Check each reference against its original source, cite the direct source where possible, and flag any entry that shows a retraction notice; ICMJE gives these as reference-preparation expectations for authors.
A workable sequence
- Build a working list with one row per reference and columns for the cited source, the original source it derives from, the DOI, and a verification status. Mark entries that cite a secondary source where the original is available.
- Open each original source and confirm that the authors, title, journal or publisher, year, volume, and pages in your entry match what the source itself reports. Record the result as matched or unresolved.
- Look up each DOI through the Crossref works route and compare the deposited metadata with your entry. A mismatch between the deposited record and your entry is a correction task; an absent or failed lookup is an unresolved item that needs another route to the source.
- Check each cited item for a retraction notice, and flag any reference that carries one so the claim it supports can be reassessed.
- Flag every reference you could not trace to an original source, then resolve those flags before submission and apply the target journal's reference style last.
What each result means
A metadata match confirms that your entry agrees with the record deposited for that DOI. It does not by itself confirm that the cited claim appears in the source, so the original-source check in step 2 remains the substantive test. A failed DOI lookup leaves the reference unresolved; try a bibliographic query in Crossref or consult the publisher's page for the article before deciding how to handle it.
Practical notes
Crossref's API tips describe bibliographic queries, filters, and result selection, which help when you have partial citation details and no working DOI. Keep the verification status column with the manuscript so co-authors and reviewers can see which entries were traced and which remain open.