A publication built on trust has to be transparent about how it works. This is how we research, source, write, disclose, and, when necessary, correct.
Our standard
Sanewords exists to help readers understand the world accurately. Every editorial decision we make is measured against one question: Does this help the reader get closer to the truth? The policies below are how we try to live up to that and how we invite you to hold us accountable.
Sourcing and evidence
We work from primary sources wherever possible, official data, original documents, peer-reviewed research, and on-the-record statements rather than secondhand summaries. When we cite a fact, a figure, or a study, we link to its original source so any reader can verify it independently. If a claim cannot be sourced, it does not run as fact. Where something is contested or uncertain, we say so plainly rather than choosing a side for the sake of a cleaner story.
Verification
Before publication, every factual claim is checked against its source. Numbers are confirmed against the original data, not a press release describing it. Quotes are checked for accuracy and context. We do not publish allegations we cannot substantiate, and we distinguish clearly between what is known, what is reported, and what is opinion.
Opinion versus analysis
Sanewords publishes both fact-based analysis and clearly labelled opinion. We believe arguments are valuable, but the reader should always know which one they are reading. Opinion and editorial pieces are identified as such. Analysis aims to explain and weigh evidence rather than to advocate.
Independence and conflicts of interest
Our editorial decisions are made independently of any advertiser, donor, political party, or commercial interest. If a piece touches on something in which the publication or its author has a financial or personal interest, we disclose it within the piece. We will never allow a funding relationship to shape our coverage, and we will be transparent about how Sanewords is funded.
Use of artificial intelligence
We believe in being candid about our tools. Sanewords uses AI-assisted research and drafting throughout its editorial process to gather sources, organize material, and prepare initial drafts. Every piece is then reviewed, fact-checked, edited, and approved by a human editor who takes full responsibility for its accuracy and judgment. AI is a research and drafting aid here, never the final author. No piece is published without human verification of its facts and sources.
Corrections
We will make mistakes — every publication does. What distinguishes a trustworthy one is how it handles them. When we get something wrong, we correct it promptly and visibly. Factual errors are corrected as soon as they are confirmed, with a dated note explaining what changed. Significant corrections — those that materially change the meaning of a piece — are flagged clearly at the top of the article. Minor fixes are made quietly, but any change to the substance is always disclosed. We do not delete published work to erase a mistake; we correct the record openly.
To report an error, email corrections@sanewords.com. We read and respond to every genuine correction request.
Sources and anonymity
We prefer named, on-the-record sources. We grant anonymity only when there is a clear public interest and a real risk to the source. Our policy is never to allow someone to attack another person from behind a shield. When we use information from an anonymous source, we tell readers as much as we responsibly can about why.
Your role
This policy is a promise, and promises are meant to be enforced. If you believe we have fallen short of an unsupported claim, an undisclosed conflict, or an uncorrected error, tell us. Accountability from readers is not a nuisance to a publication like this one. It is the mechanism that keeps us honest.