How claims are assessed

Fact-check rating scales compared

Last checked 6 November 2026 · 6 sources

Short answer

Fact-checkers do not share one scale. PolitiFact uses six ratings from True to Pants on Fire ¹. Africa Check uses named verdicts such as Correct, Mostly correct, Unproven, Misleading, Exaggerated, Understated and Incorrect ². Full Fact gives a written summary of each claim and its conclusion ³. The EFCSN Code asks members to publish any rating system they use ⁴. In ClaimReview markup the verdict text goes in a required field called alternateName ⁵.

PolitiFact scale: Six ratings, True to Pants on Fire ¹
Africa Check scale: Seven verdict labels plus Checked for multiple claims ²
Full Fact: Claims and conclusions summary, no labels shown on its method page ³
EFCSN rule: Members must publish their process, including any rating systems ⁴
ClaimReview field for the verdict: alternateName, required in Google's documentation ⁵

Why the scales differ

A rating scale turns a written finding into a short label. Each outlet writes its own labels and definitions. The EFCSN Code does not set a common scale. It asks members to publish the process they use to select and investigate claims, including any rating systems ⁴.

Schema.org, the shared vocabulary used for ClaimReview markup, leaves the wording to the publisher. Google's documentation lists alternateName as the required field for the rating and treats ratingValue, bestRating and worstRating as recommended numeric fields ⁵. So two outlets can rate the same claim with different words and different numbers ^5,6.

PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter

PolitiFact in the United States publishes six ratings in decreasing order of truthfulness ¹.

Rating	PolitiFact definition
True	The statement is accurate and there is nothing significant missing ¹
Mostly True	The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information ¹
Half True	The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context ¹
Mostly False	The statement contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression ¹
False	The statement is not accurate ¹
Pants on Fire	The statement is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim ¹

Africa Check verdicts

Africa Check rates claims against the best evidence publicly available at the time the claim was made. A lead researcher and two editors debate each rating and vote when they do not agree ².

Verdict	Africa Check definition
Correct	Accurate on the best public evidence available at the time, and leaves out nothing significant ²
Mostly correct	Contains elements of truth but is not entirely accurate or needs clarification ²
Unproven	Public evidence neither proves nor disproves the statement, and more research is needed ²
Misleading	Elements are accurate but presented in a way that misleads ²
Exaggerated	The claim exaggerates the facts ²
Understated	The claim understates the facts ²
Incorrect	Inaccurate on the best public evidence available at the time ²
Checked	Multiple claims have been fact-checked ²

Checkers that publish conclusions without labels

Full Fact in the United Kingdom does not describe a rating scale on its method page. Each article opens with a summary of the claims checked and the conclusions reached. Full Fact says it aims to guide readers through the evidence so they can make up their own mind about a claim ³.

This approach still fits ClaimReview, where the rating text is free wording chosen by the publisher ⁵. Schema.org defines ClaimReview as a fact-checking review of claims made or reported in a creative work ⁶.

How to read a rating across outlets

Read the outlet's own definition. Half True at PolitiFact and Mostly correct at Africa Check are written differently ^1,2.
Check the time frame. PolitiFact rates statements on what was known when they were made ¹. Africa Check uses the best evidence publicly available at the time the claim was made ².
Check what was rated. Google requires the claim in markup to be attributed to a distinct origin and the markup to match the page ⁵.
Look for corrections. The EFCSN Code asks members to keep a public record of corrections ⁴.

Common questions

What does Pants on Fire mean?

It is PolitiFact's lowest rating. PolitiFact defines it as a statement that is not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim ¹.

What is the difference between Misleading and Incorrect at Africa Check?

Misleading means elements of the claim are accurate but presented in a misleading way. Incorrect means the claim is inaccurate on the best public evidence available ².

Is there one global fact-check rating scale?

No. The EFCSN Code asks members to publish their own rating system ⁴, and ClaimReview leaves the rating wording to each publisher ⁵.

Why does Full Fact not give a rating?

Full Fact says each article sums up claims and conclusions at the top and aims to help readers reach their own view ³.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@theclaimregistry.com.

Sources

How fact-checkers assess a public claim
How professional fact-checkers pick a claim, gather evidence, ask the claimant, review the work and publish a verdict, under the IFCN and EFCSN codes.
ClaimReview markup explained
What the schema.org ClaimReview type is, its required fields, Google's eligibility rules, and Google's phase-out of ClaimReview in Search in 2026.
The IFCN Code of Principles explained
The five IFCN commitments for fact-checkers, how signatories are assessed and renewed, the US$350 fee, and how it compares with the EFCSN code.