Table 7:

Actions authors, mentors and readers can take to encourage good citation practices and prevent errors

Recommendations for Authors	Rationale
Use software to manage references Create a separate library for each paper Add full texts of each paper to the library Share the library with all co-authors If the library includes in press citations, pre-prints, abstracts, etc., check for the most recent version before finalizing the bibliography	Citation links automatically update when references are added and removed, reducing the likelihood of errors Authors can easily access full texts to verify citation accuracy
Cite the best available evidence Cite original research or material instead of abstracts or narrative reviews When multiple supporting citations are available, cite more informative studies with stronger designs. For example, cite a Cochrane review instead of a single trial, or a randomized controlled trial instead of observational studies.	Citations refer readers to the most relevant material, not an indirect source (14,24–25) Provides readers with information about the quality of the supporting evidence (14)
Place references close to the word, phrase or sentence to which they refer. Avoid citing groups of references at the end of a sentence or paragraph.	Eliminates confusion about which claim each citation supports (18)
Use the Harvard citation style (author, date) instead of the Vancouver style (numbered) when preparing the manuscript.	Seeing author names and dates may make it easier to detect errors (1)
Check all citations for accuracy Statements should be verified against original papers, not indirect sources Each citation should be checked by at least two authors. Co-authors should be critical about citations.	Avoid propagating errors from inaccurate citation chains Verification is essential and should not be seen as mistrustful (11,14,23)
Recommendations for Mentors & Advisors	Rationale
Create & include laboratory citation policies in the lab manual Teach trainees about good citation practices Engage trainees in the process of verifying citation accuracy for their publications	Ensures that there is a clear citation management plan so that trainees are learning best practices
Recommendations for Readers	Rationale
Raise awareness among scientists in your field about: The importance of citation inaccuracies & best practices Known problems with chains of inaccurate citations This may include discussing citation inaccuracies in post-publication peer-reviews or on social networks for scientists	Action from individual scientists is needed to promote field-wide improvements in practice and prevent propagation of errors