Check an online claim by finding its original source
A confident summary can leave out the context that makes a claim meaningful. Before using an online statement in an assignment, follow its links until you can see where the information originally came from.
Identify what kind of evidence is offered
Look for a named report, study, official announcement or firsthand document. Check the author, publication date and scope. A page that links to another summary has not necessarily reached the original source. Notice whether the claim concerns a particular country, age group or time period. A narrow finding can become misleading when a headline presents it as a rule for everyone. Record the exact passage that supports the point you intend to make.
Compare the claim with the source’s limits
Read around the relevant passage and note any qualifications. If the source does not support the statement, revise your wording or find better evidence. Avoid treating a polished design or a large follower count as proof. Save the source details and access date for your references. When you cannot verify a claim, say so clearly or leave it out rather than filling the gap with an assumption that sounds plausible.
Try this, one step at a time
- Follow the claim to the original report, document or announcement.
- Check the date, scope and surrounding context of the supporting passage.
- Use wording the evidence supports and record enough information to cite it accurately.
Original editorial ideas, published September 7, 2026. These are optional experiments to adapt to your circumstances, not promises of a particular result.