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Half Truth

I didn't steal your password to watch movies this week. Does something feel a little deceptive about that sentence? The addition of this week implies that there's more to the story. Maybe the next sentence would be I stole your password last week. This sneaky wording presents only part of the truth

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Half Truth

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I didn't steal your password to watch movies this week. Does something feel a little deceptive about that sentence? The addition of this week implies that there's more to the story. Maybe the next sentence would be I stole your password last week. This sneaky wording presents only part of the truth.

Definition of a Half-Truth

Presenting part of the truth is also called presenting a half-truth.

A half-truth is a deceptive Statement that contains some, but not all, elements of the truth.

Despite its name, a half-truth is not considered a truth at all. Benjamin Franklin included this adage in his book Poor Richard's Almanack (1758):1

Half a truth is often a great lie.

With this saying, Benjamin Franklin points out that omitting parts of the truth is deceptive, just like lying outright. Even if a Statement is technically true, when it leaves out crucial pieces of information, it can't be considered a truth.

Presenting Part of the Truth, Benjamin Franklin Key Illustration, StudySmarterFig. 1 - Benjamin Franklin said, "Half the truth is often a great lie."

The term half-truth primarily describes an intentionally-deceptive statement. However, this isn't always the case; a half-truth can result from a simple mistake in logic or disorganized writing. The problem is that an accidental half-truth could seem like an intentional half-truth to the audience. It's important to be able to recognize half-truths to avoid accidentally creating them in your own writing.

Purpose of Presenting Half of the Truth

The purpose of a half-truth is to present a speaker or Argument in a flattering way. This can mean evading blame, inflating importance or power, or projecting confidence.

Presenting Part of the Truth, person lying pinocchio illustration, StudySmarterFig. 2 - Lying by presenting part of the truth is still lying.

Evading blame: half-truths are often used to help the speaker avoid responsibility or blame. When the most incriminating parts of a story are removed, the speaker seems innocent.

Inflating importance or power: a half-truth can erase the speaker's guilt and exaggerate the speaker's role in favorable situations. The person who added the least to a group project can place their name at the top of the paper and claim a large portion of the work.

Projecting confidence: a half-truth can make a shaky opinion seem like a hard Fact. It uses clever wording to strengthen an Argument or weaken an opposing Argument. This kind of half-truth is common in data bias, where data is presented selectively to make a theory seem stronger than it is.

Example of a Half-Truth

The tricky factor of a half-truth is that it doesn't directly say anything false. This can sometimes make a half-truth difficult to spot. These examples demonstrate each purpose of a half-truth.

Evading Blame

Revealing only part of the truth can help a guilty speaker reduce or entirely avoid blame in a situation. Take this example:

I was just driving by your house and saw that your mailbox is broken.

This seems truthful ... but the speaker actually saw that the mailbox was broken because he hit it with his car while driving.

The half-truth makes the speaker seem innocent. The speaker uses it to avoid telling the whole truth: that the mailbox and the car are now ruined.

Inflating Importance or Power

This example shows how half-truths can make a speaker seem more important, knowledgeable, or powerful.

You can trust my cousin with all your medical needs. She's a doctor.

This sentence conveniently leaves out that the cousin has a doctorate in archaeology.

Wording the sentence this way makes the speaker's cousin seem knowledgeable and competent as a "doctor." It misrepresents her true expertise in archaeology as medical knowledge.

Projecting Confidence

Presenting part of the truth can make ideas, beliefs, and theories seem like solid facts. It can help a speaker come across as more confident than they really are. This is common when presenting data, like in this example:

Our study proves that this ingredient is harmful to plants. This directly contradicts a previous study claiming that the ingredient is safe.

The speaker doesn't mention that the ingredient was only harmful to two plant samples in the study, and only at 100% concentration.

The speaker makes a bold statement and discredits another study, leaving out their own study's limits. The Results don't support the speaker's conclusion as strongly as the statement claims.

You likely have used or heard a half-truth without even realizing it! Think back to a time you tried to avoid blame or project confidence. Did you present a half-truth?

Characteristics of a Half-Truth Presentation

Truth can be bent or omitted in multiple ways.

  • leaving out important information
  • using misleading wording
  • taking advantage of double meaning.

These examples show each half-truth characteristic in action.

Leaving Out Important Information

Selectively sharing parts of a story while leaving out others allows the speaker to control the story.

