Correct versus Yes

I had dinner tonight with a group of people; two worked for the Assistant District Attorney's office. Throughout the meal they kept saying "Correct" where the rest of us would say Yes.

I've noticed this in my Dateline binges. Police officers etc, say "Correct."

So I jokingly asked her the deal. I honestly thought she'd say it was about pronunciation or documentation. But according to her there is more too it.

She said "Witnesses talk too much, I generally tell them to put their hands on their knees and count words by fingers. If you've gotten to the second hand, you've said too much!"

She explained that a big problem was witnesses saying "Yes....but...." and then trying to explain.

So for example I'm an atheist, the lawyer asks. "So you saw Ms. Johnson in the church praying to God?"

And I'd say "Yes but I don't believe in God...so to clarify"

This complicates what should be an easy back and forth.

So she told me that she tells clients that "Correct" would mean, that's what you saw, as opposed to "YES" meaning "I agree."

The dinner ended before I could get more out of her, but I found this fascinating. So any law people on here? Is there truth to this?

Is this Correct? ;)

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1mwyBow