How to write and publish a scientific paper - Barbara Gastel, Robert A. Day 2022

Electronic aids to citation
How to cite the references
Preparing the text

Checking that every reference is accurate and that all cited items appear in the reference list has become much easier in the electronic era. Common word-processing programs include features for tasks such as creating, numbering, and formatting footnotes and endnotes. These features can aid in citing references and developing reference lists. Some journals, however, say not to use these features, which can interfere with their publishing process. Check the journal’s instructions to authors in this regard.

Perhaps more notably, citation-management software programs such as EndNote, RefWorks, and Zotero let a researcher develop a database of references and use it to create reference lists in the formats of many journals. Rather than keying in the information for each reference, you may be able to import it from bibliographic databases. Once the information is accurately entered, it should remain correct whenever it appears in a reference. Do, however, still check references. Electronic gremlins sometimes lurk. So does human error; if somehow you indicated the wrong reference, the wrong reference will appear.

If you are not using reference-management software, consider looking into doing so. Using such software can save you time, especially if you will cite some of the same references in multiple publications or if journals in your field have a variety of reference styles. If you study or work at a university or other research institution, you might easily be able to obtain such software through it. Also, some reference-management software, such as Zotero, is available for free. Conveniently, some university libraries provide instruction in using reference-management software. Consider checking whether you have access to such instruction.