Whether a cited source actually supports the specific claim associated with it.
Citation accuracy asks whether a reference genuinely supports the claim attached to it. A credible source can still be cited inaccurately if the sentence exaggerates its findings, omits an important condition or applies the result to a different population.
Compare the statement with the relevant source passage, not just the title or search snippet. Check the date, scope, definitions and whether the source describes an observation, estimate or causal conclusion. A claim that something may happen should not become a claim that it always happens.
This differs from source attribution, which identifies the origin. A citation can be clearly attributed yet fail to support the sentence. When evidence is incomplete, narrow the statement, explain the uncertainty or omit it rather than placing a reputable-looking link beside an unsupported assertion.
Takeaway: Review the evidence behind consequential claims before publication. Accurate citations help readers evaluate the content and make editorial review more reliable.
Example
A software guide cites a vendor page saying a feature is available on selected plans. Writing that every customer receives the feature would misrepresent the source. The correction is to state the actual plan limitation, not merely add another link to the vendor’s homepage.
What to check
Check quotations word for word and preserve context. Verify calculations against the underlying data and keep estimates labeled. During updates, confirm that the cited page still supports the wording rather than assuming a working URL is sufficient evidence.
For more detail, see Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content.