| name | cite-sources |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| description | Annotates agent output with inline source citations to eliminate hallucination risk. Ensures every metric, claim, and ticket reference is traceable to a specific data source.
|
| category | quality-gates |
| trigger | Final step before delivering any agent output |
| autonomy | autonomous |
| portability | universal |
| complexity | basic |
| type | evaluation |
| inputs | [{"name":"agent_output","type":"structured-text","required":true,"description":"The full text output to annotate with source citations"}] |
| outputs | [{"name":"cited_output","type":"structured-text","description":"The agent output with inline citations added after every metric, claim, and ticket reference"}] |
| tools_optional | [] |
| model_compatibility | ["claude","gpt-4","gemini","llama-3"] |
Cite Sources
Purpose
Ensures every claim, metric, and recommendation in an agent's output is traceable to a specific data source. Eliminates hallucination risk by enforcing citation discipline.
When to Use
Apply as the last quality step before delivering output, after self-check or evaluate-output. Particularly important for reports, stakeholder updates, and any output containing numbers or ticket references.
Method
-
Scan the output for every number, percentage, metric, ticket reference, date, and factual claim.
-
For each item, attach a source citation using one of these formats:
| Claim Type | Citation Format |
|---|
| Ticket counts | (source: query "sprint in openSprints() AND status = Done" returned N tickets) |
| Story points | (source: story points field on PROJ-123) |
| Percentages | (source: 18 done / 24 total = 75%) |
| PR/CI data | (source: PR #456, status: merged) |
| Dates | (source: sprint end date from tracker) |
| Recommendations | (based on: 3 tickets blocked >5 days) |
-
Citation placement — append inline after the claim:
Velocity: 34 SP (source: sum of story points on Done tickets in Sprint 1)
-
Unsourceable claims — if a claim cannot be traced to provided data:
- Mark it:
(unverified — no data source available)
- Or remove it and note: "Metric omitted: {what} — source data unavailable"
- Never leave an unsourced numeric claim in the output.
-
Citation density target: every numeric value and every factual assertion should have a citation. Narrative summaries and recommendations need at least one supporting citation.
Output Format
The original agent output with inline citations added. No structural changes to the report format — citations are appended inline.
Error Handling
- No data sources provided: Note "Citations cannot be verified — no source data available" at the top of the output. Pass through unchanged.
- Mixed sourced/unsourced: Cite what can be cited, mark the rest
(unverified). Never silently pass unsourced claims.
- Conflicting sources: If two data points disagree, note both: "Velocity: 34 SP (source A) vs 31 SP (source B) — discrepancy noted."
