Examining critically involves a thorough process of vetting, analyzing, and sifting. Vetting is the process of carefully examining something or someone in order to assess their suitability for a particular purpose. Analyzing is the process of breaking down a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it. Sifting is the process of separating out the important elements from the unimportant elements. Together, these three processes form the basis of examining something critically.