Editorial policy

These standards apply to everything published across Idle & Awake. Each site adds rules of its own: the Essays editorial policy, the Blog editorial policy, how Tools are verified and how Time calculates. If something we publish falls short, we treat it as an error and fix it.

1. Sources come first

• Every essay and answer cites at least two sources, listed at the end of the post.
• We prefer primary sources: peer-reviewed studies, official statistics, company filings, books and first-hand accounts.
• Every number must come from a listed source. We round honestly and say “about” when we do.
• When research is disputed or has failed to replicate, we say so.

2. Quotes and real cases

• A quote is used only when we can trace it to the speaker’s own writing, a recording or a reliable contemporary source. Popular misattributions are left out entirely.
• Stories are about real, documented people, companies or studies. We leave out details we could not confirm, even when they are widely repeated.
• We do not write about the private lives, health or controversies of real people.

3. Tools and calculations

• Every calculator shows the formula it uses and is tested against worked examples before it goes live.
• Time tools use the IANA time-zone database and standard astronomical formulas.
• Results are for general information. Before you rely on one for money, taxes, health or legal matters, check it with a qualified professional.

4. What we won’t claim

• No guarantees of success, income or returns.
• No health or therapy claims — nothing here cures, heals or treats anything.
• No investment tips. Money posts explain general principles, never what to buy or sell.
• No politics or religion, and no content built around identity groups.

5. How AI is used

We use AI tools to help gather research and draft posts, and to help design the information graphics inside them. Every draft then goes through automated checks against these rules — sources, quotes against a verified list, banned claims, numbers in graphics against the sources, length and duplication — and a separate review pass. Drafts that fail are rewritten or dropped, never published as they are. Published posts are reviewed regularly. Each post notes that it was drafted with AI assistance. When a post has a header photo, it comes from a free stock photo library and is credited on the post.

6. Corrections

If we get something wrong, we fix it and update the post’s date. Significant corrections are noted at the end of the post. Report an error at pp.idleawake@gmail.com.

7. Advertising and affiliates

Ads are placed automatically by Google AdSense. Some posts and tools link to related books or products through the Amazon Associates program; we only recommend things that are relevant, and we would recommend them without the link. Advertisers and affiliate partners have no influence on what we publish.