No source, no “Verified” result.Follow each finding’s linked research records. With a paper link alone, we look for the paper and withdrawal warnings. To compare titles, years, or journal names too, paste an export from your reference manager containing those details. “Verified” means no differences or withdrawal warnings were flagged in the sources checked — not that the paper supports your writing. References we cannot verify stay flagged for your review.Try six examples now: choose “Check sample references” to see findings and their sources. Nothing to paste or upload. No sign-up needed. Free: one check per week, up to 15 references; sample checks count.
Check whether the papers you cite can be found, whether they are marked as withdrawn (retracted), and whether the titles, years, and journal names you provide match the source records.
Cite Trail links findings to the research records used for each check. References we cannot verify stay flagged for review, not passed as correct. This checks your reference details — it does not judge whether a paper supports what you wrote.Open a finding to review its sources and any details that differ.
Paste the part of your paper that explains how you did your research (the Methods section). AI flags statements that may need a citation. You review each suggestion — this check does not verify claims or supply sources.
1. Add your references.Paste paper links or an export from your reference manager, or choose your paper as a PDF. We read the reference details for checking. References without a paper ID (called a DOI) are marked “unverifiable” — they need your review, not an automatic pass.
2. Look for the paper. We look up each paper ID in Crossref, a database of research records, to find its title, year, journal, and any recorded withdrawal notice.
3. Try another source. If Crossref has no matching record, we try OpenAlex, another research database. Papers marked as withdrawn there are flagged for review.
4. Check for withdrawal warnings. We also look for a matching record in Wikidata, a public database. When a source flags a paper as withdrawn, the result is labeled RETRACTED, with a link to the notice when available. Missing warnings do not prove a paper has never been withdrawn.
5. See possible errors. We compare the titles, years, and journal names you provide with the source record. Flagged differences appear as MISMATCH, showing your details alongside the source details. You decide what to change; we don’t rewrite your references.
6. See the evidence behind “Verified”.No linked research record, no “Verified” result. Open a finding to inspect its sources. “Verified” means no differences or withdrawal warnings were flagged in the sources checked — not that a paper supports what you wrote. References we cannot verify stay flagged for your review.
No. We check research records for withdrawal warnings and link findings to the sources used. Records may be incomplete or updated late, so no warning does not prove a paper has never been withdrawn. References we cannot verify stay flagged for your review.
We flag possible differences in the title, year, or journal name as MISMATCH. Open the finding to see your details beside the source details and follow the source link. You decide what to correct; we never rewrite your references.
We first read the PDF in your browser. If paper IDs are found, only those IDs are sent when you run a check. If none are found, the PDF and extracted text are uploaded to our server, and the text is sent to an AI service to identify references. Finding references is not the same as verifying them — run a check to see findings linked to sources.
Yes. With Pro, open the findings you want to include, then choose “Download PDF report” to print or save them with their source links. References we cannot verify stay flagged for review. The report checks reference details, not whether a paper supports your claims.