Which statement correctly distinguishes libel from slander?

Which statement correctly distinguishes libel from slander?

• A. Slander is written; Libel is spoken.
• B. Libel is written; Slander is spoken.
• C. Both terms refer to written defamation.
• D. Libel is a form of privacy violation.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that defamation is distinguished by form: libel is defamation in a written or otherwise fixed medium, while slander is defamation spoken aloud. This makes the statement that libel is written and slander is spoken the most accurate, since a newspaper, online post, or other printed material preserves the false claim in a lasting form. The other options misstate the distinction or label libel as a privacy violation, which isn’t correct in defamation law. In practice, the written form (libel) is often easier to prove because the exact statement is recorded and widely disseminated.

The key idea is that defamation is distinguished by form: libel is defamation in a written or otherwise fixed medium, while slander is defamation spoken aloud. This makes the statement that libel is written and slander is spoken the most accurate, since a newspaper, online post, or other printed material preserves the false claim in a lasting form. The other options misstate the distinction or label libel as a privacy violation, which isn’t correct in defamation law. In practice, the written form (libel) is often easier to prove because the exact statement is recorded and widely disseminated.