Factoids

16 Green Bag 2d 43 (2012)

8 Pages Posted: 29 Jul 2013

See all articles by Allen Rostron

Allen Rostron

University of Missouri at Kansas City - School of Law

Date Written: July 27, 2012

Abstract

What exactly is the difference between a factoid and a fact? Norman Mailer intented the word "factoid" in a biography of Marilyn Monroe, using it to mean things that seem to be facts but really are not. But CNN Headline News and most writers eventually began using the word to mean a nugget of information that is true but trivial or presented without adequate context. To avoid confusion, I suggest that the term "pseudo-fact" is a great candidate to take over the role that Mailer intended for "factoid".

Suggested Citation

Rostron, Allen K., Factoids (July 27, 2012). 16 Green Bag 2d 43 (2012), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2302353 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2302353

Allen K. Rostron (Contact Author)

University of Missouri at Kansas City - School of Law ( email )

5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
United States

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