22 Fact or Opinion?
This section is designed to help you understand the difference between factual statements and opinions.
Mastery of this skill will aid in critical thinking, reading comprehension, and effective communication, essential for success in academic studies and professional environments.
Facts are statements that can be proven true or false. They are objective and verifiable.
Opinions are expressions of personal feelings, beliefs, or thoughts. They are subjective and not universally provable.
Read the following statements and decide which one is a fact and which one is an opinion:
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Summer is the best season of the year.
What are some other examples of facts and opinions? Work with a partner to make a list? Write down some sentences below:
Fact: ____________________________________________
Fact: ____________________________________________
Opinion: _________________________________________
Opinion: _________________________________________
Identifying Language Cues in Facts and Opinions
It is important to distinguish between factual statements and opinions using language cues. This skill will help you in critically evaluating the reliability of information, an essential competency for your college studies and professional career development.
There are common words and phrases that often indicate whether a statement is a fact or an opinion.
Fact Indicators: These are phrases such as “Data shows,” “research indicates,” and “evidence suggests.” They imply that the statement is backed by verifiable data.
Opinion Indicators: These phrases include “I believe,” “in my view,” “it seems,” and “I feel.” They often introduce a personal belief or assessment, which may not be universally agreed upon or proven.
Reading Exercise:
Following are short excerpts from different types of texts for you to analyze. Decide the type of the text in terms of facts or opinion and highlight evidences and language cues to support your answers.
Excerpt 1: Academic Article
“In a recent study conducted by the University of Chicago, data shows that early childhood education significantly impacts learning outcomes across socio-economic statuses. The research indicates that children from low-income families benefit the most from early interventions, suggesting that targeted educational policies could help bridge the achievement gap.”
Excerpt 2: Business Report
“According to the quarterly report released by EconoAnalytics, evidence suggests that the tech sector’s growth has doubled compared to the previous fiscal year. This growth is primarily attributed to increased demand for remote working tools and services.”
Excerpt 3: Opinion Column
“I firmly believe that remote work is the future of our global economy. In my view, companies that fail to adapt to this changing landscape risk falling behind. It seems inevitable that traditional office environments will become obsolete as more businesses recognize the benefits of a remote workforce.”
Excerpt 4: Newspaper Editorial
“The government’s recent policy proposal, as it stands now, appears to be a short-sighted measure. While I feel that the intentions behind the policy are good, the actual implementation could potentially lead to more problems than it solves. Critics argue that without substantial evidence to support the long-term benefits, such policies should be approached with caution.”
Discussion
After reading the excerpts, discuss with your partner the indicators and tone that helped you decide whether an excerpt is fact-based or just an opinion.
Discuss: Facts and Opinions
Express two facts and two opinions about one subject. Label your facts and opinions. You can write about health, music, art, any trade or academic subject.
Here is an example using an illness:
COVID-19
Fact
#1. COVID-19 is a virus.
#2. COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets in the air.
Opinion
#1. COVID-19 is the worst pandemic we have ever experienced.
#2. The COVID-19 pandemic is almost over.
