How we check
Every essay carries numbered source notes, set beside the line they support. A note goes in only when at least two checks confirm it.
- I
The researcher
reads the whole essay, lists every checkable claim, finds the best source for each, copies the supporting passage word for word with its page, and looks for evidence the claim is wrong.
- II
Two blind verifiers
each re-open every source from scratch, without seeing each other’s work, and check that the passage is really there, that it supports the claim, and that author, title, date, page and link are right.
- III
Reconciling
A note goes in only where the researcher and at least one verifier agree, with no unresolved objection from the other. Disagreements are settled by opening the source again, not by vote.
- IV
The final check
One more independent pass reads the finished essay with its notes exactly as composed, and checks each note’s wording against its source.
- V
The editor’s list
Claims that are wrong, unconfirmed or need the author’s own source go to the editor with the evidence. The text changes only with the author’s approval.
- Only what two checks confirm goes in.
- Every note passes a researcher and two independent verifiers, then a final check of the finished wording.
- We cite only what was opened.
- A search snippet is not a source. Every note points to a page, PDF, book page or court judgment someone actually read.
- Primary sources first.
- Official government, constitutional, statutory and court text; the original book or paper; peer-reviewed work; official statistics; then newspapers of record. Never Wikipedia, blogs or AI summaries.
- Quotations are checked word for word,
- including an author quoting their own speeches. Any difference is reported.
- We never change an author’s words.
- If a claim is wrong or cannot be sourced, it gets no note and goes to the editor to raise with the author. A note never says more than its source.
- Opinion, memory and argument get no note.
- Sources are for checkable facts, figures, dates, names, quotations and attributions.
On wide screens the notes sit in the margin, beside the line they support. On phones, tap a number and the note opens in place. Every essay closes with the full list, and each note links back to the text.
If you find an error
If you think a note is wrong, or that a claim says more than its source, write to us. We will open the source again.
Write to us