1. A method for determining valid citation patterns in text within an electronic document using a processor, the method comprising: accessing, from a memory, at least one citation pattern, wherein each citation pattern includes a set of citation components which together define a predetermined pattern of citation components, each citation component associated with a set of citation component criteria; comparing text in the electronic document with the predetermined pattern of the citation components corresponding to the at least one citation pattern; and determining valid citation patterns in the text by identifying the predetermined pattern of citation components corresponding to the at least one citation pattern in the text.