AI Fact-Check Checklist Template 1
Claim: [exact sentence]. Source required: [type]. Verified source: [link/reference]. Status: verified / qualified / removed.
Start with structure, then replace every placeholder with information that is true, relevant, and natural for your context. These templates are intentionally skeletal so your final writing does not sound mass-produced.
A strong fact-check process traces important claims back to authoritative sources, checks dates and scope, distinguishes inference from evidence, and never treats the model's confidence or citation formatting as proof.
Claim: [exact sentence]. Source required: [type]. Verified source: [link/reference]. Status: verified / qualified / removed.
Check: name · date · number · quotation · jurisdiction · version · source scope.
For every citation, confirm: source exists; source is accessible; source supports this exact claim; date/version is appropriate.
Unverified claim rewrite: 'Evidence available here supports [narrower claim], not [broader claim].'
Fact-check triage: High-risk claims → [ ]; changing facts → [ ]; quotations → [ ]; numbers → [ ]; source support → [ ]; unresolved items → [ ].
Context audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: purpose → [ ]; reader knowledge → [ ]; format/length → [ ]; evidence or canon constraints → [ ]; what changes in this context → [ ]; final check → [ ].
Scenario transfer worksheet for AI Fact-Check Checklist: current task → [ ]; reader/genre → [ ]; constraint → [ ]; tempting default → [ ]; better decision → [ ]; why it fits → [ ]; next related guide → [ ].
Skill progression worksheet for AI Fact-Check Checklist: beginner version → [ ]; intermediate constraint → [ ]; advanced constraint → [ ]; what changed in the writing decision → [ ]; next skill to study → [ ].
Constraint decision sheet for AI Fact-Check Checklist: normal case → [ ]; harder constraint → [ ]; what must stay true → [ ]; what can change → [ ]; evidence/reader/genre check → [ ]; specialist skill to study next → [ ].
Misconception correction audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: shortcut or assumption → [ ]; why it fails here → [ ]; corrective move → [ ]; principle that must remain true → [ ]; goal-based next skill → [ ].
Failure-mode and reader-intent audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: visible symptom → [ ]; likely underlying problem → [ ]; reader need → [ ]; competing technique considered → [ ]; correction → [ ]; evidence/genre/format constraint → [ ]; final verification → [ ].
Boundary-and-tool-choice audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: reader objection → [ ]; actual writing job → [ ]; evidence/genre/format boundary → [ ]; tempting alternative → [ ]; why it is the wrong tool here → [ ]; correct adjustment → [ ]; final verification → [ ].
Evidence/support and mastery ladder for AI Fact-Check Checklist: minimum acceptable → [ ]; strong → [ ]; expert → [ ]; audience/genre constraint → [ ]; evidence or story support → [ ]; boundary that would require a different technique → [ ].
Certainty and expert-exception audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: statement or choice → [ ]; evidence/canon/authority supporting it → [ ]; confidence level → [ ]; uncertainty that must be named → [ ]; expert exception → [ ]; nearest alternative technique → [ ]; why the final choice fits better → [ ].
Purpose-and-verification decision audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: real writing job → [ ]; plausible choice A → [ ]; plausible choice B → [ ]; downstream consequence of each → [ ]; facts/evidence/canon to verify → [ ]; reader or genre boundary → [ ]; final purpose-fit reason → [ ].
Publication-readiness audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: claim/advice/example → [ ]; strongest available source tier → [ ]; important disagreement or uncertainty → [ ]; what would change the conclusion → [ ]; publish now / qualify / revise / hold → [ ]; final verifier or source of truth → [ ].
Provenance and classification audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: draft statement/example → [ ]; classify as fact / interpretation / recommendation / convention / original example → [ ]; source or internal provenance → [ ]; source date / version / checked date → [ ]; attribution needed → [ ]; recency risk → [ ]; final publishable wording → [ ].
Source-record and update audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: statement / example → [ ]; external fact, project fact, interpretation, recommendation, convention, or original example → [ ]; controlling first-party / primary source → [ ]; secondary source if used → [ ]; source record / locator → [ ]; date or version checked → [ ]; update trigger → [ ]; publish / qualify / revise / hold → [ ].
Source-ledger and revision-history audit for AI Fact-Check Checklist: claim / recommendation / example → [ ]; source or project record ID → [ ]; source status active / superseded / corrected / retracted / retired → [ ]; claim-level last verified date/version → [ ]; event that triggered recheck → [ ]; correction / withdrawal action → [ ]; reader-facing disclosure needed? → [ ]; what changed and why → [ ]; prior wording/version retained at → [ ].
Claim/source status audit: Item [claim/source/example] | Status [active / review due / stale / corrected / retracted / superseded] | Controlling source/version [x] | Last verified [date/version] | Stale trigger [x] | Correction severity [0–3] | Reader disclosure [none / note / correction / withdrawal] | Changelog entry [what changed + why].
Dependency and propagation audit: Claim / example / recommendation [x] | Controlling source / project record [x] | Dependency strength [direct / shared / advisory / independent] | Review trigger / reason code [x] | Needs-review scope [local / direct dependents / cluster] | Replacement source requirements [x] | Carry-forward decision [x] | Propagation targets [x] | Reader disclosure / changelog action [x].
Persistent editorial registry audit: Topic slug → [ ]; claim UID/key → [ ]; source UID/key → [ ]; dependency UID + strength → [ ]; source status/version → [ ]; open review UID/reason/priority → [ ]; replacement source if any → [ ]; reviewer + resolution → [ ].