generally truthful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "generally truthful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a statement or claim that is mostly accurate or honest, but may not be entirely so. Example: "While the report was generally truthful, it omitted some key details that could change the overall understanding of the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There is an ambiguity here: is an authoritative person one who is speaking the truth with respect to the particular utterance in question, or one who is generally truthful?

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Conscientious people are generally competent, truthful and responsible, and they tend to lead stable, productive lives.

The New York Times - Science

Be generous and truthful.

WikiHow

And we're now to the point where stonewalling, obfuscating, spinning, parsing, and generally preventing the flow of truthful information are accepted and acknowledged parts of the job description (standard disclaimer about these things also being endemic to politics itself notwithstanding).

The Economist

Odd domain names generally equal odd and rarely truthful news.

Los Angeles Times

Although it cannot generally assure that the data is truthful or not, peer review unquestionably increases the quality of most manuscripts.

F1000Research

Also, trying to be aware that we're generally funniest when we're not intending to be; when we are being truthful or trying our best and failing.

The Guardian

She added: "Generally, to get a good performance out of an actor you go with that offer, because that's going to be truthful.

The Guardian - Film

RP: Truthful, always truthful.

The Guardian - Film

It was truthful, 100% truthful.

The Guardian - Music

"And truthful voices come from truthful people".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person as "generally truthful", acknowledge that occasional deviations from the truth do not negate their overall honesty.

Common error

Avoid presenting something as "generally truthful" when significant portions are known to be false or misleading. Ensure that the exceptions to the truth are minor and do not undermine the overall validity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "generally truthful" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its quality of conveying truth with a degree of approximation. As Ludwig AI explains, this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "generally truthful" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to describe something mostly honest and accurate, but not necessarily 100% so. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English. It's important to use this phrase thoughtfully, acknowledging that while the overall intention is truthful, minor inaccuracies may exist. Consider using alternatives such as "mostly honest" or "largely accurate" to fine-tune your message. Be mindful of overstating accuracy and always aim for transparency in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly honest

Focuses more on the honesty aspect, implying that there might be minor untruths but the overall intention is honest.

largely honest

Similar to "mostly honest", emphasizing the extent of honesty.

largely accurate

Emphasizes the accuracy of information, suggesting that most of it is correct with few inaccuracies.

mostly accurate

Similar to "largely accurate" but with a slightly different emphasis on the extent of accuracy.

substantially correct

Highlights the significant correctness of something, implying that the major parts are true.

generally reliable

Focuses on the reliability of the source or information, suggesting it can usually be trusted.

ordinarily truthful

Indicates that truthfulness is the usual or expected behavior.

typically honest

Similar to "ordinarily truthful" but places more emphasis on the habitual honesty of a person or source.

commonly truthful

Suggests that truthfulness is a common characteristic but not always guaranteed.

fairly truthful

Indicates a moderate level of truthfulness, not absolute but more than slightly true.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "generally truthful"?

Being "generally truthful" means that someone or something is mostly honest and accurate, but not necessarily 100% so. There might be minor inaccuracies or omissions, but the overall intention is to convey the truth.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "generally truthful"?

Use "generally truthful" when you want to acknowledge that while something is mostly accurate, there might be small details that are not entirely correct. It's useful when you don't want to claim absolute certainty but still want to convey a sense of reliability.

What are some alternatives to saying "generally truthful"?

You can use alternatives like "mostly honest", "largely accurate", or "substantially correct" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "generally truthful" the same as "completely truthful"?

No, "generally truthful" implies that there might be some minor inaccuracies or exceptions, while "completely truthful" means that everything is accurate and honest without any exceptions. They are not interchangeable.