FACT OR OPINION (TRUE OR FALSE)

What is fact, and what is opinion?

A fact is information that can be verified – the information can be checked in a book such as a
dictionary or encyclopedia, it can be measured with ruler, it can be verified with a color chart, it can
be observed with the eye, etc. If it cannot be verified as true, it is false.
An opinion cannot be verified, proven true or false. It is a personal belief, an opinion, a preference,
etc.

What is an expert opinion?

An expert opinion is the opinion of a recognized authority on a topic.

Facts Opinions

 Refer to information that can be verified  Refer to beliefs and judgements so cannot
true of false. be verified.

 Are objective  Are subjective

 Are universal  Differ from person to person

 Are not expressed with modifiers  Are expressed with biased words
(adjectives and adverbs) (adjectives and adverbs).

FACT: A woman was robbed at gunpoint this morning.

OPINION: A woman was brutally robbed at gunpoint this morning.

FACT: The room was painted a shade of red.

OPINION: The room was painted an overly bright shade of red.

FACT: Today is September 30, 2019.

OPINION: Today is a wonderful day.

FACT: This conference room is 100 feet long by 70 feet wide.

OPINION: This conference room is too big for our purpose.

ACTIVITY: Which of the following sentences are facts and which are opinions?
1. The United States uses a 12-month calendar.
2. Summer is the most enjoyable season of the year.
3. November, December, and January are the last three months of the year.
PRACTICE 1: Determine which statements are facts (true), which statements are false, and which
statements are opinions.

1. The last day of classes for the spring semester is May 30th.
2. Forsyth Tech offers Associate of Arts degrees.
3. Students should learn a second language.
4. Forsyth Tech offers Bachelor’s degrees.
5. Forsyth Tech is a better community college than Davidson Community College.
6. All Forsyth Tech students must take ENG 011.
7. All Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree students must take ENG 111.
8. Email is the best way for students to communicate with their instructors.

Fact or (Expert) Opinion

Words such as can, may, sometimes, often, possibly, frequently, etc. indicate expert opinion.

Responses to pain culturally have been divided into two categories: stoic and emotive. Stoic clients
are less expressive of their pain and tend to “grin and bear it.” They tend to withdraw socially.
Emotive clients are more likely to verbalize their expressions of pain. They desire people around to
react to their pain and assist them with their suffering. Expressive clients often come from Hispanic,
Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean backgrounds. Stoic clients often come from Northern European
and Asian backgrounds. However, ethnicity alone does not predict accurately how a person will
respond to pain. Some individuals tolerate even the most severe pain with little more than a
clenched jaw and frequently refuse pain medication.

Fact and Opinioned Combined

Sometimes fact is mixed with opinion. This may make the opinion seem more like a fact. Be careful
of such statements.

PRACTICE 2: Some of the following sentences state facts, some express opinions, and some express
both. Mark statements of fact with an F, statements of opinion with an O, and statements of both
fact and opinion with FO, underlining the part of the statement that is an opinion.

1. Nothing is better for a stomachache than red clover tea.

2. Every cook needs to become familiar with basil, which is a member of the mint family.
3. In laboratory experiments, peppermint extracts have counteracted some viruses in test tubes.
4. Wearing neckties is a ridiculous habit since it serves no worthwhile purpose.
5. Bowties can be bought permanently tied, but the untied type is classier.
PRACTICE 3: The passage below contains 5 sentences. Identify each sentence with an F for fact, an O
for opinion, or FO for a combination of fact and opinion.

1
One of the oceans most fascinating creatures, the octopus, has been taught various skills by
scientists testing its intelligence. 2Octopuses have been taught, for instance, to distinguish squares
from crosses and to slip and slide their way through simple mazes. 3One project provided the most
dramatic and interesting evidence yet for the invertebrate’s intelligence. 4In 1922, researchers taught
a group of octopuses to grab a red ball instead of a white one; then another group learned the same
skill simply by watching the first group. 5The octopus may well prove to be as intelligent a creature of
the sea as the dolphin.

1 2 3 4 5