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Understand the relationship

A Material Connection Needs an Understandable Explanation

Explain the relationship a reader may not expect.

Independent educational journal ยท October 7, 2026

Blank cards connected by blue cord beside a navy notebook; a fictional editorial illustration.

A useful distinction

Compensation or another benefit can affect how a reader evaluates a recommendation. FTC guidance discusses making relevant connections clear in its U.S. context. The wording needs the actual facts of the relationship; a generic phrase should not imply something untrue.

Put it into practice

For a fictional draft, describe what the publisher receives and when. Ask whether a new reader could understand the connection without opening a separate policy page. Use current applicable guidance for the real jurisdiction and context rather than treating the draft as a universal legal template.

Sources and further reading