research-fact-checker_skill

Overview

This skill helps you research topics, verify facts, and validate technical or historical details to improve accuracy and credibility in your writing. It supports non-fiction, historical fiction, technical documentation, and any work that requires verified information. The goal is to produce concise, source-backed research notes and clear confidence assessments.

How this skill works

I identify the specific claims and scope you need checked, then search authoritative sources and cross-reference evidence to confirm or refute each point. Findings are summarized with citations, a confidence level, and flagged uncertainties or contradictions. I can also format results into reusable research notes for your project or database.

When to use it

• Writing or editing non-fiction that requires verifiable claims
• Drafting historical fiction where real events and figures must be accurate
• Preparing technical documentation, procedures, or specifications
• Checking contemporary facts like laws, regulations, or technology states
• Validating cultural, geographic, or scientific details for authenticity

Best practices

• Define the exact claim or question to be researched before starting
• Prioritize primary and peer-reviewed sources when available
• Request the desired depth: quick verification, summarized notes, or detailed annotated bibliography
• Keep a record of sources and confidence levels for future updates
• Flag ambiguous or contested facts and suggest safe alternatives for narration

Example use cases

• Verify dates, relationships, and actions of historical figures for a novel scene
• Confirm technical steps and units for an engineering how-to or whitepaper
• Validate scientific concepts and terminology for a nonfiction chapter
• Check regional customs, language usage, or time zones for a travel piece
• Produce a concise research brief with sources and confidence ratings for an editor