I organized a search party, and the missing person was brought to safety by the end of the day.

This sentence leaves out the Fact that the missing person came to the police alone before the search party started looking for her.

Everything in the example sentence is true, but vital information is missing. The missing information changes the audience's understanding of the events.

Using Misleading Wording

Misleading wording can distract the audience from missing information.

"This island of yours we're going to—I haven't heard anything about it before. Is it some kind of secret?"

"In a way," Hammond said. "We have been very, very careful about making sure nobody

knows about it, until the day we finally open that island to a surprised and delighted

public."

This is an excerpt from the 1990 book Jurassic Park by Michael Chrichton.2 The character John Hammond explains to Alan Grant that he purchased a remote island to genetically engineer dinosaurs. His answer to Grant's question implies that he keeps the project secret in order to surprise the public. In reality, he keeps it secret to hide it from the government and competing businesses. He uses this half-truth to convince Grant that the project is legitimate and well-controlled.

Half Truth, Dinosaur, StudySmarterFig. 3 - In Jurassic Park, John Hammond uses a half-truth when explaining why he kept his project a secret.

Taking Advantage of Double Meaning

Some half-truths are deceptive because they purposely remove vital information. Others are deceptive because they are easily misinterpreted. Words and phrases with double meanings can be used to blur the truth.

I'm having an old friend for dinner."3

This quote is from the 1991 movieThe Silence of the Lambs. After escaping prison, the serial killer "Hannibal the Cannibal" says the cheeky line, "I'm having an old friend for dinner." The most common interpretation of the sentence is that he is inviting a friend over; but of course, Hannibal truly means that the old friend is his dinner. The sentence's double meaning makes Hannibal's true intent less clear.

Half-Truth Fallacy

Half-truths are deceptive because they can lead the audience to false conclusions. This is a common rhetorical fallacy resulting from half-truths.

A fallacy is a failure in reasoning which Results in an unsound argument.

The half-truth fallacy refers to drawing false conclusions based on a half-truth.

Whether intentional or unintentional, presenting part of the truth creates a deceptive argument. Here is an example of the faulty conclusions that result from the half-truth fallacy.

Imagine this sentence in a local news article:

Ever since the new mayor was elected, the city's initiative to end homelessness has been more successful than ever.

This statement doesn't mention that the city's initiative to end homelessness was only put into place a week before the new mayor was elected. The initiative is only more successful than ever because it's brand new. In fact, the new mayor doesn't support the initiative and hopes to get rid of it within the next year.

What is the problem with the half-truth in this example? The news article leaves out the fact that the new mayor hasn't really improved the initiative. This could lead the readers to the false conclusion that the mayor is actively helping to end homelessness. It could lead voters who support the initiative to vote for somebody who stands against it. The statement creates a half-truth fallacy that misleads potential voters.

The audience in this example could avoid being misled by asking follow-up questions: how did the mayor contribute to the initiative? What are the mayor's plans for the initiative moving forward? Asking questions and reading critically will help you avoid the half-truth fallacy.

Half Truth - Key Takeaways

  • A half-truth is a deceptive statement that contains some, but not all, elements of the truth.
  • The purpose of a half-truth is to present a speaker or argument in a flattering way. This can mean evading blame, inflating importance or power, or projecting confidence.
  • Truth can be bent or omitted in multiple ways, including leaving out important information, using misleading wording, and taking advantage of double meaning.
  • The half-truth fallacy refers to drawing false conclusions based on a half-truth.
  • Asking questions and reading critically will help you avoid the half-truth fallacy.

1 Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758).

2 Michael Chrichton, Jurassic Park (1990).

3 Jonathan Demme, The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Frequently Asked Questions about Half Truth

A half-truth is a deceptive statement that contains some, but not all, elements of the truth.

Presenting part of the truth is also called presenting a half-truth. A half-truth is a deceptive statement that contains some, but not all, elements of the truth.

The truth can be bent or omitted in multiple ways, including:


  • leaving out important information
  • using misleading wording
  • taking advantage of double meaning.

In his book of adages, Poor Richard's Almanack (1758), Benjamin Franklin wrote, "half a truth is often a great lie." Even if it includes elements of the truth, a half-truth is always deceptive.

A half-truth includes some, but not all, elements of the truth. It is inherently deceptive and is considered a lie.

Final Half Truth Quiz

Half Truth Quiz - Teste dein Wissen

Question

Equivocation is a(n) _____ fallacy.

