air of truth

USAGE SUMMARY

"air of truth" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about the credibility or authenticity of something or someone. For example: "The witness's statement had an air of truth to it that the jury found convincing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"The Air of Truth: Plantation Emotions and the Staging of Reform," SEA/OIEACH conference (2015).

University of California, Berkeley

The Republican's rhetoric about the black community has an air of truth, Whitlow said.

The Guardian

In "The Iceman Cometh," as in "The Weir," a bunch of barflies watch their pipe dreams go up in smoke as they're exposed to the air of truth.

The New Yorker

In her you can see what Mr. Taylor may have meant about dancing's deceptive air of truth, as well as extraordinary nuances that can be brought to choreography by even the most plainspoken-looking dancers, even in the matter of something so simple as an essential walk.

The New York Times - Arts

For instance, when he overcomes his scruples to become the lover of Padlock's aunt, "the mushroom of his pent-up desire had found a weak spot in the layers of hypocritical decency and had pushed into the turbulent air of truth, risk, personal satisfaction, revenge".

The New York Times - Books

But I guess she figured I could deliver a falsehood with a convincing air of truth.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It lends an air of unedited truth to the project, and it adds power to the final third of the book, where Karl Ove and his brother Yngve are saddled with the grim job of cleaning the house in which their father drank himself to death.

The Guardian - Books

But there is something wrong with using a politically opportunistic reluctance to prosecute as a reason to avoid a fact-finding commission -- avoiding, in other words, a public airing of the truth.

The Washington Post

Common sense dictates that all Americans, even the President himself, should support a vigorous investigation and airing of the truth.

Huffington Post

The sort-of truth?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

When peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014, there was no airing of "hard truths" on this level.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "air of truth" to describe impressions or qualities that suggest something is believable or authentic, even if it cannot be definitively proven.

Common error

Avoid using "air of truth" when you mean to state something is a confirmed fact. The phrase suggests an appearance of truth, not necessarily proven truth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "air of truth" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It characterizes something by imbuing it with the qualities of being true or believable, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "air of truth" is a noun phrase used to describe the impression or semblance of truth. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse sources, particularly News & Media. While not extremely frequent, the phrase holds a valuable place in conveying a sense of believability or authenticity, whether in academic writing, journalistic pieces, or everyday communication. While grammatically correct, be cautious of the context and use the phrase when expressing an appearance of truth rather than definitive factual accuracy. Related phrases like "air of sincerity" or "ring of truth" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

air of sincerity

Focuses specifically on the genuineness and honesty conveyed.

air of reality

Emphasizes the sense of being grounded in actual fact and not fabricated.

air of honesty

Highlights the straightforward and truthful nature of something.

air of veracity

Stresses the accuracy and conformity to truth.

air of authenticity

Underscores the genuine and original quality, free from pretense.

ring of truth

Highlights the quality of sounding true or genuine.

semblance of truth

Suggests an outward appearance that resembles truth, without necessarily being true.

feeling of truth

Highlights a subjective sense or impression of truthfulness.

hint of truth

Suggests that there is a small amount of truth present.

sense of truth

Captures an intuitive understanding or recognition of something true.

FAQs

How can I use "air of truth" in a sentence?

Use "air of truth" to describe something that seems genuine or believable. For example: "His testimony had an "air of truth" that convinced the jury."

What is an alternative to "air of truth"?

Alternatives include "air of sincerity", "air of reality", or "ring of truth", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "air of truth" or "ring of truth"?

"Air of truth" and "ring of truth" are similar, but "air of truth" describes an overall impression of truthfulness, while "ring of truth" suggests something sounds authentic or genuine. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.

What does it mean when something has an "air of truth"?

It means that something gives the impression of being true or genuine. It suggests a believable quality, even if there's no definitive proof.