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Dive Deeper

What the Numbered Citation Chips Mean

Citation numbers in a Dive Deeper report are not arbitrary — here is exactly what they represent and why the numbering stays stable.

By Headlinne Editorial Team · Updated on

One number, one source

Each number corresponds to exactly one entry in the Sources section — the article you originally opened Dive Deeper on is always source number one, with every other source numbered in the order it was added to the research.

Numbers stay stable as you keep researching

When a follow-up question pulls in new sources, they are added with new numbers rather than reshuffling the ones already assigned — so a citation you noted earlier in your session always points to the same source later on.

Color and styling signal it is interactive

The citation chips use Headlinne's accent color and a distinct pill shape so they read as clickable at a glance, without needing an explicit "click here" instruction.

Not the same as a footnote count

A high citation number does not mean a claim is "less important" — it simply reflects when that source was added to the research, which can be early or late depending on how your dive and any follow-ups unfolded.

Key takeaways

  • Every citation number maps to exactly one entry in the Sources section.
  • The article you started from is always source number one.
  • Numbers never get reassigned — new sources from follow-ups are simply appended.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the original article always source 1?

It anchors the research and stays a fixed reference point throughout your session, so you always know exactly where your dive started.

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