How to write a source note for a statistic copied across many blogs

A statistic copied across many blogs needs a source note that separates the original source from repeated mentions.

The common failure is citation drift. One article quotes a number, another repeats it, a third summarizes the repeat, and soon the statistic appears everywhere with no clear original measurement. Search results can make the number look established because many pages repeat it, but repetition is not evidence.

Start by finding the earliest controlled source you can: a report, dataset, regulator page, academic paper, company filing, survey methodology page, or official release. Then record what the source actually measured. A number may refer to one country, one quarter, one survey panel, one product category, or one definition that later blogs quietly generalize.

A useful note says: original source, measurement date, population or scope, exact wording, and whether later pages are only repeats. If the original cannot be found, say that. A cautious sentence is better than a confident sentence attached to a chain of copies.

When the statistic is not central, it may be enough to say “widely repeated, original source not confirmed.” When it drives a decision, remove it until the original source or a stronger substitute is found. The reader should not have to guess whether the number is measured, repeated, estimated, or marketing copy.

How to write a source note for a statistic copied across many blogs

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