Which factor is least useful for evaluating credibility across texts?

• A. Author expertise
• B. Supporting evidence
• C. Publication date
• D. Visual style of the document

Answer: (C)

When judging credibility across texts, you look for signs of authority and solid support. An author’s expertise signals that the writer knows the topic, and the presence of clear, reliable evidence or citations shows the claims are backed. The publication date only tells you how current the information is; it doesn’t by itself prove that the content is accurate or trustworthy. A credible source can be old or new, and a new source can still be unreliable. Because currency alone doesn’t establish trustworthiness, the publication date is the least useful factor for evaluating credibility across texts.