To support claims with checkable sources, use sources that are credible, recent, and directly relevant to the claim. The source should clearly show where the information came from and include enough detail for someone else to verify it.
Practical rules
- Use sources with identifiable authors, dates, and publication details.
- Prefer sources that provide evidence, data, or references rather than unsupported assertions.
- Match each claim to a source that directly supports that exact point.
- Put the citation close to the claim, usually in the same sentence.
- If possible, use authoritative sources such as academic articles, government, educational, or other well-documented publications.
How to make a claim checkable
- State the claim precisely.
- Cite the original or most direct source available.
- Include enough bibliographic detail for verification.
- Avoid vague references like “studies show” without naming the study or source.
- If the source itself cites evidence, check those underlying sources too.
Quick checklist
- Who wrote it?
- When was it published?
- What exactly does it support?
- Can another person verify it from the source?
Example
- Weak: “Experts say this is true.”
- Strong: “A 2026 Harvard guide recommends evaluating the author, purpose, scope, and currency of a source before relying on it.”
If you want, this can also be turned into a one-paragraph checklist or a template for writing claims with citations.
