partly false

USAGE SUMMARY

"partly false" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when something is not entirely untrue, but also not entirely true. For example: "The claims made in the report are partly false."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Such an account of multiple murder from Mr. Komisarjevsky would have been at least partly false.

The New York Times

But there are so many Americas and so many kinds of Americans that almost every perception of "America" of this kind is partly true and partly false.

The New Yorker

Armstrong's books had lower aims, and, for their author, they were essentially mercenary: a place for him to build a brand and tell his (partly false) side of a contentious story.

The New Yorker

Both plaintiffs, it seems plain from the language of their lawyers, would not be receptive to a kind of lit-theory ambivalence that suggests that writing — be it fiction, history, poetry, biography, etc. — is, by its nature as artistic expression, both partly true and partly false.

The New Yorker

Or because both are judged inapplicable in the circumstance, being as it were partly true and partly false.

SEP

By allowing a condition to be partly true and partly false at the same time, fuzzy logic makes it suitable to take into account any ambiguities or uncertainties.

Environmental Systems Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Then, drawn partly by false newspaper reports of free $25 chips for the first bettors, a mob police estimated at 20,000 trampled barriers and ripped doors off their hinges in a rush to get inside; still, no one was seriously injured.

The New York Times

Over the past three years the proposed future justice commissioner has sat in a cabinet that has partly decriminalised false accounting for private companies, and tried both to provide Mr Berlusconi with immunity from prosecution and to make it harder for courts to use evidence obtained abroad.

The Economist

Hastings was desperately looking for Tommy's son in hopes of finding Tommy himself -- again with the mysterious drive and motives of the '63s to do things -- but he was doing so partly under false pretenses.

Huffington Post

"Economic growth was partly based on false foundations.

The Guardian

The weather was nice, which I'm guessing was partly to blame: false optimism.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "partly false", specify which parts are incorrect or misleading to provide a more accurate and helpful assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "partly false" when the information is overwhelmingly incorrect. In such cases, it's more appropriate to describe it as "mostly false" or simply "false" with clarifications on the specific elements that hold some truth.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partly false" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the degree to which something is not true, indicating that it contains elements of both truth and falsehood. As Ludwig AI also confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "partly false" is a grammatically sound and usable adjectival phrase that describes something containing both true and untrue elements. As Ludwig AI points out, it's appropriate when a simple true/false assessment is insufficient. Found most commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it offers a neutral way to convey that information is not entirely accurate. When using this phrase, specify which parts are incorrect or misleading to enhance clarity. Alternatives include "somewhat false" and "partly incorrect", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partly untrue

A direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of complete truth.

somewhat false

Indicates a slight degree of falseness, less definitive than "partly false".

partly incorrect

Focuses on the lack of correctness rather than the presence of falsehood.

partly erroneous

Highlights the presence of errors within the information.

partially inaccurate

Indicates a lack of precision and correctness in certain aspects.

not entirely accurate

Highlights the lack of complete accuracy, without necessarily implying falsehood.

partly misleading

Focuses on the intention or effect of deceiving or guiding wrongly.

misleading in part

Emphasizes the deceptive aspect, suggesting an intention to mislead.

not fully truthful

Indicates a compromise on truthfulness, implying some deception.

containing some falsehoods

Emphasizes the presence of false elements within a larger context.

FAQs

How can I use "partly false" in a sentence?

You can use "partly false" to describe claims, statements, or information that contains both true and untrue elements. For example, "The report was "partly false", with some data accurately reflecting market trends but other data being significantly outdated."

What are some alternatives to saying "partly false"?

You can use alternatives like "somewhat false", "partly incorrect", or "misleading in part" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "partly false" or "mostly false"?

The better choice depends on the proportion of correct versus incorrect information. Use "partly false" when the information has a substantial degree of truth, and "mostly false" when the inaccuracies outweigh the correct elements.

What is the difference between "partly false" and "outdated"?

"Partly false" indicates that some information is inaccurate or untrue, whereas "outdated" simply means the information is no longer current or applicable. Information can be outdated without being false, and vice versa.