Reference List review
Free APA Reference List Checker
Review reference-list author and year structure, alphabetical order, obvious duplicates, and DOI URL format. This mode does not decide whether each reference is cited in paper text.
Check mode
Checks reference-list structure, order, duplicates, and DOI URL format
100,000 characters remaining
Paper text is sent only to the secure checker API and excluded from optional analytics. Privacy details
You can leave this page and return to the same check.
Checks you can run
- References heading
- Author or group-author and year structure
- Alphabetical order
- Obvious duplicate entries
- Canonical DOI URL format
What this checker does
Reference mode runs list-level rules only. It never labels an entry as uncited, and it does not treat observed Word styling as an APA pass.
What the checker reviews
Supported text checks
- References heading
- Author or group-author and year structure
- Alphabetical order
- Obvious duplicate entries
- Canonical DOI URL format
Not checked or conditional
- Title case and complete publication metadata
- Whether the DOI belongs to the intended work
- Italics and hanging indents unless a specific DOCX rule ran
- Whether each reference is cited in the paper
How it works
Paste text or load DOCX
Paper content is excluded from optional analytics.
Run deterministic rules
The requested mode controls which rules can run.
Locate each finding
Use the excerpt, paragraph, explanation, and suggested action.
Verify and track fixes
Mark findings handled and copy only safe corrections.
Continue the Reference Review
Use the APA in-text citation checker for common narrative and parenthetical author–date forms. Reference mode does not decide whether each list entry appears in the paper. To run both supported rule groups, run a full APA format check.
Free APA Reference List Checker FAQ
Can this checker guarantee APA 7 compliance?
No. It reports findings from the supported rules that ran and lists items that were not checked. You must also follow your instructor’s or institution’s requirements.
What happens when no issues are found?
The result says that the rules that ran found no issues. It does not mean the paper passed every APA 7 requirement.
Can I upload a Word document?
Yes. You can upload a supported DOCX up to 5 MB. Text extracted from the DOCX is checked by the rules that ran. Observed Word properties are not treated as APA passes unless a specific rule checked them.
Does AI check my paper?
No. Deterministic rules produce findings. Optional AI explanations may explain an existing finding but do not decide whether the paper passes and do not receive the full paper.
Will a refresh use another check?
No. The site reopens the accepted task by its check ID. Polling, refreshing, or retrying the same task does not use another check.