A working link does not prove that a sentence is accurate. The source may discuss a different population, an older product version, or a narrower claim. Verification means comparing the exact statement in the draft with the evidence that supposedly supports it.
Use this worksheet for material claims in an AI-assisted draft. The process also applies to human writing. The important question is whether the published wording accurately represents what is known.
The claim record
| Field | What to capture |
|---|---|
| Draft statement | The exact sentence being checked |
| Claim type | Fact, interpretation, hypothetical example, or recommendation |
| Primary source | The page or document with direct support |
| Relevant evidence | The passage, table, or method that matters |
| Date and scope | When the evidence applies and to whom |
| Limitation | What the source does not establish |
| Decision | Keep, narrow, attribute, replace, or remove |
Watch the common scope changes
A company announcement becomes misleading when the draft presents it as an independently verified result. A beta launch becomes misleading when the draft says every customer can use it. A survey of a specific group becomes misleading when the headline refers to everyone.
Check updates as well as publication dates. A newer note can supersede language elsewhere on the same page. Keep the operative date and the relevant condition in the article instead of relying on the reader to discover the conflict after clicking through.
Handle unsupported material cleanly
If the claim matters and the evidence cannot be found, remove it or narrow it to what can be supported. Do not fill the gap with an invented quote, an unsourced statistic, or an anecdote attributed to someone who did not provide it.
For original interpretation, identify it as interpretation and explain the reasoning. For a hypothetical example, label it and use it to illustrate the method rather than simulate a client result. Finish by checking the strongest claims in the title, summary, and conclusion; those often travel farther than the qualifying details in the body.
For the next implementation step, use Use evidence without overloading an answer.
For the next implementation step, use Make a practical template worth bookmarking.