Show answer

Answer

Informal

Show question

Question

Equivocation is using the _____ ambiguously throughout an argument. 

Show answer

Answer

Same word

Show question

Question

What is equivocal language?

Show answer

Answer

Equivocal language is the kind of language used in equivocation. Equivocal language is intentionally ambiguous language that may lead to differing interpretations.

Show question

Question

What are three types of words that equivocal language can use?

Show answer

Answer

Homophones, homographs, and homonyms.

Show question

Question

_____ sound the same but have different meanings.


Show answer

Answer

Homophones

Show question

Question

_____ are spelled the same but have different meanings.

Show answer

Answer

Homographs

Show question

Question

_____ sound alike and are spelled alike, but they have different meanings.

Show answer

Answer

Homonyms

Show question

Question

Tear (TARE) and tear (TEER) are examples of what?

Show answer

Answer

Homographs

Show question

Question

Lute and loot are examples of what?

Show answer

Answer

Homophones

Show question

Question

Equivocation is a logical fallacy because it is _____.

Show answer

Answer

Deceptive and unsound

Show question

Question

"Logical arguments use rhetoric, but arguing is petty and inflammatory, and rhetoric is for propagandists. Perhaps 'logical arguments' are not so good after all."

What is this argument?

Show answer

Answer

Valid but unsound

Show question

Question

How is equivocation different from amphiboly?

Show answer

Answer

Equivocation is the ambiguous misuse of a single word. Amphiboly, which may or may not be fallacious, is an ambiguous phrase.

Show question

Question

To avoid equivocation, understand the many what of a single word?

Show answer

Answer

Definitions.

Show question

Question

"To avoid equivocation, hide all but your 'last minute' arguments."

True or false?

Show answer

Answer

False. Hide nothing.

Show question

Question

If you continue to build arguments upon the same word, do you risk equivocation?

Show answer

Answer

Yes.  If you continue to use the same word to make more and more points, you might be using that word in different contexts. Reexamine your line of reasoning.

Show question

Question

What is a sentimental appeal?

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Answer

The sentimental appeal is the attempt to persuade somebody based on an emotional hook.

Show question

Question

Which of these is not another name for the sentimental appeal?

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Answer

Ethos

Show question

Question

What are the three persuasive appeals?

Show answer

Answer

Pathos (emotion).

Show question

Question

As a rule of thumb, sentimental appeals are ____ when they stand alone without logic. 


Show answer

Answer

Fallacious

Show question

Question

To rely purely on sentiment in a logical argument is to ignore the most important part of logical argumentation. What part of a logical argument is that?


Show answer

Answer

Logic.

Show question

Question

If someone uses a sentimental appeal without logic, they present only part of the truth.

True or false?


Show answer

Answer

True.

Show question

Question

Why would someone only appeal to sentiment and not to logic as well?

Show answer

Answer

Not everyone has a logical argument. Thus, they use the power of sentiment.

Show question

Question

Which takes longer to form: a sentimental appeal or a logical appeal?

Show answer

Answer

A logical appeal. 

Show question

Question

Who among these might abuse sentimental appeals?

Show answer

Answer

All of them.

Show question

Question

What are the two main steps in identifying a sentimental appeal?

Show answer

Answer

First, does the argument engage your emotions? Second, does the argument contain a logical appeal within it? 

If the answers are "yes" then "no," then it is purely a sentimental appeal.

Show question

Question

Sentimental appeals rarely contain visual elements.

True or false?

Show answer

Answer

False. 

Show question

Question

How can humor be a sentimental appeal?

Show answer

Answer

Making someone laugh is a powerful way to earn favor and even trust. More than that, humor can make light of something serious and thus can undercut logic. 

Show question

Question

How does an appeal to sadness work?

Show answer

Answer

An appeal to sadness attempts to depress someone in hopes they will respond to suggestion. 

Show question

Question

What fallacies are appeals to fear?

Show answer

Answer

Slippery slope.

Show question

Question

How does an appeal to anger work?

Show answer

Answer

A sentimental appeal to anger attempts to make someone angry and vengeful. When someone is angry, they can easily be manipulated.

Show question

Question

What is the definition of a half-truth?

Show answer

Answer

A half-truth is a deceptive statement that contains some, but not all, elements of the truth.

Show question

Question

True or false: a half-truth always refers to intentional deception.

