Our Editorial Code
These are the rules every article on Degus International is written and edited against. They are not aspirations for a distant future; they are the checklist we use before pressing publish.
Companies in our articles
- Some articles mention or link to companies and services; a mention describes what is on offer and is never a guarantee of quality.
- Readers should compare any named provider with alternatives and read its terms before signing up.
- We do not rank providers or name a "best" product for everyone, because the right choice depends on the reader.
Facts and figures
- A number appears only if it can be traced to a public, checkable source. If it cannot, we make the point without it.
- We never invent studies, statistics, quotes or expert opinions, and we do not attribute words to real people who did not say them.
- When information is uncertain or disputed, the article says so instead of choosing the most convenient version.
Money, law and other high-stakes subjects
- Articles on saving, investing, borrowing, insurance or tax are general background and carry a short note saying so.
- We do not publish expected returns, guaranteed outcomes or fee figures for specific products.
- Where rules differ by country, state or contract, we point that out and encourage readers to check the version that applies to them.
- Where a decision could have serious consequences, we suggest speaking to a qualified professional.
Writing
- Plain language first; technical terms are explained when they first appear.
- Risks, costs and downsides belong in the main body, not only in a closing caveat.
- Headlines describe what the article delivers. We avoid clickbait and exaggerated promises.
- Writers use pen names and do not claim titles, licences or qualifications.
Links
- Internal links point readers to related explainers when they genuinely add context.
- Links to other websites lead to businesses we do not control, so check their conditions for yourself.
Mistakes and updates
- Factual errors are corrected as soon as they are confirmed, and significant fixes are noted on the updates page.
- Popular guides are reread periodically and refreshed when products or rules change.
How this connects to the rest of the site
Our approach to sourcing is described in more detail on How We Verify, and the broader reasoning behind these rules is on The Thinking Behind It. If you believe an article falls short of this code, please let us know. Holding ourselves to it in public is part of the point.
Checking a claim
What happens to a fact before it reaches the page
Each statement in an article passes through the same short sequence, which also makes it easy to recheck later.
Trace it
We find where the information originally comes from: a manual, a regulator's page, a contract or an official filing.
Date it
The publication or update date of that source is noted, because a correct fact from an old page can still mislead.
Try it
Steps involving settings or menus are walked through on a real device or account wherever that is practical.
Word it carefully
Uncertain points are written as uncertain, and anything that depends on location says so in the same sentence.
Hand it over
Someone other than the writer compares the draft line by line with the sources before it is published.
Source notes
The rules of thumb we write by
A few standing decisions about what is allowed into an article and what stays out.
Primary documents outrank summaries, press releases and forum threads.
Marketing claims about speed, savings or returns are reported as claims, not as facts.
Money articles explain concepts and never suggest a specific product, fund or lender.
A company named in an article is described rather than endorsed, so readers still compare offers themselves.
Legal questions get an honest 'it depends where you are' rather than a blanket answer.