that was truthful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that was truthful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to affirm that something previously stated or expressed was honest or accurate. Example: "In our discussion about the project, I appreciated your feedback because that was truthful and constructive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Instead, he sought a poetry that was truthful and perceptive enough to be trustworthy even when annihilation seemed imminent.

The New Yorker

How was Assange to respond to the story in a way that was truthful, but neither compromised his source nor confirmed the substance of a massively complex leak that he was not yet ready to publish?

The New Yorker

It's so touching to me that the story unfolded in a way that was truthful for them.

Huffington Post

We wanted to represent something that was truthful and real, without judgment," says Sami. "When you think of Muslims, often because we're painted with a broad stroke you think we're a homogenous people.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

She wants to live in a country that is truthful and free from dictatorial rule.

The New York Times

Mr Thaler's direction offers real hope of models that are truthful without being uselessly unwieldy.

The Economist

The First Amendment protects commercial speech that is truthful and not misleading, Mrs. Resnick says.

The New York Times

We deserve an administration that is truthful and takes responsibility for our defense.

The New York Times

"To me, a film's realistic if it somehow expresses something that's truthful," Mr. Winterbottom said.

The New York Times

"The most interesting sex scenes that I've done or seen are the ones that are truthful from a women's perspective," she said.

The New York Times

All of this will result in an actor being able to deliver a performance that is truthful to the world being created.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that was truthful" when you want to affirm the honesty or accuracy of a previous statement, especially in contexts where sincerity and factual correctness are important.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "that was truthful" can sound overly formal or stiff in everyday conversation. Opt for more natural alternatives like "that's true" or "that's right" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that was truthful" functions as a relative clause modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating that a particular statement or action adhered to the truth. It's used to affirm honesty or accuracy, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that was truthful" is a grammatically correct relative clause used to affirm the honesty or accuracy of something said or done. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that it appears most frequently in news and media, and scientific contexts, although its overall frequency is rare. Alternatives include "that was honest" and "that was accurate". While its usage is generally appropriate, be mindful of the context and choose more casual alternatives in informal settings. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it's a direct and clear way to validate truthfulness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was the truth

Rephrases the statement to directly assert that what was said is the truth.

that was honest

Replaces "truthful" with "honest", maintaining the meaning of sincerity and lack of deception.

that was accurate

Substitutes "truthful" with "accurate", focusing on the correctness and factual nature of the statement.

that was genuine

Replaces "truthful" with "genuine", emphasizing the authenticity and sincerity of the statement.

that was veracious

Uses the more formal "veracious" instead of "truthful", indicating a commitment to truth.

that was candid

Replaces "truthful" with "candid", highlighting the frank and open nature of the statement.

that was factual

Substitutes "truthful" with "factual", stressing that the statement is based on facts.

that was the gospel truth

Uses an emphatic expression to underscore the absolute truthfulness of the statement.

that was the real deal

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the authenticity and truthfulness of the statement.

that was on the level

Employs a colloquial term to indicate that the statement was honest and straightforward.

FAQs

What does "that was truthful" mean?

The phrase "that was truthful" means that something said or done was honest, accurate, and in accordance with the truth. It's used to confirm the veracity of a statement or action.

When should I use "that was truthful"?

Use "that was truthful" when you want to emphasize the accuracy or honesty of something that was said or done. It is suitable in both formal and informal settings, though less frequent in very casual conversation. It can often be replaced with "that was honest" or "that was accurate".

Is "that was truthful" interchangeable with "that is truthful"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "that was truthful" refers to something in the past, while "that is truthful" refers to something in the present. For example, "His statement yesterday, that was truthful" versus "His statement now, that is truthful".

What are some alternatives to "that was truthful"?

You can use alternatives such as "that was honest", "that was accurate", or "that was genuine", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate substitute.