Fact-Checking & Reference Verification Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Fact-Checking & Reference Verification flashcards as text
What is the primary goal of fact-checking during proofreading?
Answer: Verifying the accuracy of factual claims, names, dates, and figures
Fact-checking focuses specifically on verifying that factual content—such as names, dates, statistics, and claims—is accurate and can be supported by reliable sources.
Which of the following is considered a primary source when fact-checking?
Answer: The original published research study or official government record
Primary sources are original, firsthand materials such as published studies, official records, or legal documents, as opposed to secondary sources that interpret or summarize them.
A proofreader finds a quoted statistic in a document with no citation. What is the most appropriate first step?
Answer: Flag the statistic as unverified and note that a citation or source is needed
A proofreader should flag uncited statistics for the author or editor to supply proper sourcing rather than removing or altering factual content unilaterally.
When a proofreader suspects a historical date in a manuscript is incorrect, what is the best course of action?
Answer: Cross-reference the date against at least two reliable sources before querying the author
Before querying or correcting, a proofreader should verify the suspected error against reliable sources to confirm the discrepancy and provide accurate information in the query.
Which type of error is fact-checking primarily designed to catch?
Answer: Substantive inaccuracies such as incorrect names, figures, or factual claims
Fact-checking targets substantive inaccuracies—errors in facts, data, names, and claims—rather than mechanical or stylistic errors.
When fact-checking a document about a living public figure, which source is generally considered most reliable?
Answer: An official organizational biography or verified institutional website
Official organizational biographies or verified institutional websites provide authoritative information about public figures and are subject to institutional oversight.
What does 'source attribution' mean in the context of proofreading and fact-checking?
Answer: Ensuring that all factual claims, quotes, and data are linked to identifiable, citable sources
Source attribution means that every factual claim, statistic, or quotation in a document is traceable to an identifiable source, allowing readers and proofreaders to verify its accuracy.