Editorial policy

Last updated: November 2026

Howcompass publishes practical, step-by-step guides. This page explains where they come from, what review they get, and how we handle mistakes.

Who writes the guides

Guides are produced by the Howcompass editorial team, with drafts, research assistance, and illustrations from contributing writers and software tools. Every guide is reviewed and edited by a person before it is published. The byline on an article names the author or team responsible for its current text.

How a guide is assembled

Each guide states the materials or prerequisites up front, then presents the work as numbered steps grouped into methods. Steps are written to be followed in order: one action per step, with the result made clear. Where a visual matters — a fold, a cut, a connection — we add an illustration or photograph and describe it in the alt text.

Claims that are not obvious from the procedure are backed by the sources listed at the end of the guide. We prefer primary sources: manufacturer documentation, standards bodies, government guidance, and peer-reviewed research. We link out with nofollow and do not accept payment for a placement.

What review means here

Editorial review checks that the steps are complete and ordered, that the materials list matches the procedure, that warnings appear before risky steps, and that references actually support the text. It does not mean a licensed professional supervised every sentence, and it is not a substitute for professional advice on health, money, electrical work, or anything else where a qualified local expert should be involved.

Independence and advertising

We do not publish sponsored guides, paid product rankings, or affiliate links dressed up as advice. If that ever changes, the disclosure will appear at the top of the affected page, not in a footnote.

Corrections

When a reader or editor finds an error, we fix the text rather than quietly deleting it. Significant changes — a wrong measurement, a missing safety step, a broken procedure — are logged on the corrections page. To report a problem, use the contact form and choose “Report an error in a guide”.

Images and quotations

Illustrations on this site are created for Howcompass. Photographs and quotations from other sources are used only where permission or a relevant exception applies, and are credited where required. If you believe something on the site infringes your rights, contact us and we will remove or replace it while we investigate.

Contact

Questions about this policy, or about a specific guide, go to the editorial inbox.