substantially true

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially true" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to indicate that a statement is mostly accurate, even if it is not entirely so. Example: "The article was found to be substantially true, which protected the author from defamation claims."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

This was substantially true.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It hasn't always been entirely 100% true in every way, but substantially true.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But he lost the case after the court decided her accusations were substantially true.

Independent

But, crucially, they were also found to be substantially true – meaning the publisher could rely on the defence of truth.

The Guardian - Sport

"It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government," Washington had said.

The Economist

To rely on a defence of fair comment you have to show that the facts upon which you are basing your comment are true, or substantially true.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Self-reported body mass index (BMI) can substantially understate true BMI.

BMJ Open

However, those figures are based on case reporting, and are believed to substantially underestimate true incidence.

BMC Public Health

In this case, any form of adjustment for circulating lipid concentrations would substantially underestimate true risk associations.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The simple IPW estimator performed well with mild to moderate degrees of censoring in the simulated datasets; however, with heavy censoring (53%) it substantially overestimated true costs.

ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research

Importantly, this was not at the expense of a smaller PPV, and so, overall, BMIQ identified substantially more true positives (Table 2).

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal contexts, remember that the defense of 'substantial truth' doesn't require proving every single detail is accurate. You only need to show that the core allegation or the 'sting' of the defamatory statement is true.

Common error

Don't assume that "substantially true" means 'mostly true' in every context. In law, it means the core damaging aspect of a statement must be true, not every minor detail. Overstating its applicability can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially true" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or statement, indicating that the statement is mostly accurate or factual. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

22%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially true" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase, especially in legal and journalistic contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is used to describe statements that are mainly accurate, even if not entirely perfect. The phrase sees frequent use in news media and scientific publications. When writing, remember that "substantially true" doesn't demand 100% accuracy of every detail, but rather that the core or "sting" of the statement is accurate. Alternatives like "largely accurate" or "mostly correct" can be used, but they may lack the specific legal connotations of "substantially true".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely accurate

Focuses on the extent of accuracy rather than the degree of truth.

mostly correct

Highlights the prevalence of correctness, implying minor errors may exist.

essentially factual

Emphasizes the foundation in facts, even if some details are open to interpretation.

accurate in the main

Indicates that the primary aspects are accurate, with possible inaccuracies in less important areas.

true for the most part

Stresses the overall truthfulness while acknowledging possible exceptions.

generally valid

Suggests widespread truthfulness or applicability, rather than absolute certainty.

broadly truthful

Highlights the overall truthfulness while allowing for minor inaccuracies or exaggerations.

verifiable to a great extent

Focuses on the degree to which the statement can be verified.

factually sound

Highlights the quality of the facts presented, even if the interpretation is debated.

accurate on balance

Implies that inaccuracies exist but are outweighed by the accurate components.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "substantially true"?

The phrase "substantially true" is often used in legal and journalistic contexts to indicate that a statement is mostly accurate, even if not 100% correct in every detail. It acknowledges that minor inaccuracies may exist without invalidating the overall truthfulness of the statement.

What is the legal significance of "substantially true" in defamation cases?

In defamation law, if a statement is deemed "substantially true", it can serve as a defense against libel claims. This means that the core damaging aspect of the statement is proven to be true, even if minor details are inaccurate. This doesn't mean that "mostly true" is enough, it is a legal definition.

What are some alternatives to saying "substantially true"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "largely accurate", "mostly correct", or "essentially factual" to convey a similar meaning. However, "substantially true" has a specific legal connotation that the other lack.

How does "substantially true" differ from "completely true"?

"Completely true" implies that a statement is accurate in every single detail, leaving no room for error or inaccuracy. "Substantially true", on the other hand, allows for minor inaccuracies as long as the core message or "sting" of the statement is accurate. In legal terms, proving something is "completely true" may be more difficult than proving it is "substantially true".