Sources help readers understand where a factual claim comes from, judge its limitations and find the current guidance for themselves.
Our source order
The best source depends on the claim, but we generally prefer:
- legislation, government departments, local authorities and official regulatory guidance;
- recognised safety, certification and professional bodies speaking within their remit;
- original research and primary technical evidence;
- established charities, universities and specialist organisations with transparent methods;
- clearly identified first-hand experience for personal, non-general claims.
Retailer, manufacturer or affiliate material may explain a product, but it is not treated as independent proof of broad performance or safety claims.
Linking and context
Where practical, articles link directly to the page or document supporting the claim. We identify the location and date context when rules or guidance may vary or change. A source should support the specific sentence beside it, not merely discuss the same broad subject.
Quotations and projects
Quotations require a traceable source, accurate wording and enough context to avoid misleading the reader. We do not publish invented testimonials. If the source or permission record for a legacy quotation cannot be established, the quotation should be removed, held or clearly qualified.
A design, home or installation is not described as a real project without reliable provenance. Illustrative examples and concepts are labelled as such.
Personal experience
Lisa’s 12 years of tiny-house living may inform personal observations. Those observations are not used to replace official requirements, technical evidence or individual professional advice.
AI and sources
AI tools may help locate possible source leads, but an AI response is not evidence. Important sources should be opened, read and checked for relevance before a claim is published.
Broken, outdated or conflicting sources
If a link stops working, we look for the current primary or official source rather than silently linking to a less reliable page. Where reliable sources disagree, the article should explain the disagreement or uncertainty instead of presenting one view as settled fact.
If you know of a stronger source, use our Contact page and choose Source suggestion.