Separate consistency from verification
Reference review can compare in-text citations with the bibliography, check recurring fields, and apply an agreed citation style. It can also identify missing information for the author to supply.
Verifying a source’s content is a separate task. A citation can be formatted correctly while failing to support the surrounding claim. The brief should state whether source retrieval or claim checking is included.
Define the source set
Provide the manuscript, reference list, required style, and any source files you have permission to share. Flag citations that are incomplete or provisional. Do not treat a working URL as proof that a source will remain available.
A useful handover
You receive an annotated document or reference list, a record of unresolved items, and agreed consistency corrections. Queries identify what needs a source decision rather than filling gaps with invented details.
Author responsibilities
The author remains responsible for factual accuracy, source selection, quotations, and permissions. We can help make uncertainties visible, but an editorial review is not a substitute for specialist or legal review where required.