How we rate claims
- MythThe claim is false. The evidence points the other way.
- MisleadingContains something true, framed to reach a false conclusion.
- UnprovenNot shown to be true. The evidence is missing, weak or early.
- TrueThe claim holds up against the evidence.
How an article gets written
- State the claim exactly. Quoted as it circulates, not a weaker version that's easier to knock down.
- Go to the strongest evidence. Systematic reviews, large trials and major cohort studies come before single studies; single studies come before expert opinion; anecdotes and mechanisms alone don't settle anything.
- Give a verdict. One of the four above, with a sentence saying why.
- Show the sources. Every article ends with its references, linked wherever they're freely available.
What we don't do
- Fact-check people. The subject is always the claim, never the person sharing it.
- Take money from anyone whose product is being discussed.
- Hide uncertainty. When the science genuinely isn't settled, the verdict is Unproven, and the article says what would settle it.
Corrections
Mistakes are corrected openly. The article gets a dated note at the top saying what changed. Send corrections to hanna@hannashanar.com.