Provide three heuristics to quickly spot fake news in online headlines.

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Quickly spotting fake news in online headlines relies on checking credible cues that often signal misinformation. The best choice combines four practical checks: look for sensational or alarmist language that tries to provoke an emotional reaction; verify the claim by cross-checking with credible sources; inspect the author and the domain to assess trustworthiness; and seek corroboration from independent outlets to see if reputable reporters are reporting the same story. These checks work together to flag headlines that may be misleading from multiple angles—the headline’s tone, the source’s reliability, the author’s legitimacy, and independent confirmation. The other options miss one or more of these important signals: one suggests too few checks or relies on a single cue, while another omits the value of comparing with independent outlets. Using the full set of cues gives a more reliable, quick way to assess a headline’s credibility.