Factoid

A factoid is either a false statement presented as a fact,[1][2] or a true but brief or trivial item of news or information.

[8] As a result of confusion over the meaning of factoid, some English-language style and usage guides discourage its use.

[9] 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.

[10] Safire suggested that factlet be used to designate a small or trivial bit of information that is nonetheless true or accurate.

[11] The term factlet has been used in publications such as Mother Jones,[12] the San Jose Mercury News,[13] and in the Reno Gazette Journal.