deHype terminology

Claim audit

The comparison between what a public article implies and what the evidence directly supports.

What it means

Definition

Claim audit. The claim audit separates the headline claim from the underlying study findings. It looks for exaggeration, missing caveats, causal overreach and unsupported practical advice.

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

A claim audit may find that an article turns a biomarker result into a treatment implication.