Fact-Checked Content
Research Institute
Editorial Guidelines & Standards

Editorial Guidelines

These comprehensive guidelines ensure all WriteTruth content meets the highest standards of research excellence, editorial integrity, and reader value. Every writer, editor, and contributor follows these standards.

Core Editorial Principles

Accuracy Above All

Every fact must be verified through multiple sources. We prioritize accuracy over speed and will delay publication to ensure correctness.

Reader-Centric Value

Content must provide genuine value to readers, offering new insights, practical information, or deeper understanding of important topics.

Evidence-Based Content

All claims must be supported by credible evidence. Opinions must be clearly labeled and substantiated with reasoning and supporting data.

Transparent Process

Our methods, sources, and potential limitations must be clearly disclosed. Readers should understand how conclusions were reached.

Writing Standards

Article Structure & Length

Minimum Requirements

  • • Research articles: 2,000-4,000 words
  • • Analysis pieces: 1,500-3,000 words
  • • Explainer articles: 1,200-2,500 words
  • • News analysis: 800-1,500 words
  • • Breaking news: 500-1,000 words

Structure Elements

  • • Executive summary or key findings
  • • Clear section headings and subheadings
  • • Logical flow and argument progression
  • • Conclusion with actionable insights
  • • Visual elements where appropriate

Research & Sourcing Requirements

Source Standards

  • • Minimum 5 credible sources per article
  • • At least 2 primary sources required
  • • Expert quotes or commentary included
  • • Government/institutional data preferred
  • • Peer-reviewed research citations

Citation Format

  • • APA style for academic references
  • • Hyperlinks to original sources
  • • Archive links for web sources
  • • Complete bibliographic information
  • • Access dates for online materials

Writing Style & Voice

Voice & Tone

  • • Professional, authoritative tone
  • • Clear, accessible language
  • • Objective, unbiased presentation
  • • Active voice preference
  • • Confident but humble conclusions

Language Guidelines

  • • Avoid jargon without explanation
  • • Define technical terms clearly
  • • Use inclusive, respectful language
  • • Vary sentence length and structure
  • • Maintain consistent terminology

Editorial Process

1

Proposal & Planning

All articles begin with a detailed proposal outlining the topic, research plan, sources, and expected conclusions. Editorial team reviews and approves before writing begins.

  • • Topic significance and reader value assessment
  • • Research methodology planning
  • • Source identification and access verification
  • • Timeline and resource allocation
2

Research & Writing

Writers conduct thorough research following our sourcing standards and create comprehensive drafts that meet our quality and structural requirements.

  • • Comprehensive source gathering and verification
  • • Expert interviews and commentary collection
  • • Data analysis and interpretation
  • • Draft writing with complete citations
3

Editorial Review

Multiple rounds of editing focus on accuracy, clarity, structure, and adherence to our editorial standards before proceeding to fact-checking.

  • • Content structure and argument flow review
  • • Source quality and citation verification
  • • Language clarity and style consistency
  • • Editorial standards compliance check
4

Fact-Checking & Peer Review

Independent fact-checkers verify all claims, while subject matter experts review technical accuracy and methodological soundness.

  • • Independent fact verification process
  • • Expert peer review for technical content
  • • Statistical and data accuracy checking
  • • Source accessibility and reliability confirmation
5

Final Approval & Publication

Editorial board members provide final approval, ensuring all standards are met before publication with appropriate metadata and promotion.

  • • Editorial board final review and approval
  • • SEO optimization and metadata completion
  • • Publication scheduling and promotion planning
  • • Post-publication monitoring and engagement

Specialized Content Guidelines

Scientific & Medical Content

  • Peer-reviewed research prioritized over preliminary studies
  • Expert medical/scientific review required
  • Clear limitations and uncertainty acknowledgment
  • Avoid sensationalism in health reporting
  • Include diverse research perspectives

Political & Policy Content

  • Balanced representation of different viewpoints
  • Focus on policy impacts rather than politics
  • Data-driven analysis of policy effectiveness
  • Historical context and precedent inclusion
  • Avoid partisan language and framing

Economic & Financial Content

  • Official economic data and institutional sources
  • Multiple economist perspectives included
  • Clear explanation of complex financial concepts
  • Disclosure of any financial conflicts of interest
  • Long-term trends over short-term fluctuations

Technology & Innovation

  • Technical accuracy verified by experts
  • Practical implications and applications highlighted
  • Balanced coverage of benefits and risks
  • Avoid technology hype and speculation
  • Ethical considerations and societal impact

Quality Metrics & Standards

100%

Fact-Checking Rate

5+

Sources Minimum

98.5%

Peer Review Rate

< 0.3%

Error Rate

Questions About Our Guidelines?

These guidelines are living documents that evolve with best practices and reader needs. If you're a writer interested in contributing or have questions about our standards, we'd love to hear from you.