Evidence Centre guide

How to Check a Source, Citation or Expert Quote

Learn how to assess citations, studies and expert quotes by tracing them to the original source and checking relevance, method and context.

Written and reviewed by the Another AI Lie Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2 September 2026

In brief: A link, citation or named expert can make a post look authoritative. The useful question is not whether a citation exists, but whether it says what the post claims and is appropriate evidence for that conclusion.

Trace the reference

Open the original paper, report, dataset, speech or interview where possible. Do not stop at a blog summary. Check the author, publisher, publication date and whether the reference can be independently located.

Check relevance and scope

A study of one group, setting or period may not support a universal statement. Look at sample size, methodology, definitions and limitations. A finding of association is not automatically proof of causation.

Read the quotation in context

Find the full paragraph, interview or transcript. Check whether words were omitted, whether the speaker was describing another view, and whether the quote is current.

Assess independence

Ask who funded or commissioned the work and whether that creates a relevant conflict. Funding alone does not invalidate research, but transparency helps readers weigh the evidence.

Compare with the wider evidence

One paper or expert rarely settles a complex question. Seek reviews, official guidance and credible sources that reach different conclusions. Explain disagreement rather than hiding it.

A quick evidence routine

Work from the original material whenever possible. Keep a note of the source, the date and the specific claim you are checking, then distinguish what you directly observed from what an account or caption says. Search for independent evidence that could confirm or challenge it. This simple record makes it easier to revisit a conclusion if new information appears.

Good verification is often less dramatic than a quick verdict. If the evidence is mixed, say so. If you cannot establish the source or context, treat that uncertainty as part of the result rather than filling the gap with an assumption. A careful pause can prevent a false claim from travelling further.

Before you share

Ask whether your wording reflects the strength of the evidence. Link to the original source when it is available, avoid attacking the person who posted the material, and correct a previous share if better information emerges. These habits improve the quality of the information around a claim as well as the accuracy of one post.

Useful primary resources

Try it on your own source

Check the claim behind a citation

Paste the exact claim or short passage. We will separate what can be checked, search accessible public sources and show what remains uncertain.