How to check a writer can produce accurate, researched content

Accurate, researched content takes time and skill — which means hiring someone who cuts corners is expensive in the long run. The gamble is real: a writer who delivers polished prose but skips fact-checking can damage your credibility, mislead your readers or even expose you to liability. Spotting the difference between a thorough researcher and someone winging it requires looking beyond their portfolio.

What their past work actually reveals

Ask any candidate for copies of three to five published pieces they've written. Don't just scan them; dig into the sources. Pick a few claims or statistics in each article and trace them back. Did the writer cite a study? Can you find the study, and does the article represent it fairly? Are quoted figures still current, or have they aged without the writer noting the date?

Look for tell-tale signs of corner-cutting: vague phrases like "research shows" with no link or attribution, broad claims that feel unsubstantiated, or citations that don't quite match the text. Good writers flag uncertainty — "as of 2024" or "according to the latest available data" — rather than presenting facts as timeless truth.

Ask the writer directly how they source information for a typical article. Do they subscribe to databases or industry journals? Do they interview primary sources, or rely on secondary sources? How do they fact-check before submitting? A writer who describes a real process — mentioning specific databases, fact-checking tools or verification steps — is more reliable than one who says "I research thoroughly." The detail matters.

If the work touches on regulated fields (health, finance, legal, construction), cross-check whether claims align with official guidance. For instance, if they've written about employment law, does it match CCMA guidance or the Labour Relations Act? Mistakes in specialised content are often caught too late.

Testing their process before you pay for the full project

Don't commit to a big order on faith. Offer a trial piece — a single article or short-form content on a topic close to your actual brief — and treat it as a real audition.

When you receive the draft, check:

• Whether sources are named and traceable. Can you verify the facts without hunting?
• The writer's handling of edge cases. If they claim something is "always" or "never" true, do they have evidence?
• How they cite or link to sources. Some writers embed links; others list sources at the foot. Either works if it's transparent.
• Whether the tone and research depth match your brief. A blog post for a niche B2B audience demands different rigour than a listicle.

Ask them to send you a brief summary of their research before they write, showing what sources they plan to use. A good writer will do this; it also lets you catch any gaps or outdated angles before the work begins.

For ongoing content, agree upfront on a fact-checking step. Does the writer run drafts through a tool like Copyscape? Do they cross-reference claims against industry bodies or official sites? Are you approving final work before it goes live? These checkpoints cost time but prevent damage.

References and registrations

Ask for contact details of at least two past clients — ideally in fields similar to yours — and phone them. Don't email. Ask whether the writer met deadlines, whether the content required heavy fact-checking revisions, and whether they followed a research process or appeared to improvise.

If the writer holds relevant credentials — a journalism qualification, a background in the field they write about, or membership of a professional body — ask to see proof. It's not a guarantee of accuracy, but it signals investment in standards.

On Strove, you can see verified writers' ratings and past client feedback. Filter for those with strong reviews specifically mentioning research quality or accuracy. Serious writers build their reputation on this; those with detailed, credible testimonials are likelier to maintain standards.