What is Citely?
Citely is an AI citation checker and AI source finder for academic research. Users can paste a reference list to check its entries against scholarly database records, or submit a claim or paragraph to find related sources. The site names CrossRef, PubMed, arXiv and OpenAlex among the databases used to check references and retrieve academic literature.
Its two main workflows connect reference checking with source discovery. Citation checks flag references that are fake, mismatched or unverifiable, while source searches return academic papers with verified metadata. The site also describes checks for AI-generated citation problems, including fabricated DOIs and citations that combine details from different works. Citation export supports APA, MLA and Chicago formats.
Who it's for
- Students preparing essays and dissertations
- Researchers checking manuscript references
- Academics reviewing citation lists
- Writers using AI-generated research references
How to use Citely
- 1
Choose a research task
Select Verify References to check existing citations, or Find Sources to search for literature related to a claim.
- 2
Paste the relevant text
Enter a reference list for verification, or paste a claim or paragraph for source discovery.
- 3
Review the results
Inspect reference verification statuses or the papers returned by the source finder. Use the available source details and links to examine the underlying records.
- 4
Prepare citations for writing
Use the citation tools to obtain formatted references. The site lists APA, MLA and Chicago citation export.
Citely key features
Reference checker
Checks entries in a reference list and flags fake, mismatched or unverifiable references.
Academic database checks
Cross-checks references against scholarly records from databases including CrossRef, PubMed, arXiv and OpenAlex.
AI source finder
Accepts a claim or paragraph and returns related academic sources with verified metadata.
AI-generated citation checks
The site describes detection of citation hallucination patterns such as fabricated DOIs, combined citation details and temporal drift.
Citation finder and formatting
Finds references for a supplied claim and provides APA and MLA citations. The site also lists Chicago citation export.
Citely use cases
Verify references before submission
Check a manuscript or dissertation reference list and review entries flagged as mismatched or unverifiable.
Check fake citations in AI drafts
Submit references produced by ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for comparison with scholarly database records.
Find literature for a claim
Paste a statement or paragraph to locate academic sources that may support a section of an essay or research paper.
Citely FAQ
What is Citely?
Citely is a tool for checking academic references and finding scholarly sources from claims or paragraphs. It combines citation verification with source discovery.
How can users verify references with Citely?
Select Verify References and paste a reference list. Citely checks the entries against scholarly records and flags references that are fake, mismatched or unverifiable.
Can Citely check fake citations generated by AI?
The site describes checks for references generated by ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, including fabricated DOIs and combined citation details. These checks compare references with scholarly database records.
How does the AI source finder work?
Users paste a claim or paragraph to search for related academic sources. Results include verified metadata, and the example interface shows publication details, excerpts and source links.
Which citation formats does Citely support?
The site lists APA, MLA and Chicago citation export. Its citation finder specifically describes providing APA and MLA references.
Does Citely offer paid access?
Yes. The homepage lists subscriptions and one-time purchase options.
This introduction is based on the public pages of citely.ai, read on October 9, 2026.