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Fact vs. Opinion: Know the Difference

Shumaila Saeed
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 9, 2024
Fact is a verifiable truth. Opinion is a personal belief or judgment.
Fact vs. Opinion

Key Differences

A fact is an objective reality, verifiable through evidence or observation. An opinion, on the other hand, is subjective, based on personal beliefs, feelings, or perspectives.
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Jan 09, 2024
Facts are universally accepted truths that don’t change with individual perspectives. Opinions, conversely, are personal interpretations or judgments that can vary widely among different people.
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While a fact can be proven true or false, an opinion cannot be objectively verified as it is inherently based on personal views or emotions.
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Facts are often used as the foundation for forming opinions, but the interpretation of these facts can lead to varying opinions among individuals.
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In discussions, facts provide concrete information, whereas opinions offer insights into individual perspectives, beliefs, and values.
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Comparison Chart

Nature

Objective and verifiable
Subjective and personal
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Basis

Evidence and reality
Beliefs and feelings
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Universality

Accepted by everyone
Varies from person to person
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Verification

Can be proven true or false
Cannot be objectively verified
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Role in Discussion

Provides concrete information
Reflects individual perspectives
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Fact and Opinion Definitions

Fact

A verifiable piece of information.
Light travels faster than sound.
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Dec 17, 2023

Opinion

A subjective judgment or preference.
Summer is better than winter.
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Dec 17, 2023

Fact

A statement that can be proven true.
The Earth orbits the Sun.
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Opinion

An individual's perspective or interpretation.
Reading is more enjoyable than watching TV.
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Fact

An undeniable truth based on data.
There are 24 hours in a day.
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Opinion

A personal view or belief.
Chocolate is the best ice cream flavor.
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Fact

A confirmed or established reality.
Gravity pulls objects towards the Earth.
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Opinion

A personal conclusion or sentiment.
Electric cars are the future of transportation.
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Fact

Knowledge or information based on real occurrences
An account based on fact.
A blur of fact and fancy.
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Opinion

A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof
"The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion" (Elizabeth Drew).
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Fact

Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed
Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact.
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Opinion

A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert
A medical opinion.
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Fact

A real occurrence; an event
Had to prove the facts of the case.
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Opinion

A judgment or estimation of the merit of a person or thing
Has a low opinion of braggarts.
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Fact

Something believed to be true or real
A document laced with mistaken facts.
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Opinion

The prevailing view
Public opinion.
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Fact

A thing that has been done, especially a crime
An accessory before the fact.
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Opinion

A court's formal, usually written statement explaining its reasons for its decision in a case.
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Fact

(Law) A conclusion drawn by a judge or jury from the evidence in a case
A finding of fact.
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Opinion

An attorney's formal, usually written statement giving an assessment of how the law should be or is likely to be applied in a particular situation.
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Fact

Something actual as opposed to invented.
In this story, the Gettysburg Address is a fact, but the rest is fiction.
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Opinion

A piece of testimony that is not usually admissible when given by a layperson, as in contrast to an opinion given by an expert witness.
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Fact

Something which is real.
Gravity is a fact, not a theory.
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Opinion

A belief, judgment or perspective that a person has formed, either through objective or subjective reasoning, about a topic, issue, person or thing.
I would like to know your opinions on the new filing system.
In my opinion, white chocolate is better than milk chocolate.
Every man is a fool in some man's opinion.
We invite you to state your opinions about the suggestions.
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Fact

Something concrete used as a basis for further interpretation.
Let's look at the facts of the case before deciding.
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Opinion

The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
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Fact

An objective consensus on a fundamental reality that has been agreed upon by a substantial number of experts.
There is no doubting the fact that the Earth orbits the Sun.
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Opinion

(obsolete) Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
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Fact

Information about a particular subject, especially actual conditions and/or circumstances.
The facts about space travel.
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Opinion

(obsolete) Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
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Fact

(databases) An individual value or measurement at the lowest level of granularity in a data warehouse.
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Opinion

The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
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Fact

(archaic) Action; the realm of action.
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Opinion

(European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible
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Fact

A wrongful or criminal deed.
He had become an accessory after the fact.
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Opinion

To have or express as an opinion.
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Fact

(obsolete) A feat or meritorious deed.
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Opinion

That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of knowledge or action.
Opinion is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persuasion than to another, yet not without a mixture of incertainty or doubting.
I can not put off my opinion so easily.
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Fact

Used before making a statement to introduce it as a trustworthy one.
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Opinion

The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.
Friendship . . . gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend.
However, I have no opinion of those things.
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Fact

A doing, making, or preparing.
A project for the fact and vendingOf a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies.
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Opinion

Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion.
This gained Agricola much opinion, who . . . had made such early progress into laborious . . . enterprises.
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Fact

An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance.
What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture.
He who most excels in fact of arms.
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Opinion

Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
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Fact

Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest; the fact is, he was beaten.
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Opinion

The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a counselor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
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Fact

The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes, even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to be done; as, history abounds with false facts.
I do not grant the fact.
This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true.
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Opinion

To opine.
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Fact

A piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred;
First you must collect all the facts of the case
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Opinion

A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty;
My opinion differs from yours
What are your thoughts on Haiti?
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Fact

A statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened;
He supported his argument with an impressive array of facts
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Opinion

A belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people;
He asked for a poll of public opinion
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Fact

An event known to have happened or something known to have existed;
Your fears have no basis in fact
How much of the story is fact and how much fiction is hard to tell
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Opinion

A message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof;
His opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page
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Fact

A concept whose truth can be proved;
Scientific hypotheses are not facts
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Opinion

The legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision;
Opinions are usually written by a single judge
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Fact

An objective reality confirmed by evidence.
Water boils at 100°C at sea level.
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Opinion

The reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
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Opinion

A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying
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Opinion

A belief or view not based on fact.
Cats are better pets than dogs.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries

What is a fact?

A verifiable and objective statement.
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Can a fact change over time?

A fact remains constant; new discoveries can change our understanding.
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Is an opinion always wrong?

Opinions are neither right nor wrong; they are subjective.
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Do opinions vary among cultures?

Yes, opinions can vary based on cultural backgrounds.
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How can you verify a fact?

Through evidence, research, or observation.
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What is an opinion?

A personal belief or judgment.
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Can opinions be based on facts?

Yes, opinions often stem from interpretations of facts.
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Are facts influenced by personal feelings?

No, facts are objective and independent of emotions.
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Can a fact become an opinion?

No, but interpretations of facts can form opinions.
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Is it important to differentiate between fact and opinion?

Yes, for clarity in communication and decision-making.
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How do facts impact arguments?

Facts provide a solid foundation for rational arguments.
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What role do facts play in education?

Facts are essential for learning and understanding the world.
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Jan 09, 2024

Are opinions important in discussions?

Yes, they provide insight into personal perspectives.
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Can a statement contain both fact and opinion?

Yes, a statement can start with a fact and include an opinion.
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Jan 09, 2024

Why do people have different opinions?

Due to varied experiences, beliefs, and values.
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How do opinions shape society?

Opinions influence behaviors, policies, and cultural norms.
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Can scientific theories be considered facts?

They are based on facts but can evolve with new evidence.
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Are all facts universally accepted?

Generally, but some may be contested or misinterpreted.
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Jan 09, 2024

Can opinions change over time?

Yes, as individuals gain new experiences or information.
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Is it possible to have an incorrect fact?

A fact is either true or not; incorrect "facts" are misconceptions.
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Jan 09, 2024

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About Author
Shumaila Saeed
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Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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