I published completely wrong information last month. And I didn’t realize it until three readers called me out in the comments.
The post was about email marketing statistics. I’d grabbed some numbers from what looked like a reputable source, written them into my article, and hit publish.
Turns out, those “2024 statistics” were actually from 2019. The source had updated its page, but I’d been looking at cached data. My entire article was based on outdated info.
That embarrassing mistake taught me something important: I needed a better fact-checking process.
According to the latest data, ChatGPT has an estimated 67.7 million monthly active users in the US (Source).
I started using ChatGPT to help verify information before publishing anything, not as my only source (that would be crazy), but as a first-pass checker to catch obvious errors and inconsistencies.
These 50 ChatGPT prompts for fact-checking have saved me from publishing wrong information at least a dozen times since then. They’re not perfect, but they’ve made my fact-checking process way faster and more thorough.
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Why You Need to Fact-Check Everything
Here’s the reality: misinformation spreads faster than truth online.
If you publish wrong information, even by accident-
- Your credibility takes a hit
- Readers lose trust in your content
- Google might rank you lower for unreliable information
- You might have to publish embarrassing corrections
The solution isn’t perfect, but it’s simple- verify everything before you publish.
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How I Use These Prompts?
I don’t use all 50 prompts for every article. That would take forever.
Instead, I-
- Pick 3–5 prompts based on my content type
- Run my key facts through them
- Double-check anything ChatGPT flags as questionable
- Research further if I find inconsistencies
50 Tested ChatGPT Prompts for Checking Facts
Basic Verification Prompts
“Is this statement accurate: [insert claim]? Please explain why or why not.”
“Check this fact for accuracy and provide the correct information if it’s wrong: [fact]”
“What’s the most current information about [topic]? Has anything changed recently?”
“Are these statistics still current: [statistics]? When were they last updated?”
“Is this quote attributed to the right person: [quote and attribution]?”
Source Checking Prompts
“Is [source name] considered a reliable source for information about [topic]?”
“What’s the reputation of [publication/website] in terms of factual accuracy?”
“Can you find any other sources that confirm this information: [claim]?”
“Is this study/research legitimate: [study details]?”
“What are some red flags I should look for in sources about [topic]?”
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Date and Timeline Verification
“When did [event] actually happen? I want to verify the exact date.”
“Is this timeline accurate: [sequence of events]?”
“What’s the most recent data available on [topic]? Is [date] current?”
“Has this law/regulation changed since [date]?”
“Are these historical facts correct: [historical claims]?”
Statistics and Numbers Verification
“Do these numbers seem reasonable for [context]: [statistics]?”
“What’s the margin of error typically acceptable for [type of statistic]?”
“Are these percentages calculated correctly: [calculation]?”
“Is this growth rate realistic: [percentage/timeframe]?”
“What would be a more accurate range for [statistic] if this seems off?”
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Expert and Authority Verification
“Is [person’s name] actually an expert in [field]? What are their credentials?”
“Does [expert] still hold the position mentioned: [title/organization]?”
“Is this person qualified to speak about [topic]: [expert background]?”
“Are there any controversies around [expert/authority] I should know about?”
“Who are the most respected experts currently working on [topic]?”
Definition and Terminology Checks
“Is this definition accurate: [term and definition]?”
“Am I using this technical term correctly: [term in context]?”
“What’s the difference between [term 1] and [term 2]?”
“Is this acronym correct: [acronym and expansion]?”
“Are there any common misconceptions about [concept] I should avoid?”
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Context and Comparison Prompts
“Does this claim make sense in context: [claim with context]?”
“How does [statistic/fact] compare to industry standards?”
“Is this comparison fair and accurate: [comparison]?”
“What additional context should I include with this fact: [fact]?”
“Are there important caveats or limitations to this information: [info]?”
Logical Consistency Checks
“Do these facts contradict each other: [fact 1] and [fact 2]?”
“Is this conclusion supported by the evidence presented: [conclusion and evidence]?”
