How to check a claim before you share it

Write the claim precisely

Turn the statement into a checkable sentence. Identify who or what it describes, where it applies, and the time period involved. “This service is free” is less precise than “this provider currently offers these course materials without an enrollment fee.”

Separate observations from interpretations. A graph may show a change, while the accompanying headline asserts its cause. Checking the numbers does not automatically establish the explanation.

Find the original source

Follow links beyond reposts and summaries. A primary source might be the provider’s terms, an institution’s original announcement, a dataset, a published study or the full document being discussed. Check that the page actually says what the summary attributes to it.

Look at the author or issuing institution, publication date, method and corrections. A genuine source can still be outdated, limited to another country or answering a different question.

1. Locate the original document or official page.
2. Read the relevant section in context.
3. Check dates, geography, definitions and eligibility.
4. Record the URL and the part that supports the claim.

Look for independent confirmation

Several websites repeating the same press release are not several independent investigations. Look for sources with different evidence or methods. When sources disagree, identify whether they measure different things, use different dates or apply different definitions.

For technical claims, official documentation can establish intended behavior, while an actual reproducible test may be needed to establish behavior in your particular environment. For high-stakes medical, financial or legal decisions, use qualified guidance rather than a quick online comparison.

Share the limits with the conclusion

If a finding is preliminary, say so. If the evidence covers only one group or one product version, retain that boundary. A careful summary should make it possible for the next reader to trace the evidence without having to trust your confidence alone.

This is a general research method, not a guarantee that a claim is true. When evidence is missing, the useful answer may be that the claim is not yet established.