# Fact-check an AI answer one claim at a time

Fact-check an AI answer by breaking it into claims you can test. A paragraph can mix a correct definition, an outdated price, and an unsupported causal claim. Checking one cited link for the paragraph does not verify all three.

## Extract the important claims
Prioritize claims that change an action: dates, eligibility, prices, requirements, safety instructions, and quantitative comparisons. Definitions matter too, but a wrong deadline may carry a larger consequence than awkward wording. Write the exact sentence before researching it so you do not quietly change the claim while checking.

## Use a claim ledger
| Draft claim | Evidence needed | Finding |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The plan includes export | Current official plan documentation | Not found yet |
| The tool saves two hours weekly | Measured study with context | Provider anecdote only |
| The policy applies in your state | Current responsible authority | Jurisdiction missing |

The examples are fictional. “Not found” is a search result about your checking process, not proof that a feature does not exist. Keep that distinction in the final edit.

## Use AI to identify work still needed
```text
Extract factual claims from this answer.
For each, say what kind of evidence would establish it.
Compare only against the sources I supply.
Label supported, contradicted, partially supported, or unresolved,
with the exact supporting passage and location.
Do not use the answer's confidence as evidence.
Answer: [paste]
Sources checked: [paste]
```

## Verify sources outside the answer
A fabricated or irrelevant citation can look legitimate. Open the original page, find the passage, and check its date and scope. For a legal, medical, or financial decision, use the responsible authority or a qualified professional rather than relying on a general search summary.

Correct the sentence at the same level of precision the evidence supports. If a broad claim becomes conditional, preserve the condition near it. Keep an unresolved label when you cannot verify something; removing the label because the draft reads better defeats the check. A clear “we could not establish this” is often more useful than a plausible replacement.

---
SkillStall · 2026-10-02