“What assumptions am I making that might not be valid: [argument]?”
“Is this cause-and-effect relationship accurate: [claim]?”
“Are there alternative explanations for [phenomenon/result]?”
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Industry-Specific Verification
“Is this information current for [specific industry]: [claim]?”
“What are the latest regulations affecting [industry/topic]?”
“Has this company’s situation changed recently: [company info]?”
“Are these technical specifications accurate: [specs]?”
“Is this legal information still current: [legal claim]?”
Common Misconception Checks
“Is this a common myth or misconception: [claim]?”
“What’s the truth behind this widely believed idea: [belief]?”
“Are there any recent studies that contradict this: [claim]?”
“What do current experts say about this topic: [topic]?”
“Is this ‘common knowledge’ actually accurate: [common belief]?”
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My Fact-Checking Workflow
Here’s exactly how I use these prompts-
Step 1: Identify Key Claims- I go through my draft and highlight-
- Statistics and numbers
- Expert quotes
- Historical facts
- Technical information
- Controversial statements
Step 2: Choose Relevant Prompts- I pick 3-5 prompts based on what I’m checking:
- Statistics = prompts 16-20
- Expert quotes = prompts 21-25
- General facts = prompts 1-5
Step 3: Run the Checks- I paste each claim into ChatGPT with the chosen prompt.
Step 4: Research Flags- If ChatGPT raises any concerns, I will research further using sources.
Step 5: Update Content- I correct, clarify, or remove any questionable information.
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What These Prompts Caught for Me?
Here are some real mistakes that these prompts helped me avoid-
I said that “90% of emails are opened on mobile,” which is not true. ChatGPT said this was too high. The real number is about 46%.
The information is out of date- I wrote about a change in a social media algorithm. ChatGPT wanted to know the date, and it turns out the algorithm had changed again last month.
I gave credit for a quote to the wrong person. The prompt that asked about quote attribution caught my mistake.
Bad source- I was about to quote a “study” that ChatGPT said came from a clearly biased marketing company.
Important Limits
ChatGPT isn’t always good at checking facts. It can-
- Give information that is no longer current
- Be sure of false information
- Miss subtle details
- Not able to get real-time data
Always check important facts with the sources.
ChatGPT-4 can handle over 25,000 words of text, while the free version can process only 16,384 words through the OpenAI API (Source).
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Tips for Better Fact-Checking
- Make your prompts clear
Don’t say “Is this right?” Instead, say, “Is this 65% statistic about email open rates from 2024 correct?”
- Ask more questions
If ChatGPT brings something up, ask, “What would be more accurate?” or “Where can I find up-to-date information on this?”
- Look at each claim on its own
Don’t throw away a whole paragraph. Check one fact at a time.
- Use sources that are up to date
Always check ChatGPT’s answers against reliable, up-to-date sources.
- Don’t believe everything you hear
It probably isn’t true if it sounds too good to be true.
When to Dig Deeper
These prompts should make you want to do more research-
ChatGPT says things like “I’m not sure” or “This might be old.”
- The information goes against what you thought you knew.
- The numbers seem to be too high or too low.
- Claims about things that have happened or changed recently
Red flags that need extra verification-
- Surprising statistics without context
- Claims that support your argument perfectly
- Information from sources you’re not familiar with
- “Facts” that confirm popular beliefs
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Conclusion
Fact-checking isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being responsible.
These prompts won’t catch every error, but they’ll catch the obvious ones. The kind of mistakes that make readers lose trust in your content.
Use them as a first pass, then verify important information with authoritative sources. Your readers (and your reputation) will thank you.
Start with these 5 prompts-
- “Is this statement accurate: [claim]?”
- “Are these statistics current: [stats]?”
- “Is [source] reliable for [topic]?”
- “Are there any red flags with this information: [info]?”
- “What’s the most current information about [topic]?”
That’s enough to catch most common errors without slowing down your writing process.
Remember, it’s better to publish slightly less content that’s accurate than lots of content that’s wrong.
