avoid-hallucinating-specifics

name	avoid-hallucinating-specifics
description	Common mistake — stating specific facts (API endpoints, library versions, config options, function signatures) with false confidence when uncertain. Always flag uncertainty rather than guessing specifics.
category	common_mistakes

Avoid Hallucinating Specifics

High-risk categories for hallucination:

• Specific API endpoint URLs or request/response schemas.
• Library version numbers and feature availability per version.
• Names of real people, organizations, or publications.
• File paths and environment-specific configuration.

Prevention:

• If unsure of a specific value, say so explicitly.
• Recommend the user verify against official documentation.
• Use <version> or <your-endpoint> as placeholders rather than guessing.

Anti-pattern: Confidently stating a URL or function signature that sounds right but does not exist.