Checking references: verify the record before formatting it

A web address does not determine the type of work

A report downloaded from a website is not classified as a “web page” simply because it was found online. Choose the appropriate example for an article, book chapter, report or dataset. APA examples are organised by type of work.

A checking sequence

1. Open the primary record from the publishing organisation, journal or author.
2. Compare the title and authors with that record.
3. Verify the year, version and DOI, if there is one.
4. Match the in-text citation to its reference-list entry.
5. Adjust punctuation and italics for the target publication on the final pass.

Do not invent missing information

Adding a guessed year to a page with no identifiable date does not make the reference more reliable. Do not mistake placeholders in examples for real people or publications. Similarly, even if a DOI generated by an AI tool appears correctly formatted, verify that it exists.

Keep a source note

Next to the link, record your access notes and the page or section relevant to the claim. This working note may be separate from the reference entry required by your citation style. Do not confuse what readers need in a reference with your own verification notes.