How we rate claims
Every check ends in one of five verdicts. The name of the site is the question, and the verdict is the answer.
The claim is accurate and supported by the best available evidence, with no significant omissions.
The main point is accurate, but a figure, a date or some context needed for a fair reading is wrong or missing.
The claim uses accurate facts or figures in a way that leads people to a conclusion the evidence does not support.
The claim is false. Reliable records or data directly contradict it.
The available evidence is not enough to confirm or reject the claim. The check stays open and is updated when more is known.
What we check
We check statements of fact made in public by people and organisations with power or reach: politicians, officials, companies, institutions, and posts that spread widely online.
We do not rate opinions, predictions or promises about the future.
How a check is done
- We record the claim word for word, with who said it, where and when.
- We ask the speaker for their evidence and give them a chance to reply.
- We look for the best primary sources: official records, original data, documents, and our own reporting.
- An editor reviews the evidence and signs off the verdict.
- We publish the claim, the evidence, the reply and the verdict on one permanent page.
After we publish
A check is never closed for good. If new evidence appears we update the page, and the date and reason are added to its updates list. If we got something wrong, we correct it and list it in the corrections log.