One of my biggest pet peeves is someone who describes a statement using the term honestly.
Why? Because there is usually a hint of dishonesty in whatever is said. It's a bad habit if you do it and usually a sign of insecurity about a statement or a sign that you are not telling 100% of the truth. If you have to describe your statement as honestly it unusually means there might be a slight "white lie" in your statement.
This holds true, especially in the World of Wall Street and politics. I hear statements like this often on TV and it immediately tells me this person might be full of shit. It's a good thing to listen for if you are a contrarian investor. I tend to run for the hills and avoid stock or company immediately if I hear management use this."Honestly, I really like it." "Honestly, I really don't know the answer." "Do you want my honest answer?"
Pay attention the next time you hear it and ask yourself what hidden agenda that person who said it might have. Feel free to submit your examples below.
The other statement I am starting to not like is also . . . "Trust me".
Using the word "honestly" in a statement doesn't necessarily imply that the statement itself is untruthful. The word "honestly" is often used as an adverb to emphasize sincerity, openness, or truthfulness. It can be employed to convey the speaker's earnestness or to indicate that what follows is a genuine and truthful expression of their thoughts or feelings.
While it's true that some individuals may use the word "honestly" as a filler word or as a way to draw attention to their honesty, it doesn't mean that every use of "honestly" signifies deception or untruthfulness. Context, tone, and other linguistic cues play a significant role in determining the intention and truthfulness behind a statement.
Ultimately, the use of the word "honestly" doesn't automatically negate the truthfulness of a statement. The content and sincerity of the statement itself should be evaluated independently to determine its truth value.