An AI-generated paragraph can sound polished while containing an incorrect date, a misleading comparison, or a source that does not exist. Treat it as a draft that needs verification. A repeatable check is especially important when readers could make financial, health, legal, or other consequential decisions based on the information.
Highlight every claim you can check
Mark names, dates, numbers, quotations, product capabilities, and statements about cause and effect. Separate factual claims from opinions and suggested examples. An ordinary-sounding sentence can still contain an assumption that needs evidence.
Prioritize claims according to the harm of being wrong. High-stakes content may require a qualified expert, not just a quick source check. If you lack the expertise to evaluate the advice responsibly, narrow the content or do not publish it.
‘This tool is free’ needs a current pricing check. ‘This workflow may save time’ needs qualification and, ideally, a description of the conditions in which you tested it.
Open the source and read the relevant passage
Do not assume a plausible citation is real. Open the link, confirm the author or organization, and locate the passage that supports the exact claim. A source can exist without saying what the draft attributes to it.
Prefer primary material when practical: official documentation for a product feature, the original research for a study, or the relevant institution's publication for a rule. For important or contested claims, check independent reliable sources as well.
- Does the source exist and identify its publisher?
- Does it support this precise statement?
- Is it current enough for the topic?
- Are there limitations the draft left out?
Check context, comparisons, and arithmetic
A statistic without a population, date, or method can be technically accurate but misleading. Look for who was measured, how the measurement was made, and whether the result applies to your audience. Distinguish correlation from evidence of causation.
Recalculate percentages and totals yourself. Check units and time periods. If a tool compares subscription prices, make sure the figures use comparable billing periods, regions, and included features.
A change from 10 to 15 is an increase of 50%, but only five additional observations. Both facts matter when the sample is small.
Keep a record and edit with care
Maintain a simple evidence note with each important claim, its source, the date checked, and any caveat. This makes later updates easier and helps another editor understand why a statement was included.
Remove claims that you cannot verify. Replace certainty with appropriate qualification when evidence is limited, but do not use vague language to conceal a lack of support. Finish by checking that the revised text still gives the reader a useful, accurate answer.
- Run the check before publication, not after scheduling.
- Ask a qualified reviewer to assess high-stakes advice.
- Set a review reminder for facts that are likely to change.
A little idea to take with you
Verify the underlying evidence, not the confidence of the writing. A fluent draft still needs a responsible human editor.
An original Grow Me guide. Educational information, not a promise of results. Platform features and tool policies can change.
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