Show answer

Answer

False

Show question

Question

What is the purpose of presenting only part of the truth?

Show answer

Answer

The purpose of a half-truth is to present a speaker or argument in a flattering way. This can mean evading blame, inflating importance or power, or projecting confidence

Show question

Question

Think of possible half-truths in this sentence. How could the statement be misleading?


"Are you sure you can safely land this plane?"

"Of course! I've landed dozens of planes."

Show answer

Answer

The response leaves out the word safely. The speaker could have landed dozens of planes, but never safely.

Show question

Question

Think of possible half-truths in this sentence. How could the statement be misleading?


I did not steal your phone on Thursday.

Show answer

Answer

The speaker specifies that they did not steal the phone on Thursday. They could still have stolen the phone, just not on Thursday.

Show question

Question

Think of possible half-truths in this sentence. How could the statement be misleading?


I've never seen an elephant that had pink tusks.

Show answer

Answer

The addition of that had pink tusks could mislead the audience. The speaker may have never seen an elephant at all.

Show question

Question

Think of possible half-truths in this sentence. How could the statement be misleading?


My entire fifth-grade class had the same birthday.

Show answer

Answer

It seems incredible that an entire class would have the same birthday. What if the speaker were asked a simple question, like "how many students were in your fifth-grade class?" The speaker would have to admit that they were homeschooled in fifth grade, and their only classmate was their twin.

Show question

Question

Think of possible half-truths in this sentence. How could the statement be misleading?


I'm a mathematician, and most mathematicians have memorized lots of prime numbers.

Show answer

Answer

The speaker never directly says that they have memorized a lot of prime numbers.

Show question

Question

Think of possible half-truths in this sentence. How could the statement be misleading?


100% of our survey participants are strongly against Proposition B.

Show answer

Answer

The speaker doesn't mention how many participants were surveyed. The survey could have consisted of five people at a "Vote No to Proposition B" protest.

Show question

Question

What is the half-truth fallacy?

Show answer

Answer

The half-truth fallacy is a rhetorical fallacy that refers to drawing false conclusions based on a half-truth.

Show question

Question

How can you avoid the half-truth fallacy?

Show answer

Answer

To avoid the half-truth fallacy, read critically and ask follow-up questions. How are these statements connected? Could you clarify this wording? When did these events take place?

Show question

Question

The person who did the least work in a group project put their name at the top of the paper as if it is theirs. What is their purpose for this half-truth?


Show answer

Answer

Inflating their importance 

Show question

Question

On the first day of a new job, a person exaggerates how experienced they are in the field. What is their purpose for this half-truth?  


Show answer

Answer

To project confidence. 


Show question

Question

A drive bumps into another car and dents it a bit. They leave a not on the car that says: “I noticed that there is a dent in your car.” What is their purpose for this half-truth?


Show answer

Answer

Evading blame. 


Show question

Question

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a half-truth?


Show answer

Answer

Leaving out important information 


Show question

Question

Why are half-truths deceptive?


Show answer

Answer

They purposely remove vital information and can be easily misinterpreted. 


Show question

Question

What is a fallacy?


Show answer

Answer

A failure in reasoning which results in an unsound argument. 


Show question

Question

Is a half-truth considered a truth?


Show answer

Answer

A half-truth includes some, but not all, elements of the truth. It is inherently deceptive and is considered a lie. 


Show question

Question

What does it mean to project confidence?


Show answer

Answer

Projecting confidence means coming across as more confident than one really is. 


Show question

Question

Why is this quote from a cannibal in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) a half-truth?

“I’m having an old friend for dinner.”


Show answer

Answer

The sentence’s double meaning makes the speaker’s true intent less clear. 


Show question

Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

Equivocation is a(n) _____ fallacy.

Equivocation is using the _____ ambiguously throughout an argument. 

_____ sound the same but have different meanings.

Next

Flashcards in Half Truth61

Start learning

Equivocation is a(n) _____ fallacy.

Informal

Equivocation is using the _____ ambiguously throughout an argument. 

Same word

What is equivocal language?

Equivocal language is the kind of language used in equivocation. Equivocal language is intentionally ambiguous language that may lead to differing interpretations.

What are three types of words that equivocal language can use?

Homophones, homographs, and homonyms.

_____ sound the same but have different meanings.


Homophones

_____ are spelled the same but have different meanings.

Homographs

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