What makes an authoritative source

Are you using information for a research assignment? For example, if you are researching about the importance of bilingual education, you would want to use sources written by experts in the educational fields. Likewise, if you were searching for information about how to fix your vehicle, you might consult a local mechanic because he or she is knowledgeable about cars.

For example, you might use Yelp to read reviews of restaurants in your area. In this case, it doesn't matter if the reviews at Yelp are written by average people who are not "experts" in the restaurant industry. This openly licensed content allows others to cite, share, or modify this content, with credit to TCC Library. It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older.

You should also keep an eye out for commercial sites that are trying to sell you something. While companies and businesses can be an authority in their subject matter, they may present information in a way that puts their product in a positive light.

It's as true for content marketing professionals as it is for students, journalists, and all other writers: The quality of our work hinges on the authority of our sources. Untrustworthy, biased, or dated sources can yield inaccurate data and misinformation that can undermine the authority of your brand.

On the other hand, respected, authoritative sources can boost the credibility of your content. Credible content, in turn, can establish your brand as an expert in your industry or field.

Coral Ouellette is a writer who specializes in digital marketing and travel. In her spare time, you can find her planning trips and playing fetch with her Aussiedoodle, Elliot. Primary sources articulate the law. Primary sources include the following: Constitutions, treaties and other binding international agreements, statutes as enacted, statutes as codified, agency regulations, court decisions, decisions by agency adjudicative bodies, executive orders, presidential proclamations, and certain government orders such as some military orders, including some verbal ones.

Court decisions, often referred to as case law, have their own hierarchy of most authoritative to least authoritative. Within the federal system, case law from the United States Supreme Court is the most authoritative source of law on an issue. Next would be case law from the federal circuit court of appeals, then decisions by federal district courts.

While primary sources articulate the law, secondary sources analyze the law. When writing a memo or a brief, you must rely on relevant primary sources. However, secondary sources are referred if no primary sources exists or adding support to the secondary authority.

The first important source is legislation. Legislation relates to the making of law by a competent authority. The law is found in statutes enacted by Parliament and provincial legislatures, and by-laws. It also relates to proclamations and regulations made by subsidiary bodies like the President and ministers. Authoritative references are archival, corroborated, and sanctioned.

This would apply to books and magazines in a public library, official government documents, and bona fide electronic document repositories, such as the on- line research archives of academic institutions or professional organizations.

The user experience combined with the extensive precious correct information is what makes a site authoritative. A one way backlink from authority sites will definitely help your site get noticed by users and search engines, and increase traffic to your site.

But these sites are extremely choosy. Authoritative: academic sources identify the qualifications and expertise of the writer…. To identify an academic source, apply the criteria listed below:.

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