How We Verify
How We Verify explains the standard used at Evidence Matters. We focus on primary records, name the claim, cite the record, add an independent check when helpful, state limits, and update when facts change.
How We Verify starts with the standard
If a neutral reader cannot verify a claim from the links provided, we do not treat it as settled. We may still cover it, but it will be labeled unverified, disputed, incomplete, or missing records.
That matters because a lot of bad information spreads by sounding finished before the proof exists. How We Verify is built to slow that down. The goal is not to sound certain first. The goal is to show what the record actually supports.
How We Verify checklist
This is the workflow used to build posts that can hold up under review.
- Name the claim. One sentence. Quote the exact wording when possible.
- Get the primary record. Court filing, statute, official report, transcript, dataset, or full video from a verifiable source.
- Lock the context. Page numbers, timestamps, definitions, and surrounding passages.
- Add an independent check. A reputable outlet or watchdog that links back to records, or a second primary source.
- State the limits. What is unknown, what is contested, and what would change the conclusion.
- Protect privacy. Redact phone numbers, addresses, private accounts, medical data, and bystander identifiers.
- Update when facts change. New filings, corrected numbers, or new official statements. Note edits on the page.
If you cannot link the primary record, say so clearly. That is more useful than overconfidence.
Why How We Verify matters in practice
Real verification is not just about finding one link. It is about matching the claim to the actual record, then checking whether the record says what people claim it says. A real filing can still be misquoted. A real chart can still be overread. A real video can still be clipped in a misleading way.
That is why How We Verify keeps coming back to the same questions. What exactly is the claim. Where is the primary record. Is the context complete. Is there an independent check. What remains unknown. This method works better than chasing screenshots, commentary, or viral certainty.
What How We Verify does not treat as proof
- Memes, quote cards, or screenshots without a source chain
- Short clips without the full video and timestamp
- Anonymous claims with no documents and no way to verify
- Charts with no dataset, method, or reproducible steps
- “Everybody knows” statements without links to records
A simple How We Verify post template
Claim: one sentence
Primary record: link plus page or timestamp
Independent check: link
What the evidence shows: two to five sentences
Limits: what we do not know yet
If you want a faster version of this method, pair this page with 20 Questions and Evidence vs Rumors. Those pages help turn the full method into a practical everyday habit.
Submit something
Use the submission form and put the exact claim in the subject. Include the strongest primary link you have and one sentence on why it matters.
How We Verify sources for the curious
Useful starting points include CourtListener for dockets, government agency sites for reports, official transcripts and datasets, and reputable wire services such as AP and Reuters for rapid confirmation and corrections.