Free research tool

Free Citation Checker

A citation checker is a structured review for spotting missing author, title, source, date, URL, DOI, and credibility details before a source becomes part of your evidence trail.

Check a Citation See Our Methodology

Check a Citation

Find missing source details before the citation enters your evidence trail.

Citation Text

Source TypeCitation Style

Author or OrganizationTitle or Document Name

Source, Publisher, or DatabaseDate

URL, DOI, Archive, Docket, or ISBN

Notes

Citation Checklist

The citation points to the original source, not only a repost or summary.The author, institution, or responsible publisher is named.The publication date or last-updated date is clear.The URL, DOI, archive link, docket, ISBN, or database locator is stable.The source can be corroborated by at least one independent record.

Citation Score

Not ready to cite

This score measures citation completeness and retrievability. It is not a truth verdict.

Required Fields

Author or responsible organization

missing

Name the person, agency, court, institution, or publisher accountable for the source.

Title or document name

missing

Include the article, report, case, page, video, dataset, or document title.

Source, publisher, container, or database

missing

Readers need the publication, database, court, agency, site, or archive that hosts the source.

Publication or access date

missing

Add publication date, filing date, last-updated date, or access date for undated web pages.

Stable URL, DOI, archive, docket, or ISBN

missing

Use a stable locator so another reader can retrieve the same source later.

Risk Flags

Citation is too thin

medium

Paste the full bibliography entry, footnote, or source note before deciding what is missing.

Several required details are missing

high

A reader may not be able to identify or retrieve this source without more citation fields.

No stable locator

high

Add a URL, DOI, archive link, docket number, ISBN, database ID, or other retrieval path.

Date missing

medium

Dates matter because web pages change and claims can be recycled outside their original context.

Credibility Signals

Add a DOI, archive link, institutional source, or accountable author to surface positive signals.

Verification Searches

"source title""source title" original source"source title" corrections retraction archive"source title" primary source PDF transcript dataset"source title" DOI OR archive

Citation Worksheet

Citation-check worksheet

Citation:
[Paste citation, footnote, bibliography entry, or source note]

Source type:
News article or report

Citation style:
APA

Parsed fields:
- Missing: Author or responsible organization
- Missing: Title or document name
- Missing: Source, publisher, container, or database
- Missing: Publication or access date
- Missing: Stable URL, DOI, archive, docket, or ISBN

Author or organization:
[Missing or only inferred]

Title:
[Missing or only inferred]

Source or publisher:
[Missing or only inferred]

Date:
[Missing or only inferred]

URL, DOI, archive, docket, or ISBN:
[Missing or only inferred]

Verification searches:
- "source title"
- "source title" original source
- "source title" corrections retraction archive
- "source title" primary source PDF transcript dataset
- "source title" DOI OR archive

Credibility signals:
- No credibility signals recorded yet.

Risk flags:
- Citation is too thin: Paste the full bibliography entry, footnote, or source note before deciding what is missing.
- Several required details are missing: A reader may not be able to identify or retrieve this source without more citation fields.
- No stable locator: Add a URL, DOI, archive link, docket number, ISBN, database ID, or other retrieval path.
- Date missing: Dates matter because web pages change and claims can be recycled outside their original context.

Citation checklist:
[ ] The citation points to the original source, not only a repost or summary.
[ ] The author, institution, or responsible publisher is named.
[ ] The publication date or last-updated date is clear.
[ ] The URL, DOI, archive link, docket, ISBN, or database locator is stable.
[ ] The source can be corroborated by at least one independent record.

Notes:
[Add source findings, corrections, context, and corroboration]

Draft citation decision:
[Ready to cite / Needs missing fields / Find primary source / Do not cite yet]

Citation method

How to check a citation

01
Paste the citation, bibliography entry, footnote, or source note.
02
Choose the source type and citation style you plan to use.
03
Add any known author, title, source, date, URL, DOI, or archive details.
04
Review missing fields, credibility signals, and weak locator warnings.
05
Use the verification searches to find the primary source or better citation trail.
06
Copy the worksheet before citing, publishing, or sharing the source.

Citation Checker FAQ

What is a citation checker?

A citation checker reviews whether a source citation includes enough information to identify, verify, and evaluate the source, including author, title, publisher, date, and URL or DOI.

Can this tool fix APA, MLA, or Chicago formatting automatically?

No. It does not rewrite citations into a style guide format. It helps you catch missing source details and credibility gaps before you format the final citation.

What details should every citation include?

Most citations need an author or accountable organization, title, source or publisher, publication date, and a stable URL, DOI, archive link, or retrieval path.

How do I know if a citation is credible?

Check whether the source names responsible authors or institutions, links to primary evidence, has a clear date, avoids anonymous claims, and can be corroborated by independent records.

Should I cite a source if the URL is missing?

Only if another stable locator exists, such as a DOI, archive URL, database accession number, court docket, ISBN, or publication details a reader can use to find the source.

Related Tools

Pair citation checks with source and claim review.

A complete evidence trail needs a findable citation, a credible source, and a claim review that separates proof from assertion.

Source Checker Fact Checker Quote Checker