Tell the truth!

Lying in business or personal relationships will hurt you in the long run. But being
truthful won't help you if people think you're a liar. So avoid these words and phrases
that signal deceit. And if others use them, take care. They may be lying. Of course
everything is in context, not everybody is lying.
1. "In all honesty..." People who are lying tend to use the words "honest" and
"honestly" to encourage listeners to believe them. Don't use these words yourself, and
watch out for those who do.
2. "Believe me." People who are lying often literally tell you to believe them. Never use
this phrase either.
3. "As far as I know." You may just be trying to be super-accurate, but your listener
may assume you're leaving yourself an out when your statement turns out to be false.
Always state clearly what you know, what you believe to be true, and what you think
may be true.
4. "To the best of my recollection." If you use this lame-sounding phrase and people
might assume you're lying. Memory can be a tricky thing, but say what you actually
remember. And if you're not sure, say so.
5. "The real issue is..." Most people don't like to lie, so they use a phrase like this to
redirect the conversation to a different topic. Do that and you could be seen as evasive
and untrustworthy. If there's a second issue you need to discuss, finish with the current
issue first.
6. "The fact is..." Some people use this phrase when they're about to say something
they know will be hard to hear. But like "honestly," referring to the facts may make
listeners think you might be deceitful.

7. "To tell you the truth.." Like "Let me be honest," this phrase will cause listeners to
wonder if everything you said before was untrue.
8. "I would never!" "Did you steal that money?" "I would never take money that wasn't
mine!" Strictly speaking, this answer refers to future behavior, not what you did in the
past, and it could be a sign of lying. Try not to use this phrase and don't trust anyone
who does.
9. Repeating the question. Remember you have to think about context in this situation.
If someone asks you a question and you say it back to them, you may just be making
sure you heard right. But it can sound like stalling for time. If you didn't hear, make sure
to say so.

10. "What?" “Big Bang Theory” fans are familiar with Leonard's squeaky "Wha-at?"--a
sure sign he's lying. Saying "What?" or asking someone to repeat a question can sound
defensive. Avoid it if you can.
11. "Could you clarify?" You may be seeking accuracy. But like repeating the question
or saying "What?" it can sound like you're trying to squirm out of answering.
12. One-word answers. People who are lying often keep their answers short to avoid
making mistakes with details. Give too many very short answers, and people will
wonder if they're truthful.

13. Avoiding the word "I". People who are lying often try to distance themselves by
using the third person: "The vase got broken," not "I broke the vase." Use "I" whenever
appropriate.
14. "Do you believe me?" Liars often ask this question. People who are telling the truth
tend to just assume they'll be believed. So don't ask this unless you have a very good
reason.
15. "How can you doubt me?" Liars often go on the offensive, acting angry or hurt if
you seem to distrust them. Truth-tellers aren't so invested in being believed, and usually
aren't offended if asked for proof. So don't let someone's skepticism upset you--that will
just make things worse.