The Corroba Blog
Citing sources correctly, spotting AI-fabricated references, and judging source quality — practical guides from the team building Corroba.
Research basics
Primary vs. Secondary Sources: What's the Difference? (With Examples)
A primary source is original, first-hand evidence; a secondary source analyses it. Here's the difference, examples of each, why the same item can be both, and which to use.
July 6, 2026 · The Corroba Team
Source quality
How to Tell If a Source Is Credible: A Quick Checklist
A practical checklist for judging whether a source is credible enough to cite — who wrote it, how current it is, whether it's backed by evidence, and the fastest shortcut of all.
July 6, 2026 · The Corroba Team
Writing guides
How to Write an Annotated Bibliography (With Examples)
An annotated bibliography is a citation plus a short paragraph that summarises and assesses each source. Here's how to write one, the three types of annotation, and a full APA example.
July 6, 2026 · The Corroba Team
Source quality
What Is a Predatory Journal? 5 Signs to Watch For
Predatory journals charge to publish but skip real peer review — and citing one can undermine your work. Here's what they are, why they exist, and five signs to spot them.
July 4, 2026 · The Corroba Team
Citation styles
The 8 Most Common Citation Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
From dropped DOIs to inconsistent author formatting, these are the citation errors that quietly cost students marks — and exactly how to fix each one.
July 4, 2026 · The Corroba Team
AI & citation integrity
Why AI Invents Citations (and How to Catch Them)
AI chatbots confidently produce sources that don't exist. Here's the real reason large language models hallucinate citations, when it's most likely to happen, and how to catch fabricated references before you submit.
July 4, 2026 · The Corroba Team
Source quality
How to Check if a Journal Is Peer-Reviewed (in Under a Minute)
Most assignments require peer-reviewed sources — but how do you actually tell? Four fast ways to confirm a journal is legitimate, the red flags of predatory journals, and why a preprint isn't the same thing.
July 4, 2026 · The Corroba Team
AI & citation integrity
How to Spot a Fake AI Citation (Before It Costs You Marks)
ChatGPT and other AI tools invent realistic-looking sources that don't exist. Here are the five telltale signs of a fabricated citation — and a 60-second way to check every source before you submit.
July 4, 2026 · The Corroba Team