Distinguish a claim from its evidence
A claim states what someone wants you to accept. Evidence supplies observations or reasons that bear on it. Repeating the claim in different words does not add support.
By Zehano · Original AI-assisted explanation and worked example · Updated 16 October 2026 · Editorial approach
A worked example
The claim is that a new timetable reduced late arrivals. A statement that the timetable is excellent does not measure lateness. Counts of late arrivals before and after the change address the outcome more directly, though other changes may still explain the difference. Keep the observation and the causal interpretation separate.
Try it in three steps
- Write the claim precisely.
- Identify the evidence that actually addresses it.
- List what would still need checking.
What to watch for
A real source can still be irrelevant to a particular claim. Match the population, comparison and outcome rather than relying on the presence of a citation.
Apply it to your own material
Choose one topic from your current course or project. Write down the question you want to answer, make an attempt, and keep a note of how you checked it. Use the example above as a pattern; replace its subject matter and assumptions rather than copying an answer into a different task.
Open Evidence Match ↗