---
{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "id": "DR-004",
  "title": "Rule of Uncertainty",
  "summary": "Missing and estimated values remain distinguishable.",
  "enforcement": "automated",
  "htmlUrl": "https://lanej.io/viewrule/rules/dr-004/",
  "markdownUrl": "https://lanej.io/viewrule/rules/dr-004/index.md",
  "source": "docs/design-rules/DR-004-missing-estimated-values.md",
  "sourceSHA256": "bb8aa841e9d0ba9b2510c1730df2b0ecc6c1fe5e9e8c5d1524f23df645b5cc82"
}
---

# DR-004 — Rule of Uncertainty

**Principle:** Missing and estimated values remain distinguishable.

**Requirement:** Missing, unavailable, and suppressed values must remain distinct
from observed zero. Forecasts, estimates, and measured values must be visibly
distinguishable. Disclose interpolation across missing observations and material
omissions or truncation. Show supplied uncertainty when it affects interpretation.

**Why:** A continuous line or an apparently complete table must not imply evidence
that does not exist.

**Application:** A gap or labeled missing value is valid. Connecting observations
across a gap requires an explicit indication that intervening values are missing.
Do not invent an uncertainty interval when the underlying data provides none.