Which practice directly supports credibility and authority of factual claims?

• A. Removing all citations to simplify reading.
• B. Increasing ad density.
• C. Citations and references.
• D. Using ambiguous language.

Answer: (C)

Citations and references directly support credibility and authority of factual claims. When a claim is tied to a specific source, readers can verify the information, examine the original context, and judge the reliability of the evidence. This practice shows that the author has backed up statements with verifiable data or expert analysis, which strengthens trust and demonstrates scholarly rigor. It also gives credit to the original researchers and allows readers to explore further details if they wish. In contrast, removing citations leaves claims uncheckable, while other issues like distracting ads or ambiguous language undermine clarity and weaken perceived trust.