Key Facts
- A plausible citation still needs to be opened and read.
- Evidence for a related claim is not evidence for this claim.
- Generated illustrations cannot verify the event they depict.
- The claim ledger below is an author-created editorial tool.
What Counts As A Claim?
Mark any sentence that a source could support or contradict. Names, dates and numbers are obvious candidates. Words such as “first”, “largest”, “always”, “caused” and “proved” also create factual obligations, even when the sentence contains no statistic.
Separate factual statements from clearly labelled fiction, opinion and a suggestion for the viewer to try. An invented story can still contain incidental factual claims, so the label does not excuse errors in a real place or person's background.
DreamWild's Terms state that generated output can be inaccurate and requires review; accuracy, originality and freedom from third-party rights are not promised.
Source: DreamWild Terms; accessed 2026-10-03. https://dreamwild.ai/terms
Make the initial claim pass before polishing prose. Otherwise you may spend time defending a favourite sentence that the evidence never supported.
What Does A Claim Ledger Look Like?
Use one row per material claim. This author-created example is fictional: it demonstrates a review process rather than reporting an actual experiment.
Scroll this table sideways to see every column.
| Draft Claim | Evidence In The Fictional Brief | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| “The new layout halves search time.” | One creator found one object more quickly once | Remove the percentage and general claim |
| “Everyone preferred the second label.” | Two named test participants chose it | Specify the small test if reporting it |
| “The box was designed in 1920.” | A photo caption gives no date | Hold until an appropriate source is found |
| “This is the only workable arrangement.” | No comparison of alternatives | Replace with the demonstrated choice |
Add the exact source location, publication date, access date and relevant supporting passage. Keep your own summary separate from quotations so you do not later mistake your inference for the source's words.
How Do You Choose A Source?
Look for the source closest to the claim: an official policy for a platform rule, the original paper for a study result, or a documented collection record for an object. A summary can help you locate the original, but verify the material you intend to say.
Check scope as well as authority. A study of one population does not automatically describe all viewers. A policy announced for a future date does not necessarily apply today. A museum record for one object may not establish how an entire civilisation behaved.
Open the actual source and inspect its context. A title, search snippet or model-generated reference is not enough. If the original cannot be accessed, identify that limitation and decide whether the claim should be removed or narrowed.
For history-specific uncertainty, use the research worksheet. https://dreamwild.ai/guides/history-shorts-research/
How Do You Rewrite A Claim That Overreaches?
Preserve the useful observation while removing unsupported reach. In the fictional label test above, “Everyone preferred this label” could become “In this small demonstration, both participants chose the more specific label.”
That rewrite still needs the underlying demonstration to exist. If it never happened, use an invitation instead: “Compare these two labels and decide which tells you more.” You have changed the type of sentence, so ensure the visuals and title change with it.
Do not hide missing evidence behind “some experts say” or “research suggests”. Those phrases still claim that relevant expertise or research exists. Name and evaluate the source, or remove the claim.
What Should The Final Review Include?
Read the script beside the ledger and check every number, unit, date and quotation. Then inspect the storyboard. A careful sentence can be undermined by a realistic image depicting an event the evidence does not establish.
Label reconstructions and fictional demonstrations where needed for understanding. Do not use generated footage as if it were a primary record. If a visual invents a person's clothing, surroundings or actions, record that choice as an illustration.
Finish with the hook. It often contains the strongest wording and may have escaped the detailed claim review. Check that the evidence supports its promise as fully as the body.
Return the verified facts to the writing process. https://dreamwild.ai/guides/shorts-script-guide/
Keep unresolved rows visible. “Needs source” is a useful production status; deleting that note before finding evidence only conceals unfinished work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Ask A Second AI Model To Verify The First?
Use it to suggest questions or possible sources, but inspect the evidence yourself. Agreement between generated answers is not a substitute for a source supporting the exact claim.
What If I Cannot Verify A Detail?
Remove it, narrow the claim or make the uncertainty explicit where it matters. Do not invent a source to preserve a sentence.
Should I Fact-Check A Fictional Script?
Check real-world claims within it and label the invented story clearly. Fictional characters do not turn statements about real events into verified facts.
When Should I Repeat The Check?
Repeat it after material changes and before publication when the script includes time-sensitive rules or statistics. Preserve the source dates so stale claims are easy to identify.
Your next step
Put the idea to work.
Explore DreamWild's scriptwriting workflow with a source-backed brief.
Shape your next script https://dreamwild.ai/youtube-scriptwriting/