A citation is useful when it lets a reader verify the exact statement beside it. A source list cannot repair a sentence that overstates what the source says.
Keep a claim ledger while drafting
Mark every number, platform instruction, policy, market rule, comparison, and performance statement. For each, record the source, publication/update date, date checked, supported scope, and whether the statement is fact or inference. Prefer the primary source for official product behavior and rules; use multiple sources when a claim depends on synthesis.
Before publishing, ask:
- Does the source support every part of the sentence?
- Does it apply to this country, version, and date?
- Is the link accessible and directed to the relevant passage or page?
- Does the article distinguish the source’s fact from our interpretation?
If a source says a feature is available, that does not prove a specific account has enabled it. If a study reports an association, do not rewrite it as causation. If a rule is unclear or changing, narrow the advice and ask a qualified reviewer.
Put citations where decisions happen
Place the link near the claim, not only in a references footer. Keep the visible sentence self-contained so the reader understands the point without clicking, and offer the citation for verification. In Arabic, make sure the linked source actually supports the Arabic meaning, not just the English wording.
Recheck time-sensitive sources on a schedule tied to the claim. A dead or superseded link is an editorial defect, not just a technical issue.
AI disclosure: AI tools assisted with drafting. No external statistic is asserted in this guide.