The FACTS are confusing. I always thought they were so simple. A fact was the truth. But this is the definitions I found...
Merriam-Webster
fact /'fakt/ noun
1 a : a thing done b : CRIME 1
2 : the quality of being actual
3 : something that actually exists or occurs
4 : a piece of information about something presented as true and accurate
- in fact : in truth : ACTUALLY
Okay that not too confusing, I guess.
Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary (This is for people who are learning English as a second language.)
fact /ˈfækt/ noun
plural facts
1 [count] : something that truly exists or happens : something that has actual existence
▪ Rapid electronic communication is now a fact. — often used in the phrase the fact that ▪ It's hard to accept the fact that she's gone. [=it's hard to accept that she's gone] ▪ What they're proposing is impractical, apart from the fact that it's also illegal. ▪ In spite of the fact that he was sick [=although he was sick], I went to visit him.
2 : a true piece of information [count]
▪ The book is filled with interesting facts and figures. ▪ Those are the (cold) hard facts of the case. ▪ I know for a fact that he did it. [=I am sure that he did it] ▪ He did it, and that's a fact. ▪ There's no doubt that he did it. The facts speak for themselves. [=the facts make it clear that he did it] [noncount] ▪ It can sometimes be hard to separate fact from fiction. [=to know what is true and what is false]
Now this one I like, it is just what I thought fact was. I should have stopped reading here. But know I had to check out one more...
Bouvier's Law Dictionary
FACT. An action; a thing done. It is either simple or compound.
2. A fact is simple when it expresses a purely material act unconnected
with any moral qualification; for example, to say Peter went into his house,
is to express a simple fact. A compound fact contains the materiality of the
act, and the qualification which that act has in its connexion with morals
and, the law. To say, then, that Peter has stolen a horse, is to express a
compound fact; for the fact of stealing, expresses at the same time, the
material fact of taking the horse, and of taking him with the guilty
intention of depriving the owner of his property and appropriating it to his
own use; which is a violation of the law of property.
3. Fact. is also put in opposition to law; in every case which has to
be tried there are facts to be established, and the law which bears on those
facts.
4. Facts are also to be considered as material or immaterial. Material
facts are those which are essential to the right of action or defence, and
therefore of the substance of the one or the other - these must always be
proved; or immaterial, which are those not essential to the cause of action
- these need not be proved. 3 Bouv. Inst. n. 3150-53.
5. Facts are generally determined by a jury,; but there are many facts,
which, not being the principal matters in issue, may be decided by the
court; such, for example, whether a subpoena has or has not been served;
whether a party has or has not been summoned, &c. As to pleading material
facts, see Gould. Pl. c. 3, s. 28. As to quality of facts proved, see 3
Bouv. Inst. n. 3150. Vide Eng. Ecc. R. 401-2, and the article Circumstances.
No I didn't miss anything. The definition started with 2. You can see for yourself if you look here. Leave it to Lawyers to really screw something simple up. It remindes me of a joke I heard.
"What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a Lawyer?'
"An offer you can't understand"
I now have a headache and am so confused... and that's a FACT.
This clip is what got me on my search today. It was one of my favorite lines from a Television show.
This is Walter Brennan in "The Guns of Will Sonnett" a show that was on from 1967 to 1969.
Oh yes and the Fact of the matter is blogger decided to mess with the colors of my post. I just hope the blue goes back to the white it is suppose to be when I post it. I tried changing it on the Posting page but I couldn't see the white on white. Ah well, such is the drama of blogging.
