Which statement correctly distinguishes libel and slander?

• A. Libel is false statements written; Slander spoken.
• B. Slander is false statements written; Libel spoken.
• C. Libel and slander are identical terms.
• D. Slander has no legal significance.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that defamation is categorized by how it’s communicated: libel is defamation in a written or fixed form, while slander is defamation spoken aloud. This distinction matters because it defines the medium through which the false statement was disseminated to others, which is central to how the law treats the harm and proof in any case. The correct statement aligns with this by identifying libel as false statements written and slander as spoken. The other options mix up the mediums, claim the two terms are the same, or suggest slander isn’t legally significant, all of which contradict how defamation is understood.