PILLAR 3, TRUST SIGNALS · 3.1 Authorship & E-E-A-TMediumInferred

Claims without sources

Assertions of fact with no sourcing are hard to trust and easy to get wrong. Citing reputable sources shows the work and supports the claims.

What it is

Assertions lack citations.

Why it matters

Unsupported claims reduce trust and verifiability.

How to fix it

Cite reputable sources.

How to find it on your site

  1. Read the page for factual claims, statistics and specifics.
  2. Check whether each is sourced or verifiable.
  3. Add citations to reputable, primary sources.
  4. Remove or soften claims you cannot support.

Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors

Sourced claims build trust and accuracy, both part of E-E-A-T. Unsupported assertions weaken credibility.

Impact

Low-medium. Inferred.

Evidence

Accuracy/sourcing support trust. Google, Search Quality Rater Guidelines (PDF); Google Search Central, Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content