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Reference checker
Paste up to 10 references or DOIs. We look each one up in Crossref and OpenAlex, two large open databases of published research, and tell you whether it matches a real record, with a link to that record and a plain explanation of anything that differs.
What the results mean
- Verified
- The reference matches a published record. We link to the record so you can compare it yourself.
- Details differ
- We found the work, but something in your reference does not match the record: the year, the first author, the title or the DOI. These are usually typing or copying mistakes, and we tell you what the record says.
- Not found
- We could not match the reference to a record. This does not mean it is wrong or made up. Books, reports, theses, websites and some preprints are often missing from these databases, so check the original source.
- Retracted
- The work has been retracted by its publisher. You may still cite it, for example when writing about the retraction, but you should say that it was retracted.
- Could not check
- The databases did not answer in time. Nothing is wrong with your reference. Try again in a moment.
How it works
- We split what you paste into separate references. Numbered lists, one reference per line and blank lines between references all work.
- If a reference has a DOI, we look up that exact DOI. If it doesn’t, we search by its title, authors and year.
- We compare the record we find with your reference: title, first author, year and DOI. We also check whether the work has been retracted.
Questions
Is the reference checker free?
Yes. You can check up to 10 references at a time, a few times an hour, without creating an account.
Where do the results come from?
From Crossref and OpenAlex, two large open databases of published research. Together they cover most journal articles and conference papers, and many books and preprints.
Which citation styles does it understand?
APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE and most others. Paste your references as they appear in your reference list, or paste DOIs, one per line.
Does "Not found" mean a reference is fake?
No. It means we could not match it to a record. Many real sources, such as books, reports, theses and websites, are not in these databases. Check the original source before you change anything.
Can it spot references made up by AI tools?
It can help. A made-up reference usually matches no record, or its DOI leads to a different paper. But a result of "Not found" on its own is not proof, so always check the source by hand.
Do you keep the references I paste?
No. We look them up and send back the results. We do not save what you paste, and our logs record only how many references were checked and their results.
How can I check every reference in my paper?
Create a free GenText account. You can then check all the references in a document at once, in Microsoft Word and in the GenText web editor.