Archive link or live source: which one should a correction note cite?

Correction notes need both accountability and future readability. This guide explains when to cite the live source, when to add an archived copy, and how to avoid making an archive link look more authoritative than the original.

## Use the live source first
The live source should remain the primary citation when it is stable, public, and still contains the corrected claim. Readers should see the publisher’s current version before they see a stored copy.

## Add an archive when the page changes often
Use an archived copy when a page has changing tables, changelog entries, release notes, or support wording that may disappear. The archive is evidence of what was visible at the time, not a replacement for the current source.

## State what changed
A correction note should say whether the source changed, the interpretation changed, or the earlier note quoted the wrong part. Without this distinction, readers cannot tell whether the source became different or the writer made a mistake.

## Avoid archive-only citations
Archive-only links are hard for readers to trust when the original still exists. Use archive-only citations only when the live source is removed, blocked, or no longer carries the relevant information.

Archive link or live source: which one should a correction note cite?

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