Outdated authority
Cites a real expert or study whose conclusions have since been revised.
Specimen
As researchers concluded in their landmark 2004 study , low-fat diets are the most effective long-term strategy.
Fabricated passage — teaching example designed for clarity.
outdated authority — 2004 findings cited; subsequent research contradicts them
Dissection
As researchers concluded in their landmark 2004 study, low-fat diets are the most effective long-term strategy.
- study is real but old
- field has moved on
- reader can't know without checking
Field notes
- Family
- False authority
- Habitat
- health reporting, diet coverage, science journalism
- Frequency
- found in 8% of analyzed articles
- Confused with
- Credential mismatch , Misleading statistic
In the wild
"A foundational 1998 study established that this treatment is safe at these doses."
Health section, national daily, January 2026
"Economists in the 1990s demonstrated conclusively that this approach reduces inflation."
Economic commentary, financial publication, March 2026
Why it works
A real citation feels like solid ground. The date is easy to miss, and checking whether conclusions still hold requires effort most readers won't invest.
Counter-move
Check the date. Ask: is this still the current consensus?
See it flagged in real articles while you read.
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