Verify AI-generated references by checking existence, metadata, identifiers, source access, claim support, quotation accuracy, and retraction or correction status.
Treat every generated reference as unverified
Copy the reference into a ledger and mark it pending. Do not improve a suspicious citation by guessing missing fields; verification begins by proving that the work exists.
Resolve the persistent identifier
Search by exact title, author, year, venue, and DOI. Follow the DOI to the publisher or repository record. If fields disagree, record the conflict instead of silently merging them.
Open the source and test claim support
A real paper can still be irrelevant. Locate the passage, table, or result supporting the sentence you intend to write. Check population, method, direction, magnitude, and limits.
Verify quotations and page locations
Compare every quoted word with the accessible source and confirm edition or version. Generated page numbers are especially unsafe when formats differ.
Check status and preserve evidence
Look for corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and version changes on authoritative records. Save the verified identifier, access date, source location, and your decision.
Frequently asked questions
What if the DOI resolves but the title differs?
Treat it as a mismatch and search the complete metadata; do not cite until the identity is reconciled.
Can a real citation still be wrong?
Yes. It may not support the claim, may be outdated, or may be corrected or retracted.
Should I cite a search snippet?
No. Open and evaluate the underlying source.
How do I check a quotation?
Compare exact wording, context, edition, and page or section against the original.
What if I cannot access the full text?
Limit the claim to what you can verify or obtain the source through authorized access.
Can AI perform the final audit?
It can help organize checks, but a human should verify the authoritative records and source text.
Verify the reference before the claim
Treat every generated citation as untrusted until you can locate the work in a publisher, library, repository, DOI registry, or other authoritative index. Confirm title, authors, date, venue, identifier, and document type; small metadata errors often reveal a fabricated or conflated reference. Next, open the source and check whether it actually supports the nearby claim at the cited location. Record the verification result as found and supportive, found but mismatched, unresolved, or nonexistent. Replace secondary references with primary evidence when practical, and delete claims that cannot be supported. A plausible citation string is not evidence—the auditable connection between source and sentence is.
CTA: Verify one generated reference against the original publication, record the outcome, and keep the evidence beside your reading notes.
Continue the citation-checking workflow
- AI reading assistant
- How to read scientific papers
- Research paper summary template
- How to annotate a research paper PDF
