The eight verdicts
Every claim gets exactly one, and every verdict shows the evidence behind it.
| Verdict | What it means | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Supported | The evidence backs the claim as stated. | Linked supporting evidence from a source independent of the claimant. |
| Contradicted | The evidence shows the claim is wrong as stated. | Linked contradicting evidence. Absence of evidence is never enough. |
| Misleading | Technically accurate in part, but framed so a reasonable reader comes away with a wrong impression. | The accurate part, the missing context, and the evidence for both. |
| Outdated | Was true at one time, but the facts have since changed. | Dated evidence for both the earlier and the current state. |
| Unverified | Not yet checked, or no evidence either way has been found. | Nothing. This is the starting state, and it is not a finding against the claim. |
| Disputed | Credible evidence points in different directions. | The conflicting evidence, linked on both sides. |
| Opinion | A view, value judgment, or characterization, not a checkable fact. | No truth rating is given. Opinions are labeled, not judged. |
| Prediction | A statement about what will happen. | Checked against the modeling, studies, or records it depends on, and revisited when the outcome is known. |
Evidence levels
Alongside the verdict, every rating shows how much independent evidence stands behind it:
- No evidence: nothing found yet.
- Repetition only: the claim appears in many places, but they all trace back to the same origin.
- Single independent origin: one primary source stands behind it.
- Multiple independent origins: two or more unrelated primary sources agree.
- Conflicting: independent sources disagree.
Confidence and limitations
Each verdict also records a confidence level (low, medium, or high) and a plain statement of its limitations, such as a document that could not be obtained or a measurement taken at a different time. A verdict can be revised when new evidence arrives, and every earlier version is kept.
Questions
Is 'unverified' the same as 'false'?
No. Unverified means the evidence has not been found or checked yet. Only 'contradicted' says the evidence shows a claim is wrong, and it requires linked contradicting evidence.
Why don't opinions get a rating?
An opinion is a judgment, not a fact that evidence can confirm or refute. TruthRanking labels it as opinion so it is not mistaken for a fact, and leaves it unrated.
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