can quickly assess whether AI use was limited to specific sections or spread throughout the entire document.
How Can Students Check Their Own Turnitin AI Report Before Submission to Understand How Their Writing Will Be Scored?
Students who want to understand how their writing will appear in a Turnitin AI report—including how sentences are sorted by decreasing probability—can use a pre-submission checking service to preview their own report before the final hand-in. By uploading a draft to a Turnitin report service, students can see exactly which sentences receive high AI probability scores and how the report organizes flagged content [4]. This preview allows them to understand whether specific sections of their writing might appear at the top of an instructor's decrease-sorted view.
The value of pre-checking lies in understanding the detection perspective. When students view their own AI report with the decreasing sort, they can identify patterns they may not have noticed—such as certain phrasing styles or sentence structures that the detector flags as more likely AI-generated [4]. Armed with this insight, students can revise flagged sections, rephrase content in their own voice, and verify that the final submission reflects their original work before it reaches the instructor's review queue.
Students should note that the same sorting features available to instructors are present in the reports they receive from legitimate checking services. This means students can apply the "decrease" order themselves, review their highest-scored sentences, and make informed decisions about which passages to revise [4]. Taking this proactive step helps students avoid surprises when their instructor opens the report and sees the decrease-sorted view of flagged sentences.
Understanding how Turnitin organizes flagged sentences by decreasing probability is only half the picture—the real advantage comes from seeing your own report before your instructor does. With Turnitin0, you can upload your draft and receive a genuine Turnitin AI and similarity report within minutes, complete with the same sentence-level breakdown and sorting options that instructors use. Preview exactly which sentences will appear at the top of the decrease-sorted list and revise with confidence before submission.
※ Turnitin0.com - Actual Turnitin AI Report Cover, Score, Flag And Similarity Summary
FAQ
1. Does the "decrease" order option change the overall AI score on the report?
No. The overall AI score shown on the report cover remains the same regardless of how you sort individual flagged sentences. The "decrease" order only affects the sequence in which flagged sentences appear in the sentence-level breakdown panel, not the aggregate percentage [1].
2. Can I see both the overall AI score and the sentence-level decrease sort at the same time?
Yes. The overall AI score is displayed on the report cover or summary header, while the sentence-level sorting control appears in the flagged sentences panel below. You can view both simultaneously without any conflict or data loss [2].
3. Is the "decrease" order available to students or only to instructors?
The sentence-level sorting feature (including the "decrease" order) is available in the Turnitin AI writing report interface. Students who receive their report through an authorized checking service can access the same sorting controls that instructors see, allowing them to review their highest-scored sentences independently [4].
4. What percentage at the top of the decrease sort should I be most concerned about?
Sentences scored above 80% AI probability should receive the most attention, as Turnitin's algorithm identifies these with high confidence. However, Turnitin advises that all flagged sentences should be reviewed in context, as the decreasing sort is meant to prioritize rather than replace human judgment [3].
5. Can I export the decrease-sorted flagged sentences list?
Turnitin's standard AI writing report interface does not include a direct export function for the sorted sentence list. However, instructors can take screenshots or use the print functionality to capture the report with the desired sort applied. Students using third-party checking services should check whether their provider offers export options [1][2].