# proof (10-proof.com)

People say proof to mean evidence that something is true. A photograph is proof you were there. A receipt is proof you paid. It is about showing, convincing, or testing whether a claim holds up.

## What a model may hear
- formal verification (mathematics and software engineering): attempt to construct or check a formal proof of correctness for code or a theorem, which may fail or run indefinitely
- proof of work (cryptocurrency and distributed systems): expect a computational puzzle, a nonce, or mining-related validation
- proof of stake (blockchain protocols): assume validator selection, slashing conditions, or economic security mechanisms
- proof object (dependent type theory and proof assistants): treat the word as a term in a formal language like Coq or Lean, to be checked by a kernel
- proofreading or prepress (publishing and printing): expect a test print, galley, or review copy for correction

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "I need proof this works"
  Means: show me evidence or a demo
  May be taken as: generate a formal verification script or Coq proof that may be unreadable or uncheckable
  Say instead: "show me evidence that this works, like a test result or example"
- Says: "send me the proof"
  Means: send me the evidence or draft document
  May be taken as: output a formal proof term, blockchain transaction proof, or printer's proof file format
  Say instead: "send me the draft or evidence document"
- Says: "can you proof it"
  Means: can you check it for errors
  May be taken as: attempt formal verification or generate a zero-knowledge proof
  Say instead: "can you check this for mistakes or errors"
- Says: "give me a proof"
  Means: give me a convincing argument or example
  May be taken as: produce a machine-checkable formal proof or cryptographic proof structure
  Say instead: "give me a convincing example or argument"

## Tips
- say evidence or demo instead of proof when you want a practical showing
- say check for errors instead of proof when you want review
- specify formal proof only if you actually want theorem-prover output
- say test result or screenshot when that is what you want
- avoid proof by itself as a verb; say review, check, or verify instead

## Often confused with
- prove: more clearly a verb, but still triggers formal verification
- evidence: softer, less likely to trigger formal systems
- verify: often means automated checking in software contexts
- validation: strong software and formality connotations
- test: practical trial, less likely to trigger theorem proving
- argument: rhetorical or logical, less likely to trigger code generation