 There is a widespread conflation of belief contents and belief states. Because ordinary folk do not clearly distinguish these two notions, it possible for them to use propositional attitude verbs that express a relation to belief contents intending also to impart information about the belief states of the subject of the report without realizing that they are speaking nonliterally. As information concerning belief states is useful in explaining, predicting, and rationalizing actions – something propositional attitude reporting sentences seem made to do – and belief contents and belief states are not clearly distinguished, ordinary speakers unwittingly come to use such sentences to convey more than they express.