did not deceive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did not deceive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was honest or truthful in a situation where deception might have been expected. Example: "Despite the rumors, he did not deceive his colleagues about the project's progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Your eyes did not deceive you.

The Washington Post

"He deceived the entire world but did not deceive the Palestinian people".

The New York Times

It did not deceive the Greeks or satisfy them; but no later Macedonian king could improve on it.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(If my ears did not deceive me, I think I recognised Joss Ackland's disembodied voice in there somewhere as well).

The Guardian - Film

He said that the detective in the case, Leonard Devlin, did not deceive Justice Blackburne, but rather had "made absolutely clear his purpose and his intent".

The New York Times

But Hefner did not deceive the Phillies, not in the slightest, and Brown made that clear when he crushed a hanging curveball into the night sky, way over the right-field fence, to start the third inning.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"I didn't deceive anybody," she said.

The Guardian

People didn't deceive themselves; they were deceived.

The New York Times

1.20pm Tony Paley: The eyes didn't deceive then.

The Guardian - Sport

"We didn't lie, we didn't deceive, and we certainly did not break any rules while we were there," Spencer said.

The Washington Post

He didn't deceive them, he told them the truth and let them make their own choices freely.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not deceive" to emphasize a lack of intentional misleading or dishonesty, particularly when such behavior might have been expected or suspected.

Common error

Avoid using multiple negative constructions when "did not deceive" is already clear. For instance, instead of saying "they didn't not deceive us", simply state "they did not deceive us" or, more directly, "they were honest with us".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not deceive" functions as a verbal phrase that negates the action of deceiving. It asserts the absence of dishonesty or misleading behavior. As seen in Ludwig, this phrase is used to explicitly state that someone was honest or truthful in a particular situation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "did not deceive" is a verbal phrase used to assert the absence of deception, emphasizing honesty or integrity, as supported by Ludwig AI. It functions to affirm truthfulness, often in contexts where dishonesty might be expected. It commonly appears in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. While grammatically correct, be mindful of overusing double negatives and consider direct alternatives like "was honest with" or "told the truth to" for clarity. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is acceptable and usable in written English, particularly when clarifying that someone did not intentionally mislead others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was honest with

Focuses on directness and truthfulness in communication.

told the truth to

Emphasizes the act of speaking truthfully.

was truthful to

Highlights the quality of being truthful.

did not mislead

Focuses on avoiding the action of guiding someone incorrectly.

kept faith with

Emphasizes loyalty and honoring a commitment.

remained faithful to

Stresses consistent adherence to a promise or belief.

acted with integrity

Highlights moral and ethical behavior.

was above board

Indicates openness and honesty in dealings.

played it straight

Implies honesty and avoidance of deception, often in a competitive situation.

didn't pull the wool over someone's eyes

An idiomatic way of saying someone wasn't deceived; focuses on lack of manipulation.

FAQs

How can I use "did not deceive" in a sentence?

You can use "did not deceive" to express that someone was honest or truthful, particularly when there might have been an expectation of dishonesty. For example: "The company "did not deceive" its investors about the risks involved."

What are some alternatives to "did not deceive"?

Alternatives to "did not deceive" include "was honest with", "told the truth to", or "did not mislead", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "did not deceive" or "was truthful"?

Both "did not deceive" and "was truthful" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Was truthful" focuses more on the inherent quality of honesty, while "did not deceive" emphasizes the absence of deceptive actions. The better choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "did not deceive" and "didn't mislead"?

"Did not deceive" implies a more deliberate act of preventing someone from knowing the truth, while "didn't mislead" suggests a less intentional guiding in the wrong direction. Deception often involves active misrepresentation, whereas misleading can be passive.