Finding verbal signs of lying means knowing what to look for and getting to the bottom of the psychology of lying.
Detecting Verbal Signs of Lying
People typically show verbal signs when they lie, both in the tone of their voices and in the stories they tell. While there is not a surefire way to know if someone is lying, there are things you can listen for that should raise your eyebrows.
Speech Patterns
You might notice a higher pitch in tone, stuttering, clearing the throat and frequent pauses. The person might use filler words such as "uh, er, oh" and "um" during moments of hesitation as lies are put together. Liars also will cut out contractions, using "was not" instead of "wasn't" or "did not" rather than "didn't". It's also typical for a person to get tongue-tied and lose his thoughts in mid-sentence.
Repeating Questions
As lies are formulated, the person needs time to think. Instead of giving you a straight answer, you might hear your question repeated back to you or notice a slight pause between answers. The person might also ask you to repeat the question you just asked, even though you know he heard you the first time. These are tactics that liars use to buy time before responding.
Denial
Defensive behavior, denial and trying to make the other person feel guilty might also be used as the liar tries to create empathy. You might hear things like, "I would never lie" as the person tries to convince you he's innocent. Most people caught in the act of lying will flat out deny it and even become angry. Everyone tells lies sometimes, so anyone who says they "never lie" is probably lying.
Changing the Subject or Story
A swift subject change is another of the verbal signs of lying. The person might also tell a story that lacks detail. If the story you are hearing starts to change or you are hearing different things at different times, this is a strong indication of lying. Liars will also contradict themselves, making statements that don't completely make sense. If you begin to feel suspicious, press on asking questions and looking for details that don't fit together.
Unwillingness to Cooperate
Liars do not want to be found out and will be significantly more uncooperative than someone who is telling the truth. As you push the person to tell you more, there are more opportunities to slip up, and you might detect frustration or anger. You'll likely hear complaints, negative statements and multiple protests from a liar.
Find the Truth
If you suspect a person is lying, keep asking questions. This way you'll begin to filter out the story and be able to tell if the details are changing. However, watch out for expert liars. Those people might provide too much detail and will do anything to convince you of their story.
Why Do People Lie?
If someone is trying to cover up the truth, he obviously has something to hide. Reasons for lying are plentiful, but they include things like controlling others, avoiding punishment or conflict, being accepted, looking good and self-protection.
While everyone occasionally tells white lies, some people make lying a bad habit - or worse. This destructive problem could even turn into a compulsive lying disorder.
There are treatments available if you suspect you or a loved one needs help.





