partially honest

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partially honest" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is not completely truthful or is being selective in their honesty. Example: "While he was partially honest about his past, he left out several important details that would have changed the story."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The efficient outcome of a deposit contract model is uniquely implementable with relatively partially honest agents, while it is never uniquely implementable only with materially self-interest agents.

Economics Letters

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was partially true.

The Guardian - Film

Which was partially true.

The Guardian - Music

That's partially true.

The Guardian - Film

That is only partially true.

The Guardian - Music

Well, partially true.

Huffington Post

This maybe partially true.

Huffington Post

Truth rating: Partially true.

Vice

However, we find next to "Blunt" appreciable frequencies of fully quorum sensing ("Honest") and partially quorum sensing ("Vain") cells.

Plosone

Just as after 1945, the honest answer is: only partially.

The Economist

Now, the story of the band is to be immortalised in a film, The Runaways, which premieres at this year's Sundance film festival and which is partially based on Currie's brutally honest memoir, Neon Angel.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "partially honest" when you want to convey that someone is being truthful to some degree, but is also withholding information or being deceptive in certain aspects. Be mindful of the context to avoid misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "partially honest" when the situation involves outright lies or significant deception. This phrase is best suited for situations where some truth is present, not where dishonesty is the dominant characteristic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partially honest" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, describing the extent to which someone or something embodies the quality of honesty. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "partially honest" is a grammatically correct way to express that someone is truthful to some extent, but also withholding information or being deceptive. According to Ludwig AI, it's usable in English to describe situations where honesty is not absolute. While not a very common phrase, it appears in various contexts, including science and news media. When using "partially honest", be mindful of the context and avoid overstating the degree of honesty present. Consider alternatives like "somewhat truthful" or "not entirely honest" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat truthful

Indicates a degree of truthfulness, but not entirely complete or absolute.

not entirely honest

Expresses that honesty is lacking to some extent.

partly truthful

Similar to "partially honest", focusing on the truthful aspect.

selectively honest

Implies honesty is applied only in certain situations.

not completely truthful

A more explicit way of saying that full honesty is absent.

withholding some truth

Focuses on the act of keeping back parts of the truth.

a bit disingenuous

Suggests a lack of complete sincerity or frankness.

half honest

Expresses an honesty level of 50 percent.

not above board

Suggests something is being concealed or is slightly dishonest.

less than candid

Indicates a lack of openness and honesty.

FAQs

What does "partially honest" mean?

The term "partially honest" describes a situation where someone is truthful to a certain extent but is also withholding information, being deceptive, or not revealing the complete truth. It implies a mix of honesty and dishonesty.

How can I use "partially honest" in a sentence?

You can use "partially honest" to describe someone's behavior or statements. For example, "While he was "somewhat truthful" about his past, he omitted several crucial details." or "Her account of the events was "not entirely honest", as she left out some key information."

What are some alternatives to saying "partially honest"?

Alternatives to "partially honest" include "somewhat truthful", "not entirely honest", "selectively honest", or "less than candid". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to be "partially honest" or completely transparent?

Complete transparency is generally preferred for building trust and maintaining strong relationships. However, in certain situations, being "somewhat truthful" might be a strategic choice, but always consider the ethical implications and potential consequences of not being fully transparent.