deHype terminology
Caveat
A limitation or caution that changes how confidently a result should be interpreted.
What it means
Definition
Caveat. Caveats are not minor footnotes. In evidence reporting, they often determine whether a finding is ready for action, only hypothesis-generating or simply interesting early science.
What it can tell you
It can help explain why a report is cautious even when the underlying study is real.
What it cannot tell you
It cannot replace reading the source evidence, methods and limitations.
Headline trap
Why this matters in headlines
Small sample size, surrogate outcomes and conflicts of interest can all be key caveats.