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.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: inserting an annotation into the electronic document corresponding to text determined to be a valid citation pattern.