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Citation Checker

Scan a reference list for missing fields, formatting issues, and ordering problems.

Runs in your browserNo sign-up required
This checks formatting and completeness only — it cannot verify that a source actually exists. Always double-check references manually, especially any pulled from AI writing tools, which can generate plausible-looking citations for sources that don't exist.
Paste Your Reference List

Separate entries with a blank line, or one reference per line.

List-Wide Issues
The list doesn't appear to be in alphabetical order — most styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard) require references sorted alphabetically by author surname.
Per-Entry Review2 issues found
#1
Smith, J. (2023). The Art of Testing. Tech Press.
#2
Doe, John. A Guide to Everything. Random House, 2019.
#3
Lee, A 2021 Widgets and Whatnot
Doesn't end with standard closing punctuation.

A Generator Creates, a Checker Reviews

Building a citation from scratch and reviewing an existing reference list are two different jobs. This tool handles the second one — paste in a list you already have (or were handed by a co-author) and it flags missing publication years, inconsistent formatting across entries, and a list that isn't in the alphabetical order most styles require.

How to Use This Tool

  1. 1Paste your reference listOne entry per blank-line-separated paragraph, or one per line for a tightly packed list.
  2. 2Review list-wide issuesInconsistent author-name order, mixed italics markers, or entries out of alphabetical order.
  3. 3Review each entry individuallyMissing years, unusually short entries, and inconsistent closing punctuation are flagged per reference.
  4. 4Fix and re-checkEdit the text and the results update instantly — no need to re-paste.

Good to Know

  • This checks formatting and completeness — not whether a source actually exists. It can't verify real academic databases without a paid API, so always confirm sources manually.
  • This is especially important for anything pulled from an AI writing tool — AI models can generate plausible-looking citations for sources that were never actually published.
  • Most styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard) require a reference list sorted alphabetically by author surname — the checker flags it if yours isn't.
  • Need to build citations from scratch instead? Try the companion Citation Generator, which builds correctly formatted entries and a sorted bibliography for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this tool tell me if a source is real?

No — verifying that a source genuinely exists would require checking it against real academic databases, which this tool doesn't do. It checks structure and completeness only, and that limitation is intentional so the tool stays honest about what it can promise.

What counts as one "entry" when I paste my list?

The checker first looks for blank lines between entries (the standard way a reference list is typically formatted). If it doesn't find any, it falls back to treating each non-empty line as one entry.

Does it check style-specific punctuation rules exactly?

It checks broadly useful signals that apply across styles — missing years, inconsistent punctuation, mixed author-name ordering, and alphabetical sorting — rather than validating against one specific style's full rulebook.

Is my reference list uploaded anywhere?

No — everything runs in your browser. Nothing you paste here is sent to a server or stored.