Lies, Made-Up Facts, and Repeated Misinformation
Knowing the difference and not falling into a trap
"That's not true! You're lying!"
We’ve all heard this before—maybe even said it ourselves. But what if the person wasn’t technically lying? What if they were wrong, misinformed, or repeating something they assumed was true?
In an era of misinformation, social media soundbites, and fast-paced communication, knowing the difference between lying, making up facts, and repeating unverified claims is more than just splitting hairs. It’s essential for ethical communication, productive debate, and trust-building—personally and professionally.
1. Lying: The Intentional Falsehood
A lie is a statement made with the intent to deceive. It’s not just incorrect—it’s knowingly incorrect. The speaker understands the truth but chooses to mislead others.
Key characteristics of a lie:
The speaker knows the statement is false
There is clear intent to mislead
Often used for personal gain, self-protection, or manipulation
Example: A student tells a teacher, “I emailed you my assignment last night,” knowing they did not. The goal is to avoid a penalty.
Philosopher Immanuel Kant considered lying a moral failing of the highest order, arguing that it corrupts human dignity and undermines trust (Kant, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, 1785).
Lying erodes credibility in professional settings. Once broken, trust can be nearly impossible to repair, especially when stakeholders, customers, or employees are involved.
2. Making Up Facts: Confident, But Baseless
This behavior differs from lying because it often lacks intent to deceive. Instead, it arises from carelessness, ego, or a desire to appear knowledgeable—even when the person has no factual basis for their claim.
Key characteristics:
The speaker doesn’t necessarily know the claim is false
There is no evidence or research to support the statement
Often made in the moment, to fill conversational gaps or appear credible
Example: Someone at a dinner party confidently says, “80% of people in Scandinavia are fluent in three languages,” without having any source to back it up. It’s not meant to deceive—it just sounds plausible, and they didn’t think twice.
Psychologists have linked this behavior to the illusion of explanatory depth, where people believe they understand something more deeply than they do (Rozenblit & Keil, 2002). This cognitive bias leads us to speak confidently about topics we don’t fully grasp.
While not always malicious, making up facts contributes to the misinformation ecosystem and reveals a lack of intellectual humility.
3. Repeating Misinformation: Trusting the Wrong Source
This is perhaps the most common issue in today’s information landscape. A person repeats a claim they’ve heard—on social media, in a conversation, or on a news broadcast—without verifying its accuracy. They may genuinely believe it’s true. They may even be trying to help.
Key characteristics:
The speaker doesn’t know if it’s true or false
They trust the source (rightly or wrongly)
There is no intent to deceive, but a failure to verify
Example: A person shares an article titled "Carrots Improve Your Vision Dramatically" because they believe it and want to help others eat healthy. They don’t realize the claim has been debunked—it originated as WWII propaganda to conceal radar technology advancements (NHS UK, 2018).
This category falls under negligent communication rather than malicious deception. But the results can be equally harmful.
Unchecked repetition of misinformation plays a significant role in the spread of false beliefs. As Daniel Kahneman explains in Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011), repetition increases perceived truth. The more we hear something—even if it’s false—the more likely we are to accept it as true. This is known as the illusory truth effect.
Moral and Social Accountability
While these categories may overlap at times, the differences matter in terms of moral responsibility and social consequences:
Understanding these distinctions helps us respond appropriately:
Call out lies when there's clear intent.
Encourage fact-checking when people make things up.
Educate and share sources when someone repeats misinformation.
Practical Takeaways
Ask yourself before speaking or sharing:
Do I know this to be true?
Where did I learn it? Can I verify it?
Hold others accountable, kindly.
Not everyone is lying. Sometimes, they just haven’t done their homework.
Admit when you don’t know.
Intellectual humility builds trust and invites others to explore the truth with you.
Fact-check before you share.
Use trusted sources like Snopes, FactCheck.org, or peer-reviewed articles.
Avoid overconfidence.
Just because something “sounds right” doesn’t mean it is.
Words Carry Weight
In a world where falsehoods travel faster than facts, distinguishing between lies, made-up facts, and innocent misinformation is essential. Each has different motives, implications, and ways to respond.
Lies should be condemned. Made-up facts should be challenged. Repeated misinformation should be corrected.
Clear thinking and honest communication are the foundations of civil discourse and, increasingly, of a functioning society. But if you think you can make up a fact to win an argument and that’s OK, then you might just be telling yourself a story that makes you feel better and goes against much of what you believe to be the right havior in others.
When in doubt, remember this simple rule: If you don’t know, don’t claim. And if you learn better, share better.