Recording where an idea or fact came from makes publication checks easier. Which document supplied the product information? Who made the quoted statement? Is there permission to use the image?
A source need not be a public link: it might be a current product sheet, a permission record or a project file. Keep internal provenance separate from the references shown to readers. Possessing a document does not mean all of its contents can be shared publicly.
Match each source to a particular claim
I do not treat a source list as a decorative appendix. During writing, I mark which statement depends on which document. A page about the general topic may not support the specific claim in the article. Keep what the source states separate from the interpretation drawn from it.
A specification can verify dimensions without establishing customer satisfaction. A campaign image can document that work existed without demonstrating a sales increase. The writing should not expand the evidence beyond what it supports.
A practical source record
| Field | Information type |
|---|---|
| Claim | Sentence requiring a check |
| Source | Official page or approved document |
| Date | When it was reviewed |
| Scope | What the source establishes |
| Publication permission | Whether linking or quotation is appropriate |
This is particularly useful in bilingual publishing. Both versions should preserve the same evidence boundaries even when the source itself is available in only one language.
What if a source cannot be found?
First ask whether the statement is necessary. A decorative statistic can often be removed. If the information is essential, keep it pending in the editorial record rather than publish it as an established fact.
A method preference can be written as a suggestion, but this must not disguise an unverified fact as opinion. “I would test this approach” can describe a choice; it cannot establish an outcome that never occurred.
Include visual sources
Record where a photograph came from, what changes were made and its permitted uses. Separate reference images from publication assets to reduce confusion. I would not add an image with unclear origins to the final package merely because it suits the layout.