APA 7 Reference List Checklist Before Submission
Executive Summary
- Match every in-text citation to the reference list.
- Check author, date, title, source, DOI, and URL details.
- Use official or institutional APA guidance where requirements differ.
An APA 7 reference list checklist should help you find consistency problems without copying the style manual. Use your institution’s current instructions first, then consult reputable APA guidance for source-type details.
The APA Style site explains reference-list and DOI practices, including DOI and URL presentation. University libraries also publish practical APA 7 checklists; for example, the University of Canterbury summarises reference-list layout and ordering.
Reference list checklist
| Area | Check | Common issue |
|---|---|---|
| Author names | Surnames, initials, order, group authors, and spelling. | Initials do not match the source. |
| Dates | Year, full date where required, no-date entries, and same-author order. | In-text year differs from reference year. |
| Titles | Capitalization, subtitles, proper nouns, and italics where applicable. | Title case copied into sentence-case contexts. |
| DOIs and URLs | Working links and consistent presentation. | Old DOI formats mixed with current URL-style DOI links. |
| Layout | Alphabetical order, hanging indentation, spacing, and heading. | Manual tabs create uneven indentation. |
Match citations to references
Run two passes: first, highlight every in-text citation; second, check that each reference-list entry is cited. Remove background reading that is not cited if your instructions require only cited works.
For language and reference consistency support, compare academic editing or journal paper editing.