fact check

Meaning

To 'fact check' means to verify the truth or accuracy of a statement, claim, or piece of information. While it originated in journalism, it is widely used in casual digital culture when calling out misinformation or verifying what someone said in a conversation or social media post.

Examples

• Before you share that news article on Facebook, you should fact check it.

  Before you share that news article on Facebook, you should fact check it.

• Wait, let me fact check that statistic because it sounds a bit unrealistic.

  Wait, let me fact check that statistic because it sounds a bit unrealistic.

• He got fact checked by his own followers in the comments section.

  He got fact checked by his own followers in the comments section.

• The politician's claims were quickly fact checked by independent organizations.

  The politician's claims were quickly fact checked by independent organizations.

• I always fact check health advice I see on TikTok before trying it.

  I always fact check health advice I see on TikTok before trying it.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to make a fact check on this.

  ✓ I need to fact check this.

  'Fact check' is commonly used directly as a verb. If you want to use it as a noun, the natural verb to use with it is 'do' or 'run' rather than 'make.'

• ✗ She facted check the story.

  ✓ She fact-checked the story.

  'Fact check' is a compound verb. The past tense is formed by adding '-ed' to the second word ('check'), making it 'fact-checked' (often hyphenated).

Related Expressions

Practice

• Don't just believe everything you read online; make sure to ___ the sources.

  💡 Verify the accuracy of information

  Show answer

  fact check

• The rumors were false, as a quick ___ revealed the true story.

  💡 An investigation into the truth of a claim

  Show answer

  fact check