Make each reference citation-ready by comparing every required element against the source record, correcting any gap or error, and then applying the target journal's reference style. The ICMJE Recommendations advise authors to verify references against original sources and to follow the journal's reference style.
Check each reference element by element
For a journal article, confirm authors, title, journal, year, volume, pages, and DOI against the source record. The NLM style guide, Citing Medicine, provides structured examples and rules for citing journal articles, books, conference material, databases, websites, and datasets, so use the example that matches the publication type. For a DOI, a Crossref DOI lookup returns the metadata deposited for that DOI, which gives you a record to compare against your draft entry.
- Identify the publication type for each reference and open the matching example in Citing Medicine. Expected result: you know which elements that type requires.
- Compare each element in your draft against the source record, including the DOI metadata where a DOI exists. Expected result: a list of missing or mismatched elements, such as a truncated author list or a wrong volume.
- Correct each gap or error at the source, then recheck the corrected entry against the same record. Expected result: every required element matches the record you compared.
- Apply the target journal's reference style to the corrected entries. Expected result: formatting and element order match the journal's requirements.
Handle direct sources and retractions
The ICMJE Recommendations advise citing direct sources where possible and identifying retractions. When your draft cites a secondary description of a study, locate the original and cite it directly. When a cited work has been retracted, mark that status in the reference so readers can see it.
Resolve mismatches before handoff
When the draft entry and the source record disagree, treat the reference as unresolved and check the publisher's article page or the DOI metadata again. Record which source you used for each correction so a reviewer can retrace the check during an audit or handoff.