Turn “Is this true?” into a process.

The seven-step verification loop

1. Mark the checkable claims

Underline dates, numbers, quotations, names, causes, legal requirements, scientific conclusions, product specifications, and statements about current events. Opinions and suggestions may need evaluation, but a factual claim can be compared with evidence.

2. Decide how much checking the claim deserves

Match effort to consequence. A fictional character name needs little checking. A school citation, medication statement, legal deadline, financial figure, or safety instruction deserves authoritative evidence and a qualified person where appropriate.

3. Choose the strongest available source

• Law, policy, and public programs: the responsible government or official institution.
• Research: the original paper, dataset, or recognized evidence review—not a generated summary of it.
• Product facts: the current manufacturer, developer, store listing, or official documentation.
• News: the original statement, document, data, recording, or multiple reputable reports.
• Schoolwork: teacher-approved sources and the required citation system.

4. Check identity, date, and jurisdiction

A real source can still be the wrong source. Confirm who published it, when it was updated, which country or region it covers, and whether a newer version replaces it.

5. Compare the exact claim—not just the topic

A page about the same subject does not necessarily support the generated sentence. Look for the same population, timeframe, definition, unit, and level of certainty. “Associated with” is not the same as “caused by.”

6. Record what changed

Keep a small verification note: original claim, source checked, result, correction, and date. For school or work, also record how AI was used if disclosure is required.

7. Know when to stop and involve a person

Do not turn a chatbot verification exercise into a substitute for medical, legal, financial, safeguarding, or emergency judgment. A qualified person remains responsible for high-stakes advice.

Worked example: an invented citation

1. Search for the exact article title, authors, journal, year, and identifier.
2. Check the journal’s official site or a trusted research database.
3. If the article cannot be located, do not cite it.
4. If a similar study exists, do not silently substitute it; rewrite the claim to match the real evidence.
5. Record that the original citation was unverified or invented.

Worked example: a current rule

The statement is too broad. School and board policies can differ, and rules change. Identify the learner’s school or board, locate the current official policy, confirm the assignment-specific direction, and ask the teacher when the rule is unclear.

Worked example: a percentage

For a statistic, verify the survey population, sample size, field dates, wording, margin of error, geography, and definition. “Used a chatbot at least once” is not the same as “uses a chatbot every day,” and neither proves benefit or harm.

A family-friendly source ladder

1. Primary authority: original law, agency, paper, dataset, documentation, or direct record.
2. Strong synthesis: a systematic review, regulator, recognized public institution, or reputable evidence organization.
3. Responsible reporting: useful for context, especially when it links to the underlying evidence.
4. Unverified summary: a generated answer, unsourced post, screenshot, or anonymous claim. Treat it as a lead, not proof.

Printable seven-question check

• What exact claim am I checking?
• What happens if it is wrong?
• Who is the best authority?
• Is the source current and relevant to my location?
• Does it support the exact wording and level of certainty?
• Did I verify every citation, quote, and number?
• What did I correct, remove, or escalate to a person?