I was asked to referee a discussion recently; specifically, whether veracity and validity were perfectly synonymous — and if not, "why?", and further to provide clear demonstrative examples in simple sentences.
While I asserted veracity refers to "truth", and validity was more aligned with "accuracy" independent of human distortion, I could not find the proper words to define the subtle distinction, outside of technical applications (I is an engineer…)
However, I later stumbled across a line from Great Grandpa: "They don't make cars like they used to."
Which ironically, is totally true. (technology, efficiency, materials, safety). So I might say the statement has veracity (It's ultimately true, and Geepaw believes it with no deceptive intent.) BUT, the statement lacks validity. It's clear from the context an implied "cars [not as good] as they used to be"
It's easier on the scientific/engineering side. Many articles simply strike "veracity" from the acceptable vocabulary. Which I would agree with, because an inanimate object cannot lack veractiy. An instrument cannot lie. It might be terribly inaccurate, uncalibrated, broken, or inapplicable, and therefore lack validity, but it doesn't lack veracity.
So, okay, help? Specifically I'd like to see simple sentences that lack veracity but not validity, and anything that lacks validity but has veracity.
Or are these sufficiently synonymous in "everyday speech" that I need to let it go?
On edit
Pretty sure this equine is necrodestined, and the answer to my last question is obvious.
While validity seems pretty well defined, I'm still having trouble with veracity, as some [good] answers seem to imply the "truth" is at least somewhat dependent on the speaker's state of mind. In other words, if I believe my untrue statement, it still has veracity. Sorry, I can't get there.
I phrased the original question as "non-technical" "everyday" speech, but as @Peter Point commented, veracity probably isn't an "everyday" word.
Ultimately, I submit that "true" and "valid" are binary terms, but at least veracity (possibly validity) has some sort of spectrum.
Best Answer
means that I don't accept that the statement, as a whole, is true.
means that there's a logical inference in the statement that does not follow.
For example, I would question the veracity of "He's dead!" (Maybe I saw a small movement that made me think he might actually be alive.)
But I would question the validity of "He's not moving! He must be dead!"