How do I triage which references to verify first when some entries look suspicious?

Run the whole batch through a reference checker, then sort flagged entries by how much damage a wrong citation would do—retracted or unverifiable sources and references supporting your central claims first—and verify those against registries and publisher pages. The goal is a prioritized fix list, not a uniform pass over every entry.

1. Run the batch through a checker. TrueCite checks BibTeX against real academic databases to flag references that need verification. Expected result: a flagged list rather than a clean/dirty judgment on each entry.
2. Sort flagged entries by severity. Put references that support your main claims, results, or conclusions at the top, followed by entries the checker could not match to a database record. Expected result: a ranked fix list you can work top-down as time allows.
3. Verify the highest-risk entries against original sources. ICMJE advises authors to verify references against original sources and to identify retractions. For a DOI, a Crossref DOI lookup returns the metadata deposited for that DOI, so compare the returned title, authors, and year with your entry. Expected result: each checked entry is either confirmed or marked for correction.
4. Check publisher pages for retraction or correction notices. A database match confirms that a record exists; it does not by itself tell you the paper is still valid. Expected result: retracted or corrected items move to the top of your fix list.
5. Fix confirmed errors and re-run the checker on the corrected batch. Expected result: a shorter flagged list and verified entries for your most consequential references.

What counts as high severity

Prioritize by consequence: a reference that carries a key claim, a retracted or corrected paper, and an entry the checker could not match. Lower-priority items are secondary citations whose details do not affect your argument. If a lookup returns no match, treat the entry as unresolved and check the publisher page or the original article before deciding whether to keep it.

Before you submit

Apply your journal's reference style to the corrected entries, as ICMJE recommends following journal reference style. Keep the ranked list so you can show which entries you verified if a co-author or editor asks.