Citation Checker
Paste a citation or a DOI. We'll look for it in a public database of scholarly records and tell you what we find.
What the results mean
- Looks real: we found a record that matches the title, author, and year.
- Close match: we found something similar, but a detail is off. Compare it with your citation.
- Wrong paper: the DOI exists, but it points to a different paper. This is a common sign of an AI-made citation.
- Not found: we couldn't find it. That doesn't prove it's fake.
Why a real source can come back as not found
Crossref is large, but it doesn't hold everything. Older books, reports, web pages, and some smaller journals may be missing. Try Google Scholar or ask your librarian before you decide.
Want the full method? Read how to check if a citation is real.
Why this matters
AI chatbots can invent citations that look right. If you used one for research, check each source before you hand in your paper. Then read how to use AI for research without fake citations.