Fact vs. Opinion?

Read these sentences. Try to guess which sentences are facts and which sentences are opinions. Two Canadian provinces are islands. Atlantic Canada's beaches are the best in the world.

What are facts and opinions?

Facts are true statements which are provable. Facts are provable when the original source of the information can be found and the source of the information is reliable. The statement “Two Canadian provinces are islands” is a fact because it can be proved by checking a map.

Opinions are based on personal values and beliefs. The statement “Atlantic Canada has the best beaches in the world” is an opinion. It is not provable. It is a belief or a preference.

How do I separate facts from opinion?

Writers may try you support opinions with biased or slanted presentation of facts. Watch for connotative language, words with a basic meaning and a value judgement. Sometimes writers will use examples or stories which are based on faulty thinking. Try to recognize the different types of faulty thinking.

Facts are usually supported by examples or statistics. You should look for evidence that the examples and statistics used support the main idea are reliable and accurate. Reliable and accurate examples state the original source of information, use of examples or statistics from several sources, use of current examples and statistics, and clear indication of the relationship between the supporting material and the main idea.