Writing Book 7 · Lesson 24

Using sources — meet the words

Where a claim came from is part of the claim, not an addition to it.

The words

credible
believable
bias
leaning one way
corroborate
back up with more
contradict
say the opposite
attribute to
say it came from
as cited in
quoted inside
primary source
the original
summarize the argument
give it shortly
acknowledge
give credit
verify the claim
check it is true

Watch how it is built

1credible means about the same as believable.
Choose credible sources only.
2bias means about the same as leaning one way.
The report shows clear bias.
3corroborate means about the same as back up with more.
A second study corroborates this.

Two ways to say it

✗ Choose believable sources only. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.

✓ Choose credible sources only. — this is how a writer says it.

Ask yourself: “Who said this, and how would my reader check it?”

Remember

Credible, bias, corroborate, contradict — the words for weighing a source.

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