The Web Content Style Guide: An Essential Reference for Online Writers, Editors, and Managers

F

fact checking

Before content is published, and after it’s been edited, it should be fact-checked. Often, in the course of writing, revising, and editing content, numbers, dates, names, and quotes can be entered incorrectly or changed during the editing process in subtle but meaningful ways. The best way to rid content of such errors is to check each fact methodically once the content is in final, about-to-be-published form.

The best way to fact-check content is to print out the text, read it line by line, and make a physical checkmark next to every verifiable fact after comparing it with an original source. The fact-checkers (often the writers) should force themselves to do this even when they are sure that the copy is right. This requires ...