We don’t do a lot of fact-checking per se here at Dragonfly. Only one of our clients specifically asks for the service. But in a sense, good copy editors are always fact-checking, whether they call it that or not. That’s because we take an objective — even skeptical — approach to the material we review.

Factual inconsistencies make us flinch — until we query them. Proper names make us suspicious — until we confirm their treatment and spelling. Top 10 lists make us twitch — until we count a full 10 items.

If you’d like to expand your understanding of fact-checking, check out Gerri Berendzen’s recent post on the ACES website. Gerri is a member of the ACES board and a passionate believer in the difference editors can make in the quality — and veracity — of the text they review.

If you want to dive even deeper, another great resource is The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking. The author, Brooke Borel, gives practical advice for fact-checking and the delicate relationship between writers, editors, and sources.

Enjoy these resources. And keep it real — in life, and in the material you copyedit.