lying that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lying that" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not a standard expression and may confuse readers. Example: "He was lying that he had finished the project on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Related: Police investigate Alistair Carmichael's false denials over memo leak It is the lying that is wrong, not the leaking.

The Guardian - Opinion

You could even call it lying - the sort of lying that involves stretching an unlikely possibility into fact.

The Guardian

There's something troubling about a book on lying that makes one begin to crave, after a while, a tall tale.

The New York Times - Books

He also carries a lot of legal baggage, starting with a history of lying, that could cause credibility problems.

The New York Times

To my father, who died some years ago, I can never apologize for stealing and for lying that day.

The New York Times

It all boils down to whether there is a difference between lying — that is, telling an untruth — and stealing, or taking something that does not belong to you.

The New York Times

First, we’re likely to underreport the number of lies we tell (we lie about lying, that is).

Forbes

"I have to insist on retaining my accusation of lying, that is far more important than allowing a group of people to send our soldiers to die in vain in a war in which we should withdraw.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

For days, my son insisted that I was lying -- that I made the whole thing up so that I could get rid of him.

Huffington Post

The island is so low-lying that it had a history of being remade by storms over the centuries, so a ring dyke – a tall, grassed embankment – was built to encircle it and repulse the storms.

Independent

The storm tide forecast for Manila is 5 feet, but the city is so low-lying that flooding may still occur there.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using more direct verbs like "claiming", "stating", or "asserting" followed by "that" to enhance clarity and grammatical correctness in your writing.

Common error

Don't use the gerund form of "lie" directly before "that". While common, this can lead to grammatically awkward sentences. Instead, rephrase using a more conventional verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lying that" functions as a verbal phrase introducing a subordinate clause. While seemingly attempting to describe an act of deception, its grammatical structure is questionable, as noted by Ludwig. Better alternatives exist for conveying this meaning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

10%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lying that" is a commonly encountered but grammatically questionable construction. While frequently found in diverse sources such as news articles and general web content, Ludwig indicates that it is not a correct way to phrase sentences. It functions as a verbal phrase introducing a subordinate clause, attempting to convey deception. However, clearer and more grammatically sound alternatives, like "claiming that", "stating that", or "asserting that", are preferable. The register varies from neutral to informal, and it is advisable to avoid "lying that" in formal academic writing. Always aim for clarity and precision by opting for more direct verb phrases when reporting potentially false statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

claiming that

Replaces the gerund "lying" with a more direct verb "claiming", improving clarity and grammatical correctness.

asserting that

Similar to "claiming that", but with a stronger emphasis on the speaker's conviction.

stating that

A neutral way to report someone's words, without implying deception.

saying that

A simple and direct way to report what someone has expressed.

alleging that

Implies that the statement may not be true, often used in legal contexts.

contending that

Suggests a more formal and argumentative stance.

maintaining that

Implies a persistence in the statement, despite possible opposition.

insisting that

Highlights the firmness and determination with which the statement is made.

professing that

Suggests a declaration of belief, often in a formal or religious context.

testifying that

Used in legal settings to indicate sworn testimony.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "lying that"?

You can use alternatives like "claiming that", "stating that", or "asserting that" depending on the context.

Is "lying that" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "lying that" is not considered grammatically correct. It is better to use a more direct verb like "claiming that".

How can I improve a sentence that uses "lying that"?

Replace "lying that" with a more precise verb phrase like "falsely claiming that" or "dishonestly stating that" to enhance clarity.

What's the difference between "lying that" and "claiming that"?

"Lying that" implies deception, but is grammatically awkward. "Claiming that" is a more grammatically sound way to report a statement, without necessarily implying deception.