A black and white sketch of a magnifying glass laying on a desk.

2 Reasons Details Get “Made Up for Clarity” (and Why That’s Okay Sometimes)

April 21, 2025

In my family, we’ve got a phrase that’s part inside joke, part storytelling policy: “Details were made up for clarity.” You’ll hear it tossed around the porch whenever a story starts getting a little too smooth or a memory grows taller than it used to be. Most times, the storyteller will pause just long enough for someone to say “Details,” and everyone knows what it means.

It all goes back to a tale Maw-Maw once told about a certain liberated flamingo and a roadside motel room. Great-Grandmama Alice capped the story with with a major correction, and Maw-Maw—without missing a beat—declared: “Details were made up for clarity.” We’ve been saying it ever since.

It’s not about fibbing. It’s about making a story land. And here’s why a few extra details—so long as they’re served with a smile—might just be part of the truth.

1. Storytelling helps us make sense of the messy parts.

It’s not about fibbing. It’s about making a story land. And here’s why a few extra details—so long as they’re served with a smile—might just be part of the truth.

It’s not about lying. It’s about meaning.

[This article on memory and storytelling] explains how our minds naturally reshape memories. We don’t remember with perfect clarity—we remember with feeling. So it makes sense that a good tale might smooth a few edges.

2. Embellishment can bring you closer to the truth.

Sometimes, adding a bit of color makes the emotional part of a story clearer. That flamingo didn’t just ride along—she represented mischief, joy, and the kind of moment that gets better every time it’s retold.

In a family that values laughter and porch storytelling, “Details” isn’t a call-out—it’s a compliment. It means someone’s listening. It means you’re keeping tradition alive.

A family phrase, a conspiratorial warning.

So the next time you find yourself weaving a tale and adding just a little extra sparkle, be prepared: someone might grin and say it. “Details.”

—Archie (Chief Philosopher)

P.S. And if you ever need a reminder that stories are supposed to be enjoyed—not just recited—I just so happen to know a t-shirt that’ll do the trick.