alter the truth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "alter the truth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of changing or manipulating facts or reality, often in a negative context. Example: "Some politicians tend to alter the truth to gain public support."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

It won't alter the truth".

The Guardian

But it cannot alter the truth.

The Guardian

These facts, however, do not alter the truth of the scientists' claim that earthquakes are extremely rare there.

The New York Times

That the instigation of the violence in Charlottesville was exclusively at the hands of the neo-Nazis and neo-Confederates does not alter the truth that, historically, one side's violence produces another's.

The New Yorker

We alter the truth on paper so as to alter it in fact; we lie about our past and invent surrogate memories the better to make sense of our lives and live the life we know was truly ours.

The New York Times - Arts

But however he managed to alter the truth for himself, he could not alter it for his daughter — the sole family witness to the will it took for Tom to go on dying once his feet were on the ground.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It's easy to see why the film has altered the truth – the sense of security and order returning allows it to create a happy ending.

The Guardian - Film

By exercising such overarching editorial rights, large corporations that ought to bring us closer together as human beings through transparency, end up altering history, and altering the truth.

The Guardian - Opinion

The overriding test for humanitarian communicators is to remain relevant and effective to our increasingly discerning audience without altering the truth.

The Guardian

A sentence, or more accurately a position in a sentence, is held to be referentially transparent if terms or phrases in that position that refer to the same object can be freely substituted without altering the truth of the sentence.

SEP

If a different reason were given, it could have been guilty of altering the truth.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "alter the truth", consider the ethical implications of modifying information. Ensure that the context clearly indicates the purpose and extent of the alteration.

Common error

Avoid using "alter the truth" when a more precise term like "misrepresent" or "exaggerate" would more accurately describe the degree of deviation from the facts. Subtlety in wording can drastically change the perceived intent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "alter the truth" functions as a verb phrase where "alter" acts as the verb and "the truth" serves as the direct object. Ludwig AI validates its use, pointing out its role in describing the modification of facts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "alter the truth" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered expression used to convey the act of modifying facts, frequently with negative connotations. While not overly common, as indicated by Ludwig's analysis, it appears in diverse contexts, most notably in news, media, and scientific discussions. Ludwig AI states this phrase is correct and usable in written English. When employing this phrase, it's important to be mindful of the ethical weight and consider more precise alternatives if a nuanced expression is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

change the truth

Emphasizes the action of making the truth different.

modify the truth

Focuses on making partial alterations to the truth.

distort the truth

Highlights a twisting or misrepresentation of the truth.

manipulate the truth

Suggests skillful handling of the truth to achieve a specific goal.

bend the truth

Implies a slight deviation from the complete truth.

color the truth

Indicates adding bias or perspective to the truth.

adjust the truth

Focuses on small corrections or alterations to align with a specific viewpoint.

rewrite the truth

Emphasizes creating a completely new narrative of events.

contort the truth

Suggests twisting the truth into an unnatural or forced shape.

falsify the truth

Highlights making something untrue appear as the truth.

FAQs

What does "alter the truth" mean?

"Alter the truth" means to change or modify facts, often to mislead or deceive. It suggests a deliberate act of making the truth different from what it actually is.

How can I use "alter the truth" in a sentence?

You might say, "The politician was accused of trying to "alter the truth" to gain support" or "The company was found guilty of "altering the truth" in its financial statements".

What are some synonyms for "alter the truth"?

Synonyms include "distort the truth", "manipulate the truth", "change the truth", or "bend the truth", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it always wrong to "alter the truth"?

While ""alter the truth"" generally implies dishonesty, there might be situations where slight adjustments are made for narrative purposes or to protect sensitive information, although such instances are ethically complex and should be handled with caution.