iota of truth

USAGE SUMMARY

"iota of truth" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to talk about a very small amount of truth in an idea or statement. For example, "I don't believe there is an iota of truth in the rumor that she's leaving the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"No," Ms. Ono wrote, "there is not an iota of truth to that story.

The New York Times - Arts

"These allegations don't have an iota of truth, being baseless," the official said.

The New York Times

"There is no iota of truth in the claim by MEND," he said.

The New York Times

"There is not an iota of truth that there is an element of distrust or mistrust between me and the president of the Congress," Mr. Singh said.

The New York Times

Yet it loses every iota of truth and meaning for fans when dirty money corrupts the players and referees.

TechCrunch

More important, if Princeton's report did not represent an iota of truth, would Facebook have felt the need to go out and acquire WhatsApp for $19 billion?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Fountain of truth?

The Economist

Moment of truth.

The New Yorker

Endless truths destroy the notion of truth.

Forbes

The moment of truth.

Forbes

Distinguish truth from appearances of truth.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to strongly deny a statement or rumor, using "iota of truth" can be more impactful than simply saying it's false. For instance, "There isn't an "iota of truth" to the accusation."

Common error

While "iota of truth" is perfectly acceptable, reserve it for situations where you need to emphasize the complete lack of truth in something. Overusing it can sound overly dramatic in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "iota of truth" functions as a quantifier, specifically emphasizing the negation of truth. It is commonly used to strongly deny claims, asserting that there is not even the smallest amount of truth to be found. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "iota of truth" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to emphasize the complete absence of truth in a statement or claim. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. It's most commonly found in News & Media contexts, serving to emphatically deny allegations and leave no room for doubt. While it is a versatile phrase, its formality makes it more suited for serious and official communication rather than casual conversation. Alternatives like "atom of truth" or "hint of truth" can offer slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

atom of truth

Replaces "iota" with "atom", another unit signifying a tiny amount.

hint of truth

Substitutes "iota" with "hint", focusing on the subtle nature of the truth present.

shred of truth

Uses "shred" instead of "iota" emphasizing the fragmentary nature of the truth.

bit of truth

Employs "bit" for "iota", a common term for a small portion.

ounce of truth

Replaces "iota" with "ounce", referring to a small measure of truth.

modicum of truth

Substitutes "iota" with "modicum", indicating a limited quantity of truth.

speck of truth

Uses "speck" instead of "iota", highlighting the minimal size of the truth.

trace of truth

Employs "trace" for "iota", suggesting a barely perceptible amount of truth.

scintilla of truth

Replaces "iota" with "scintilla", another word for a tiny spark or trace.

vestige of truth

Substitutes "iota" with "vestige", highlighting the remaining indication of truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "iota of truth" to emphasize that there is absolutely no truth in something. For example, "There is not an "iota of truth" in what he said."

What phrases are similar to "iota of truth"?

Similar phrases include "atom of truth", "hint of truth", or "shred of truth" to express a very small amount of truth.

Is it more formal or informal to use "iota of truth"?

The phrase "iota of truth" tends to be more formal and is often found in news articles and official statements. It adds emphasis to the lack of truth.

What's the difference between "iota of truth" and "bit of truth"?

"Iota of truth" and "bit of truth" both imply a small amount of truth, but "iota of truth" suggests an even smaller, almost negligible quantity.