Fact vs. Opinion

People need good information to make good decisions. The reader’s job is to evaluate the information, facts, details, and examples which writers use to support their arguments. Advertisers often combine facts and opinions to encourage people to think or feel a specific way. Beware; sometimes the facts and the details are unreliable. It is up to you to decide whether you are reading provable facts or unproven opinions.

What are facts and opinions?

Reliable facts are provable. Generally, they come from reliable sources; people who are knowledgeable and who avoid biased or slanted presentation of the facts. Facts may take the form of statements, statistics, examples, photographs, and more. Writers create believable, reliable statements or arguments by including many reliable facts from a variety of reliable sources.

Example

Hubert Ross, national manager with the federal Department of Transportation, stated that there have been no reported problems with the Little Seat ® car seat.

Opinions are statements of what a person believes. They are not provable. Sometimes opinions are mistaken as facts. Careful evaluation of statements will allow you to determine whether they are provable. Although, opinions are useful, they should not be used as the basis for making conclusions.

Example

Sharon, the owner of a children‘s clothing store, said that she doesn‘t believe there are any problems with the Little Seat ® car seat.