The Reference Problem

November 19, 2025

Brianna Torres

Lead Editor

Every so often, a client reaches out with a message that starts something like: “My dissertation is basically done—can you do a quick APA check?” I always smile when I read these messages, because I know what’s coming next. My first step in any APA review is to run a reference report. This report compares in-text citations with reference entries and catches the mismatches, omissions, and formatting inconsistencies that inevitably sneak in.

Sometimes that report opens and the number at the top jumps to 450+ errors. And every time, I have the same reaction: wow, this writer worked incredibly hard. The strongest papers are usually the most heavily researched, so it’s no surprise that high-level dissertations—often written over the course of several years—accumulate citation inconsistencies along the way. Unfortunately, even small errors can chip away at the legitimacy of otherwise excellent work. Reference work is the kind of detail that seems minor until it isn’t.

A high error count doesn’t mean someone is careless; it means they’re human. Most people underestimate just how time-consuming it is to thoroughly clean up references—450 mismatches can easily take me upward of nine hours, and this is work I specialize in. Reference accuracy is one of those invisible tasks that, when done well, makes the reader trust you. When it’s off, it has the power to undermine the entire piece.

Some of the most common issues I see include:

• Missing reference entries. These require authors to revisit their research database, locate the missing source, and add a properly formatted and alphabetized entry.

• Multiple authors with the same last name. In these cases, initials must be included in the in-text citation to differentiate sources.

• Out-of-order in-text citations—especially in long strings of citations where one stray year or misplaced semicolon can throw things off.

• Mismatched publication years, often the result of a small typo that’s easy to miss after staring at a document for months (or years!).

• Misspelled author names. Even one incorrect letter can break the link between the in-text citation and reference list.

And these are just the basics!

While the work can feel tedious, it truly matters. References are part of the story you’re telling—they show the lineage of your thought, the scholarship you’re in conversation with, and the foundation your claims stand on. When a reader goes to look for a source you’ve cited and can’t find it on your reference page, it interrupts that story. It raises questions. And it can unintentionally weaken the strength of an otherwise rigorous manuscript.

If you’re preparing a paper for submission, my best advice is to give yourself more time than you think you need to address your citations. And if you find yourself in the final stretch feeling overwhelmed (or just unsure), I’m always happy to help. Your ideas deserve to be supported by references as strong and carefully crafted as the arguments they back.

And of course, I’m here when you need me 😊.