Format a Batch Reference List#

Format a Batch Reference List#

In this tutorial you will paste a messy reference list from a paper and get all citations formatted in one go with correct sequential numbering.

What You Need#

  • A reference list (from a PDF, Word doc, or any source)

  • We will use these four references:

[25] Ashkin A, Dziedzic J M, Bjorkholm J E and Chu S 1986 Observation of a single-beam gradient force optical trap for dielectric particles Opt. Lett. 11 288-90
[26] Goswami S and Goswami D 2020 Arthur Ashkin (1922-2020) Current Science 120 726-8
[27] Ashkin A 2006 Optical Trapping and Manipulation of Neutral Particles Using Lasers (WORLD SCIENTIFIC)
[28] Moffitt J R, Chemla Y R, Smith S B and Bustamante C 2008 Recent Advances in Optical Tweezers Annual Review of Biochemistry 77 205-28

Steps#

1. Open the App and Select a Style#

Go to ookcite.turtletech.us/app.

Choose APA 7th Edition (or any style you need).

2. Switch to the Paste Tab#

Click the Paste tab. You will see a text area.

3. Paste Your References#

Paste all four references into the text area, one per line. You will see “4 references” in the bottom corner.

Click Format 4 references.

4. Watch Results Stream In#

Each citation appears as it is resolved – you do not wait for all of them. The first result typically appears within 2 seconds.

Each result shows:

  • A checkbox (for grouping later)

  • An in-text badge (click to copy)

  • The formatted bibliography entry

5. Handle Low-Confidence Matches#

If OokCite is not confident about a match (score below 60), it shows alternatives with dashed borders below the result. Click an alternative to swap it in.

This is common for books, obituaries, and papers with very common titles.

6. Group In-Text Citations#

Select references 25-28 using the checkboxes, then click Group selected.

For IEEE, you get [25-28]. For APA, you get (Ashkin et al., 1986; Ashkin, 2006; Goswami & Goswami, 2020; Moffitt et al., 2008).

Click the grouped badge to copy.

7. Copy Everything#

Use the buttons at the bottom:

  • Copy all: all bibliography entries as a formatted list

  • In-text: all in-text markers

  • BibTeX: all entries as BibTeX for LaTeX

  • Clear: start fresh

8. Change Style#

Change the style dropdown. All results re-format instantly without re-resolving. This is free (no lookups consumed).

What You Learned#

  • How to batch-format a reference list

  • That results stream in one by one

  • How to handle low-confidence matches

  • How to group in-text citations

  • That style changes are free re-formats