By Iliass El Barhoumi · Published · Last updated
How is citable specifics scored?
Citable specifics is worth 8 of 100 points, 8 of the 60 in the Selected lever, which asks “Is there a passage worth quoting?” The engine scores it with these rules:
- Counted: percentages, prices, years, other numbers and capitalised named entities.
- Scored as specifics per 100 words, with full points at 8 per 100 and proportionally fewer below it.
- A density rather than a count, so a long page cannot pass by being long, and padding a short page with numbers that do not belong is visible to a reader.
What does a pass and a fail look like?
| Verdict | Example |
|---|---|
| Pass | “Pulling a double shot takes 25 to 30 seconds at 9 bar, using 18 grams of coffee.” Four specifics in 17 words, each one something an answer can quote and a reader can check. |
| Fail | “Pulling a good shot takes some practice, and the right amount of time and coffee depends on your setup.” True, but there is nothing in it worth citing. |
How do you fix citable specifics?
In the order worth doing it:
- Replace each vague quantity (“many”, “a while”, “affordable”) with the real number, where you know it.
- Name the product, version, standard or organisation instead of saying “a popular tool”.
- Date claims that can go stale, such as prices and statistics.
- Do not add numbers that are not true or relevant: the goal is checkable claims, not digits.
A scan reports the evidence behind the verdict, such as the sections, paragraphs or tokens that failed, and the fix prompt hands the same evidence to a coding agent so it can make the change for you.
Related checks in the Selected lever
- What is answer-first writing? — 13 points
- What makes a passage extractable by an AI engine? — 10 points
- Do headings matter for AI search? — 9 points
- Does formatting change whether AI quotes your page? — 9 points
- Does an FAQ section help you get cited? — 7 points
- Which schema types help with AI citation? — 4 points
Frequently asked questions
Does adding statistics improve AI citations?
Adding true, relevant figures helps, because a specific claim is what an answer engine can attribute to you. Invented or decorative statistics do not, and they cost trust with readers who check.
What counts as a specific in this check?
Percentages, prices, years, other numbers and capitalised named entities such as products, companies and standards, counted per 100 words of main content.