How do you tell if a source is credible?

1 Check the author

The first thing to look for is the author of the source. Who are they? What are their credentials, qualifications, and affiliations? Do they have expertise and experience in the topic they are writing about? Are they reputable and respected in their field? Do they provide contact information or a way to verify their identity? If the source has no author, or the author is anonymous, unknown, or untrustworthy, you should be skeptical about their claims and arguments.

2 Check the date

The next thing to check is the date of the source. When was it published or updated? Is it current and relevant to your topic and purpose? Does it reflect the latest research and evidence on the issue? Is it consistent with other sources from the same time period? If the source is outdated, obsolete, or contradicted by newer sources, you should be cautious about using it or relying on it.

3 Check the purpose

The third thing to check is the purpose of the source. Why was it created and for whom? What is the main message and goal of the source? Is it informative, persuasive, entertaining, or educational? Is it objective, balanced, and fair, or is it subjective, biased, and one-sided? Does it have a hidden agenda, a conflict of interest, or a sponsorship that may influence its content and tone? If the source is unclear, vague, or deceptive about its purpose, or if it has a strong or obvious bias, you should be critical about its validity and value.

4 Check the evidence

The fourth thing to check is the evidence of the source. How does it support its claims and arguments? What kind of data, facts, statistics, examples, quotes, or citations does it use? Are they relevant, accurate, reliable, and verifiable? Do they come from credible and reputable sources? Are they properly referenced and acknowledged? Do they address different perspectives and counterarguments? If the source lacks evidence, or uses weak, flawed, or misleading evidence, you should be doubtful about its soundness and significance.

5 Check the quality

The fifth thing to check is the quality of the source. How well is it written and presented? Is it clear, coherent, and logical? Is it organized, structured, and formatted? Is it free of errors, typos, and mistakes? Is it consistent, professional, and respectful? Does it follow the standards and conventions of its genre and discipline? Is it suitable and appropriate for its intended audience and context? If the source is poor, sloppy, or unprofessional in its quality, you should be wary about its credibility and authority.