Published 16 September 2026
Which details must agree between an article and its registry record
Not every difference has equal importance. Capitalisation or abbreviated given names are often explainable; a different DOI, journal or substantively different title changes the identity of the publication.
Core fields
The DOI should match exactly after normalisation. Titles can differ in technical punctuation but not in meaning. Journal, year and principal pagination connect the article to a particular issue.
Authors and name order
Initials, diacritics and transliteration can vary. Compare the author set, order, surnames and any stated ORCID. Addition or disappearance of a full author requires examination of versions and publisher corrections.
Corrections and versions
Early-view, final-issue, erratum and retraction records may coexist. Pages or year can change when an item is assigned to an issue. The publication history should explain the change, and a report should name the record used.
Example
“J. A. Smith” and “John A. Smith” may identify the same author when co-authors, affiliation and ORCID agree; the difference is explainable as abbreviation. A different DOI attached to a similar title is a material conflict, and the reviewer must first determine whether two distinct publications are being compared.
Verification sources
- Crossref Metadata SearchBibliographic metadata deposited by participating publishers and agencies.
- DOI Foundation — DOI resolverResolves a registered DOI to the destination chosen by its registrant.
- ORCID RegistryResearcher identifiers and public profiles controlled by their record holders.