Which of the following describes libel?

• A. False spoken statements damaging reputation
• B. False written statements damaging reputation
• C. True unflattering statements
• D. Rumor spread by word of mouth

Answer: (B)

Libel is false statements about a person that are written or published and harm that person’s reputation. That’s why this option is the best description: it specifies false statements, written or published, that damage reputation. The key distinction is written defamation—spoken defamation is called slander. True statements, even if unflattering, aren’t defamation because they aren’t false. Rumors spread by word of mouth aren’t written, so they aren’t libel, though they could still be harmful if false. In a nursing assistant setting, avoiding false, written statements about others helps protect reputations and professional standards.