Choose a style and edition
APA generally uses author–date citations; IEEE uses numeric citations. Your university or journal decides the applicable style and any local adaptations. Avoid mixing conventions. Replacing brackets does not fully convert a manually written list, because ordering, metadata fields and title presentation can also change.
Reconcile text and reference list
Check that each citation points to its intended source and that listed entries are used according to the style, including its exceptions. After importing material, inspect the citation links in the destination document. Copying between files can leave outdated identifiers or numbers. Recheck citation order after moving paragraphs.
Verify metadata at the source
Confirm authors, year, title, publication, pages and DOI where applicable. Do not guess a missing field or invent a reference to complete the layout. Reference tools help organize entries but do not establish that a source supports a claim. Read the source passage you actually rely on.
Pre-submission checklist
- Confirm the style edition.
- Check citation-to-source links.
- Use the correct reference order.
- Avoid invented fields or sources.
- Supply location details for quotations where required.
Common questions
Does a low similarity score validate citations?
No. A similarity report alone does not determine plagiarism, and acceptable matching levels depend on the receiving institution.
Does formatting verify scientific accuracy?
No. Presentation, metadata verification and evaluating evidence are separate tasks requiring researcher review.