References and Sources | The Useful Site

Different tools need different evidence. This page lists the types of sources I prefer and the organisations commonly used when checking calculations and explanations.

It is not a claim that every organisation below endorses The Useful Site. A source is used only where it is relevant to the particular page.

Government, law and public information

GOV.UK — legislation, public services, tax, benefits, transport and official guidance.
HM Revenue & Customs — tax rates, National Insurance, allowances and official calculation rules.
Office for National Statistics — UK statistical data and definitions.
Information Commissioner's Office — UK privacy, data protection, cookies and electronic communications guidance.
Planning Portal — the official England and Wales guide to planning permission and building regulations.
Health and Safety Executive — guidance on working at height, hazardous materials and safe working practice.
Food Standards Agency — food and drink safety advice, including caffeine.
Gambling Commission — regulation of lotteries, prize draws and gambling in Great Britain.
GambleAware — free confidential advice and support on gambling harm, including the National Gambling Helpline.

Money and consumer finance

Bank of England — interest rates, inflation and monetary information.
MoneyHelper — impartial UK guidance on borrowing, pensions, budgeting and financial decisions.
Financial Conduct Authority — regulated financial services and consumer information.

Health and wellbeing

NHS — UK public health information and guidance for patients.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence — evidence-based recommendations and standards.
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities — public-health resources and data.
World Health Organization — the international BMI classification and related public health definitions.

Technology and computing

Microsoft Learn — official Windows, networking, PowerShell and product documentation.
US National Institute of Standards and Technology — cybersecurity, measurement and technical standards.
RFC Editor — published internet standards and protocol specifications.
Manufacturer documentation — used for hardware-specific behaviour, limits and specifications where appropriate.
Microsoft Support — official documentation for Windows behaviour cited on the technology pages.
National Cyber Security Centre — UK guidance on backup, logging, resilience and ransomware.
Information Commissioner's Office — data protection, retention and security obligations.
Ofcom — UK communications regulator — broadband and mobile coverage, speeds and spectrum.
NIST Computer Security Resource Center — US standards body publications widely used as technical references for security and networking.
Internet Engineering Task Force — the RFC series defining internet protocols and addressing.

Gardening, weather and the environment

Royal Horticultural Society — gardening practice, plant care and horticultural guidance.
Met Office — UK weather, climate terminology and observational information.
Environment Agency — environmental and water-related information in England.
RSPCA — animal welfare guidance, including the needs of fish and other kept animals.

Travel and transport

GOV.UK driving and transport guidance — legal requirements, vehicle information and road-use guidance.
National Highways — England's strategic-road information.
Transport operators and official tariff pages — used where a calculator depends on a particular charge or rule.

Forensic science

Peer-reviewed forensic science and entomology papers — used for development thresholds, regression methods and scientific limitations.
Forensic Science Regulator — standards and quality requirements for forensic science in England and Wales.
NIST Forensic Science — research, standards and measurement resources.

Standards

BSI, ISO and other standards bodies — used where a published standard underpins terminology or method.
Standards may be protected by copyright or require purchase. A page may explain the relevant calculation without reproducing a standard in full.

How links are chosen

I prefer the original organisation or publication over a secondary summary. A source must support the statement or method being discussed. Links may change, and a reference can become outdated even when the page remains online.

Found a newer or more appropriate source? Please send it through the Contact page.