Editing Factoid (section)

==Versus factlet==
As a result of confusion over the meaning of factoid, some English-language style and usage guides discourage its use.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brians |first=Paul |title=Common Errors in English Usage |publisher=William James & Company |year=2003 |isbn=1-887902-89-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/commonerrorsinen0000bria }} [http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/factoid.html "factoid" The Website of Prof. Paul Brians].</ref> [[William Safire]] in his "On Language" column advocated the use of the word ''factlet'' instead of ''factoid'' to express a brief interesting fact as well as a "little bit of arcana" but did not explain how adopting this new term would alleviate the ongoing confusion over the existing contradictory common use meanings of ''factoid''.<ref name="Safire" />

Safire suggested that ''factlet'' be used to designate a small or trivial bit of information that is nonetheless true or accurate.<ref name=NYTimes1/><ref name="Safire">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/05/magazine/on-language-only-the-factoids.html?pagewanted=all|title=On Language; Only the Factoids|last=Safire|first=William|date=December 5, 1993|work=The New York Times Magazine|access-date=February 24, 2012}}</ref> A report in ''[[The Guardian]]'' identified Safire as the writer who coined the term ''factlet'',<ref name=TheGuardian/> although Safire's 1993 column suggested ''factlet'' was already in use at that time.<ref name=NYTimes1/> ''[[The Atlantic]]'' magazine agreed with Safire and recommended ''factlet'' to signify a "small probably unimportant but interesting fact", as ''factoid'' still connoted a spurious fact.<ref name=TheAtlantic>[[Alexis Madrigal|Madrigal, Alexis C.]] (March 29, 2012). [https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/03/down-with-factoid-up-with-factlet/255235/ "Down With Factoid! Up With Factlet!"]. ''The Atlantic''. Accessed June 9, 2014. "Factoid is now almost exclusively used to mean a brief interesting fact&nbsp;... ought instead to use another word for a small probably unimportant but interesting fact".</ref> The term ''factlet'' has been used in publications such as ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]'',<ref>[[Kevin Drum|Drum, Kevin]] (April 19, 2010). [https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/04/factlet-day "Factlet of the Day"]. ''Mother Jones''. Accessed June 9, 2014.</ref> the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'',<ref>Burrell, Jackie (May 19, 2014). [http://www.mercurynews.com/tv/ci_25790988/amazing-race-all-star-winners-and-winner-is "Amazing Race All-Star Winners: And the winner is (spoiler!!)"]. ''The San Jose Mercury News''. Accessed June 9, 2014. "Brendan has promised his bride that if they win the million bucks, she can have a baby, a ''factlet'' that keeps coming up in the most manipulative and unsavory ways". (italics added)</ref> and in the ''[[Reno Gazette Journal]]''.<ref>Wright, Johnathan L. (May 26, 2014). [http://www.rgj.com/story/life/2014/05/25/one-ear-cherchez-sparkle-jewelry-fundraiser/9531681/ "In One Ear: Cherchez the sparkle at jewelry fundraiser; Cakebread dinner"]. ''Reno Gazette Journal''. Accessed June 9, 2014. "The chardonnay made its entrance next on the arm of rabbit loin wrapped in serrano ham (little food ''factlet'' for you: serrano ham couldn't be imported to the United States until 1997, when the pigs used in the ham were certified as free from African swine disease)". (italics added)</ref>