Lesson 6 · Sources and trust
Use Claude’s search and connectors carefully
Learn the difference between public web search, uploaded files, and workplace connectors—then verify before using the answer.
Primary source
Anthropic's official Enable and use web search says you can ask Claude to “Search the web” or “Use web search.” Anthropic's connectors guide explains that connectors can extend Claude to approved services and may allow restricted actions such as searching and summarizing without sending messages.
The one idea
Claude may answer from its general knowledge, the public web, a file you uploaded, or a connected workplace tool. For accounting work, always ask: where did this answer come from?
When to use each source
Use web search for…
- Recent public information.
- Finding official pages.
- Checking whether guidance changed.
Use uploaded files for…
- Summarizing an approved document.
- Extracting dates and action items.
- Drafting from one file.
Use connectors for…
- Employer-approved work sources.
- Searching Drive, Microsoft 365, Slack, or similar tools.
- Pulling context without manual upload.
The verification triangle
For any researched answer, especially accounting or tax-related information, verify the source, date, and company policy before relying on it.
Practice: ask for web search safely
Paste this into Claude:
Search the web for an official source explaining what a bank reconciliation is. Prefer official or educational sources. Give me the source links and a beginner-friendly summary.
Then ask this follow-up:
Which source is most trustworthy, and why?
Practice: ask about connectors without assuming access
If her workplace has connectors, paste:
If you have access to approved workplace sources, search for our month-end close checklist. If you do not have access, tell me what access is missing. Do not guess.
This prompt is useful because it tells Claude not to invent a source it cannot actually see.
Accounting safety reminder
Public web results are not the same as company policy. If Claude finds a general answer online, still check the employer's procedures, accounting policy, client requirements, and any official regulatory source.
Quick check
Question: Claude gives an answer about a current tax deadline. What should you check before relying on it?
B = Whether it is short.
C = Source, date, and policy.
Memory practice
From memory, name the three source types from this lesson.
Show answer
Web search, uploaded files, and workplace connectors.
Ask the teaching agent
If she is unsure whether a Claude answer is trustworthy, ask: “Help me verify the source, date, and policy for this answer.”