myth has it

USAGE SUMMARY

"myth has it" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to introduce a story or belief that is usually based in a culture's folklore. For example, "Myth has it that the gods cursed Medusa with a head full of vibrant snakes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

My city, Homs, also known as the windy city for its real winds, is known for its two famous religious sites: the Mosque of Khalid Ibn alegendary a legendary Muslim hero who chose to live and die in Homs and gave it his name, and the church of Our Lady of the Belt, where myth has it that the belt of Virgin Mary is buried deep under its ground.

Huffington Post

An engaging urban myth has it that the pool was intended for Mr. Woolworth's personal use.

The New York Times

Myth has it that Prince Vlad, or Vlad Tepes ('Vlad the Impaler'), lived there.

The Guardian

(Urban myth has it that Pitt, who is an acquaintance of Gehry, worked with him as an apprentice).

The New Yorker

Myth has it that after an encounter with two mating snakes, Teiresias swapped sexes, spending seven years as a woman.

The Economist

They are propelled along marble floorways by rubber soles, rather than roller skates, as the persistent myth has it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The corollary of this myth had it that the Castros, hats in hand, were incessantly rebuffed by their predatory imperialist neighbour.

The Guardian - Opinion

On her mother's side, Krug discovers that Willi, her grandfather, was not the hero her family had made him out to be (a comforting myth had it that he hid his Jewish employer).

The Guardian - Books

I showed him where the St. Valentine's Day Massacre had taken place: the garage was long gone, but urban myth had it that dogs still growled at the site, because they could smell the blood.

The New Yorker

One 18th-century frontier governor was a friendly Apache chief, while Spain's agent in the Upper Missouri was a mystic from Wales, hunting for the Welsh-speaking descendants of a prince who, myth had it, crossed the Atlantic to escape the English 600 years earlier.

The Economist

This is Punk Rock in the making, the latest pulp music which, the myth already has it, the kids on the street have themselves contrived.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "myth has it" to introduce a popular but potentially untrue story or belief, especially when discussing cultural or historical contexts. It's effective for setting up a contrast between popular perception and factual evidence.

Common error

Avoid presenting information introduced by "myth has it" as fact without further verification. The phrase inherently suggests a degree of skepticism or uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "myth has it" functions as an introductory phrase, setting the stage for a narrative or belief that is often based on folklore, tradition, or popular misconceptions. As confirmed by Ludwig, it introduces information that may not be entirely factual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Encyclopedias

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "myth has it" is a commonly used introductory phrase that signals the presentation of a potentially untrue or unverified story. As Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically correct and functions to introduce information with a degree of skepticism. Found frequently in "News & Media", encyclopedias and wiki sources, it sets the stage for exploring popular beliefs or narratives, without necessarily endorsing them. When using this phrase, it's essential to avoid presenting the information that follows as an established fact without further verification. Alternatives like "legend has it" or "rumor has it" offer slightly different nuances depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

legend has it

Replaces "myth" with "legend", implying a slightly more established or widely known story.

tale has it

Uses "tale" instead of "myth", suggesting a narrative that might be more fanciful or less historical.

rumor has it

Substitutes "myth" with "rumor", indicating the information is unverified and possibly untrue.

story goes that

Offers a more informal way to introduce a story or belief.

popular belief is

Emphasizes the widespread acceptance of the belief, without necessarily validating it.

it is said that

Presents information as hearsay or common knowledge.

the word on the street is

Suggests an informal and unconfirmed source of information.

tradition holds that

Implies the belief is part of a long-standing cultural practice.

the story is told that

Highlights the act of storytelling as the origin of the belief.

it is widely believed that

Focuses on the broad acceptance of a particular idea or concept.

FAQs

How can I use "myth has it" in a sentence?

Use "myth has it" to introduce a popular but potentially untrue story or belief. For instance, "Myth has it that the streets of El Dorado are paved with gold."

What is an alternative to saying "myth has it"?

You can use alternatives like "legend has it", "tale has it", or "rumor has it" depending on the context.

Is "myth has it" grammatically correct?

Yes, "myth has it" is grammatically correct and commonly used to introduce a story or belief of questionable veracity.

When should I use "myth has it" versus "legend has it"?

"Myth has it" is suitable for introducing stories that are often considered untrue or based on folklore, while "legend has it" implies a story that might have some historical basis but is likely exaggerated.