We prefer sources that directly own or publish the underlying information. The usual order of preference is:
- Government publications
- Regulator publications
- Official statistics
- Universities and other institutions
- Primary research
- Strong secondary reporting
The best source depends on the claim. A university is the primary source for its own admissions requirements; an official statistics agency is preferable for its published counts. Secondary reporting can add context but should not replace a primary source for a rule or figure when one is available.
Guides link their references so readers can inspect the original material. A source date or access date helps show when information was checked; it does not guarantee that it remains current. Please tell us when a reference is broken or superseded.
Automated checks can flag changes to public source pages for editors. A fetched page is reference material, not a published guide or proof that every claim is correct. Editors write original explanations and reviewers check them before publication.