Word Choice – Using ‘True’ vs ‘Truth’ in a Sentence

word-choice

What he is saying is essentially true.

Can I replace here "true" {adjective} with "truth" {noun}? As I understand it, "true" in that sentence is like a noun. Does that replacement change the meaning?

Best Answer

You can replace "true" with "truth" without changing the meaning.

I would be a little surprised to read that sentence with "truth" instead of "true". Context might suggest that the writer was not a native speaker, or might make me pause to think a little. Somehow "truth" instead of "true" seems (to me) a very slightly more forceful claim.

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