Hedging, Weasel Words, and Truthiness in Scientific Writing.

Background And Objectives: Words in scientific discourse must be truthful. Introducing ambiguity or creating a false narrative by insinuating close counts or almost statements as facts that appeal to a truth the writer wants to exist doesn't make it true. A reader's personal interpretation because of hedging or weasel words creates an opportunity for truthiness as a belief to become a fact when it isn't.

Conclusion: Awareness by scientists of this situation will make article reading more critical and related to reality rather than what you want an author wants it to be.