Inspect citations

The skill and its purpose

A citation is a pointer to possible evidence. It is not proof that the surrounding sentence is accurate, current or applicable. A supplier’s general brochure may describe a product family while the campaign uses a different model. A link may lead to a document whose date or scope contradicts the answer. Reviewing citations requires checking the actual passage and the boundary of the claim, including exclusions. Keep your own inference visible rather than attributing it to a source that did not make it.

Work through the decision

Break the answer into material claims. For each, open the permitted primary source and record its title, owner, date or version and the relevant section. Compare the sentence with what the source actually states: dimensions, conditions, compatible parts, test scope and application limits. Mark it supported, unsupported, contradicted or unresolved. Recalculate derived numbers from the stated inputs. If a link cannot be inspected, request the original source or leave the claim unresolved. Preserve a small source register so another reviewer can follow the reasoning without receiving unrelated confidential records.

Practical exercise — fictional

In a fictional comparison, an answer says model F-12 accepts a 1,200 mm graphic and cites a manufacturer sheet. The sheet actually lists 1,000 mm for F-12 and 1,200 mm for F-14. Create a claim record with the incorrect sentence, cited row, corrected model-specific fact and decision affected. Do not silently swap the model to keep the answer looking successful. Ask the designer which model is physically held, then rerun the dimensions check after that identity is confirmed. Keep the faulty answer as a labelled exercise record.

Take it to the next job

• Split the answer into checkable material claims.
• Open the actual primary source and relevant passage.
• Match the source model, version and conditions.
• Label inference and unresolved evidence separately.