Guides
Guides for checking references
Pick the page that matches the reference in front of you. The checker is the same tool on every page. These guides only change what you should expect from the verdict.
3 free reference checks without an account, plus 5 more free after you sign in.
Hallucinated citation checker
How a formatted citation is matched to Crossref, OpenAlex, and other databases, and when it is marked likely fabricated.
Read guideVerify a reference list
Paste a bibliography and read a verdict for each reference.
Read guideCheck references that ChatGPT wrote
ChatGPT often invents references that look complete. Paste the list into RefCheck to match each one against Crossref, OpenAlex, and other databases.
Read guideCheck whether a cited paper was retracted
RefCheck flags retraction signals from Retraction Watch data in Crossref, and from PubMed and Europe PMC, while it checks each reference.
Read guideLook up a DOI and check it against the citation
A DOI that opens can still point at the wrong paper. RefCheck resolves it through Crossref and compares the title and authors.
Read guideHow to check if a reference is real
Check a citation by hand at doi.org or by title, or paste it into RefCheck to compare Crossref, OpenAlex, PubMed, and other databases.
Read guideCheck APA references against the real record
Paste APA reference-list entries. RefCheck checks whether each work exists and whether the year and DOI match. It does not grade italics or hanging indents.
Read guideCheck IEEE references, not just the brackets
Paste numbered IEEE references. RefCheck checks each work against Crossref, DBLP, arXiv, and other databases. It does not grade bracket style in the body text.
Read guideCheck Vancouver references in a biomedical paper
Paste Vancouver references. RefCheck checks them in Crossref, PubMed, and Europe PMC, and flags retraction notices. It is not a plagiarism check.
Read guideCheck references before you submit a paper
Before you upload a manuscript, paste the reference list. RefCheck marks fabricated lines, citation errors, and retraction flags. It does not check that a paper supports your sentence.
Read guideCheck an arXiv citation
Look up an arXiv id or a preprint citation. RefCheck queries arXiv and compares it with Crossref and OpenAlex, including the published version when one exists.
Read guideFrequently asked questions
Are these pages the checker?
No. Each guide explains one kind of check. The checker, where you paste a reference list, is the homepage.
Do the guides check different databases?
No. They describe the same checker. A page tells you which databases matter for that kind of reference, and what the tool will not do.
What are the four verdicts?
Real, real with errors, likely fabricated, and unconfirmed. Unconfirmed means the evidence was too thin to call, which is common for some Chinese journals and books.
What does a check cost?
3 free reference checks without an account, plus 5 more free after you sign in. Then 1 AILatest credit per reference. Failed lookups are refunded.