cross-source-fact-verification

Original：🇨🇳 Chinese
Translated

Use this method when fact-checking drafts that include dates, quantities, or causal claims by cross-referencing multiple independent sources.

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fact-checkingcross-source-verificationcontent-validationtimeline-buildingparallel-agent-processing

SKILL.md Content (Chinese)

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Cross-Source Fact Verification

Extracted: 2026-02-14 Context: A pattern for verifying factual claims in pre-writing drafts using multiple independent sources

Problem

Drafts and context files are prone to containing memory-based inaccuracies.
  • Date errors (e.g., misremembering January 31st as February 8th)
  • Missing counts (e.g., recording 3 inventory checks as 1)
  • Inaccurate figures (e.g., overcounting or undercounting the number of skills)
Errors that cannot be detected by checking a single source can be identified through cross-referencing multiple sources.

Method

Step 1: Identify Claims to Verify

Extract verifiable factual claims from the draft:
  • Dates: "Did X on month X day Y"
  • Quantities: "N skills...", "Conducted N times"
  • Sequence: "Did B after A"
  • Causality: "B happened because of A"

Step 2: Map Evidence Sources

Identify independent sources that can be used to verify each claim:
Source TypeLocationSpecialized Verification
Debug Logs
~/.claude/projects/*/
Exact timestamps, tool calls, errors
MEMORY.md
~/.claude/projects/*/memory/
Inventory results, decision-making, numerical values
Git History
git log --oneline
Commit timestamps, change details
File Timestamps
ls -la
, 
stat
Creation/modification timestamps
Published Articles
articles/*.md
Consistency with previously published content
Research Drafts
drafts/*.md
Raw data from research phase
Skill Files
~/.claude/skills/learned/
Extracted dates, content

Step 3: Parallel Search

Simultaneously search independent sources using parallel sub-agents:
Launch in parallel:
  Agent 1: Extract dates and operations from debug logs
  Agent 2: Collect records from MEMORY.md (all projects)
  Agent 3: Investigate git history and file timestamps
  Agent 4: Verify consistency with published articles and drafts

Step 4: Cross-Reference

Cross-reference results from multiple sources:
  • Consistent → Accept as fact
  • Conflicting → Prioritize more reliable sources (Debug Logs > Memory-based MEMORY > Drafts)
  • Single source only → Conduct additional research for supporting evidence; if none exists, accept with a note
Reliability Priority Order:
  1. Debug Logs & Git History (machine-recorded, hard to tamper with)
  2. File Timestamps (OS-level records)
  3. MEMORY.md (recorded at session end, may have memory bias)
  4. Published Articles (published but may have writing bias)
  5. Drafts & Oral Accounts (highest risk of memory bias)

Step 5: Build Verified Timeline

Reconstruct a timeline using only confirmed facts, and clearly indicate differences from the original draft.

When to Use

  • When fact-checking context files before writing articles
  • When drafts contain numerical claims such as "when, how many times, how many"
  • When organizing events across multiple projects in chronological order
  • When there may be discrepancies between a user's memory and actual records

Anti-Patterns

  • Single Source Dependency: Relying solely on MEMORY.md for fact-checking
  • Accepting Memory at Face Value: Adopting a user's oral account without verification
  • Sequential Search: Checking independent sources one by one (should be parallelized)
  • Ignoring Conflicts: Leaving discrepancies between sources unresolved