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I believe the term "factoid" was coined by Norman Mailer to explain
the source of his information in his 1960s' biography of Marilyn
Monroe. In other words, it sounded plausible, but he made it up.
John
> Paul Tarr <pwt -at- MINNIE -dot- BELL -dot- INMET -dot- COM> wrote-->
> ... One of my favorites is "factoid". What exactly is a
> factoid? The dictionary defines the suffix oid to signify as or like
> something but not the same as that something. I infer that a factoid must
> be as or like a fact but not a fact! The only thing that I can think of
> that is as or like a fact but not a fact is a plausible lie.
> ================
> Per Amercian Heritage College Dictionary, copyright 1993:
> factoid n. Unverified or inaccurate information that is
> presented in the press as factual and is then accepted
> as true because of constant repetition.
> Now, isn't THAT interesting!
> I will from now on view Headline News' factoids with an air of
> suspicion.
> =*= Beverly Parks =*= bparks -at- huachuca-emh1 -dot- army -dot- mil =*=
> =*= "These opinions are mine, not my employer's." =*=
> =*= =*= =*=
