Do I need to use という in 「この話が事実に基づいているという証拠はある。」?


> この話{はなし}が事{じ}実{じつ}に基{もと}づいている **という** 証{しょう}拠{こ}はある。
>
> _There is evidence that this story is based on facts._

Does the meaning change if I remove という so it becomes as follows?

> この話{はなし}が事{じ}実{じつ}に基{もと}づいている証{しょう}拠{こ}はある。




> 1)「この話が事実に基づいている **という** 証拠はある。」
>
> 2)「この話が事実に基づいている証拠はある。」

1) feels just wholesome and complete. It is something people would actually
say and write in real life and it enters my Japanese-speaking brain without
any constraint whatsoever. Just like Matsuzaka beef, I never have to chew it
to swallow.

2), however, does not feel as natural as 1). I would not necessarily call it
incorrect or ungrammatical, but I wonder how many people actually would say or
write it.

It is not that the "meaning" will change if you remove 「という」. It is just that
one would need to spend a minute thinking of an "appropriate" situation where
one might say 2).

One situation where one might say 2) would be when the phrase 「事実に基づいている
**という** 証拠」 has already been uttered at least once or twice in a conversation
and then, the same or another person repeats the phrase without 「という」 to make
it shorter.

When you have to stop and think hard of a situation where a phrase could be
used naturally, you are usually dealing with a not-so-natural phrase to use
independently in the first place.




> 1)「この話が事実に基づいている **という** 証拠はある。」
>
> 2)「この話が事実に基づいている証拠はある。」

1) feels just wholesome and complete. It is something people would actually
say and write in real life and it enters my Japanese-speaking brain without
any constraint whatsoever. Just like Matsuzaka beef, I never have to chew it
to swallow.

2), however, does not feel as natural as 1). I would not necessarily call it
incorrect or ungrammatical, but I wonder how many people actually would say or
write it.

It is not that the "meaning" will change if you remove 「という」. It is just that
one would need to spend a minute thinking of an "appropriate" situation where
one might say 2).

One situation where one might say 2) would be when the phrase 「事実に基づいている
**という** 証拠」 has already been uttered at least once or twice in a conversation
and then, the same or another person repeats the phrase without 「という」 to make
it shorter.

When you have to stop and think hard of a situation where a phrase could be
used naturally, you are usually dealing with a not-so-natural phrase to use
independently in the first place.

