Similar passages in other papers

Find paragraphs in your other papers that use similar wording or cover a similar topic to the one you are reading. The search runs entirely on your device.

Applies to Mendeley and Zotero editions Windows · Linux · Mac · iPad · Android Partly included in the purchase

Find similar passages

  1. Pick the paragraph:
    • Mac · iPadIn Reading Mode, tap a highlight or an underline and choose Similar passages in other papers.
    • MacOr right-click a paragraph, in the PDF view or in Reading Mode, and choose Similar passages in other papers.
    • WindowsSelect text in the paragraph (or click a highlight) and click Similar passages in the bar that appears. You can also right-click and choose Similar passages in other papers, or press Ctrl+Shift+S.
    • AndroidSelect text in the paragraph, or tap a highlight, and choose Similar passages in other papers from the … of the bar that appears (on a phone, under Copy). In Reading Mode it is also at the top of a highlight's menu. With a keyboard, press Ctrl+Shift+S.
  2. The results list This passage and, under it, passages From other papers, each with its paper and page.
    • Mac · iPad · AndroidThey appear in a Similar passages sheet.
    • WindowsThey appear in the Similar passages tab of the side panel.
  3. Choose Open to go to that passage, or Open beside to read it next to the paper you are in. See Two panes.
    • AndroidOpen beside is offered on a tablet, not on a phone.

Similar means similar wording and topic. It is not necessarily the same claim, so read the passage before you rely on it.

On Windows, Mac and Android, similar passages are included in the purchase. They are free during the 14-day trial. On iPad and iPhone they are free.

The index

To compare paragraphs, Rectoly keeps an index of the paragraphs in the papers on this device. It is built on the device, with a language model that runs on the device. The text of your papers is never sent anywhere.

  • Mac · iPadThe first time, the sheet offers Fetch the model and build the index. The model is downloaded once; after that, papers are compared on the device.
  • Mac · iPadThe index then fills in a little at a time while the device is charging.
  • WindowsThe model comes with Rectoly. The index fills in while Rectoly is open and you pause.
  • AndroidThe model comes with Rectoly. The index fills in a little at a time while the device is charging.
  • If nothing is indexed yet, the results say so and offer Index now to build part of it right away.
  • Only papers whose PDF is on this device are indexed.

The multilingual model

Get the multilingual model, on the results screen, downloads a multilingual model (about 640 MB). You download it once, and it runs on the device.

  • Passages in Japanese, Chinese and other papers are found as well, and so are passages in a different language from the one you selected.
  • After the download, Rectoly rebuilds the index with the new model. It says Building the multilingual index with its progress, and searches the current index until that is done.
  • Passages that may relate, in a research theme, uses this multilingual index.
  • Without it, similar passages are found the way they were before.
  • AndroidA device with little memory cannot use the multilingual model.

Good to know

  • The language model Rectoly starts with is made for English. Papers in other languages may give weaker results; get the multilingual model for those.
  • Windows · AndroidIf the language model cannot be loaded, reinstalling Rectoly puts it back.

Updated October 10, 2026