Fact Check: 97.4 percent of facts are made up

Fact Check: "97.4 percent of facts are made up"

What We Know

The claim that "97.4 percent of facts are made up" is a humorous assertion often used to highlight the potential for misinformation or exaggeration in statistical claims. This statement does not appear to have a basis in any scientific or statistical study. Instead, it is similar to other humorous takes on statistics, such as the claim that "73.6% of all statistics are made up" which underscores the pitfalls of misinformation in the digital age.

The number 97.4% does appear in various contexts, such as in the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program where it represents the percentage of the U.S. population covered by participating law enforcement agencies, and in the 2023 Small Business Profile where it indicates the percentage of small firms among U.S. exporters. However, these contexts are unrelated to the claim about facts being made up.

Analysis

The claim "97.4 percent of facts are made up" is not supported by any credible source or data. It is important to recognize that this statement is often used humorously to critique the misuse or overreliance on statistics without proper context or verification.

The source from Business Insider provides a humorous perspective on the misuse of statistics, suggesting that such claims should be taken with skepticism unless backed by solid evidence. This aligns with the understanding that the claim in question is more of a satirical commentary rather than a factual statement.

The sources that mention the 97.4% figure in different contexts, such as the FBI's UCR Program and the 2023 Small Business Profile, are reliable in their respective domains. However, they do not support the claim about facts being made up, as they refer to specific, verifiable statistics within their fields.

Conclusion

Needs Research: The claim that "97.4 percent of facts are made up" is a humorous and satirical statement rather than a factual one. It highlights the potential for misuse of statistics and the importance of critical evaluation of data. No credible evidence supports this claim as a factual statistic. Further research into the origins and use of this statement in popular culture could provide more context, but as it stands, it should not be taken literally.

Sources

1. FBI — About the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program
2. 2023 Small Business Profile
3. U.S. energy facts explained - consumption and production
4. The myth of the 97% climate change consensus - Watts Up With That
5. Santorum's Climate Consensus Claims - FactCheck.org
6. The 97% consensus on global warming - Skeptical Science
7. 73.6% of All Statistics Are Made up
8. Human-Caused Global Warming - Skeptical Science