“Officials” is a uniform that fits almost anyone — a cabinet secretary, an anonymous mid-level staffer, a local police spokesperson, a foreign ministry. The word borrows the authority of office without telling you whose office, how senior, or whether they’re on the record or spinning from behind it.

“Officials say” can be true and still be one anonymous person steering a story. The missing detail — who, where, on record? — is the detail that decides whether it’s authority or just a claim with a badge.