Words longer than eight letters: Long words aren’t typically used in day-to-day conversation, so people who deploy them may be trying too hard to sound authentic—when, in fact, they’re pulling the wool over your eyes.
A lack of me, myself, and I: “In deceptive text, expect fewer first-person pronouns,” says Subbalakshmi. “This is because deceivers try to dissociate themselves from their words. This is done to avoid personal responsibility for their behavior.”
Too much you: Text riddled with second-person pronouns like you, your, or y’all are also suspect. Often, it’s an attempt to deflect attention from the liar toward the person he’s trying to dupe.
No ifs, buts, or withouts: “Since lying requires cognitive resources, deceivers tend to tell a less complex story,” explains Subbalakshmi. “They typically do not distinguish between various branches in the story. This could be characterized in the form of a fewer number of exclusive words, like except, but, or without.”
A lot of hate, sad, and bad: “The act of deception induces short-term as well as long-term guilt,” says Subbalakshmi. “This leads to a higher frequency of negative emotion words.”
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