How Sources Work

Sources are the backbone of TrueQuotes. They let readers verify that a quote is accurate and trace it back to its origin.

Why Sources Matter

Misattributed quotes are everywhere on the internet. Famous sayings are often credited to the wrong person, taken out of context, or fabricated entirely. TrueQuotes tackles this by requiring verifiable sources for every quote.

When you add a source to a quote, you help the community confirm its authenticity. Quotes with strong sources can be marked as verified by moderators.

Supported Source Types

Web Links

Links to original articles, speeches, interviews, or official publications where the quote appears. The most common source type.

Example: A news article quoting a politician during a press conference.

Video Sources

Video clips from YouTube, news broadcasts, or other platforms. You can specify a start timestamp so viewers jump directly to the relevant moment.

Example: A YouTube video of a TED talk with the timestamp where the speaker says the quote.

Image Sources

Photographs of handwritten letters, book pages, historical documents, or screenshots that capture the quote in its original context.

Example: A photograph of a handwritten letter by Albert Einstein.

Documents & PDFs

Official documents, academic papers, court transcripts, or published books that contain the quoted text.

Example: A PDF of a published research paper containing the quoted conclusion.

Tips for Good Sources

  • 1.Prefer primary sources (the original speech, book, or document) over secondary reports.
  • 2.For video sources, include a timestamp so viewers can find the quote quickly.
  • 3.Use archived links (e.g. Wayback Machine) for sources that might be taken down.
  • 4.Multiple sources are better than one — add all the evidence you can find.

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