This document distinguishes between facts and opinions by providing examples of each. Facts are statements that can be objectively verified, often with numbers, dates or sources. Opinions are subjective statements that express personal beliefs and cannot be proven, and often include clue words like "think", "feel", or "believe". The document provides tips for identifying facts and opinions, such as asking if a statement can be proven or tells what someone believes. Facts support opinions but opinions are still subjective views even if based on facts.

1. Distinguishing Between
FACT AND OPINION
What are the differences?

2. OPINIONS
■ An opinion is a statement that cannot
be proved or checked
■ It tells what someone thinks, feels, or
believes
■ Clue words for opinion statements are:
■ think, feel, believe, seem
■ always, never, all, none, most, least,
best, greatest, worst

3. FACTS
■ Facts are statements that can be checked or
proved
■ We can check facts by conducting some sort
of experiment, observation, or by
verifying (checking) the fact with a source
document
■ Facts often contain numbers, dates, or ages
■ Facts might include specific information
about a person, place or thing

4. HINTS FOR DECIDING IF A
STATEMENT IS FACT OR OPINION
■ To recognize a FACT:
■ Read each answer choice and ask yourself:
■ “Can this statement be proved?”
Example: Which of these is a fact?
A. We live in the best apartment in the city.
B. I believe that summer is the best season.
C. I think that spaghetti is a delicious meal.
D. The Poughkeepsie Journal is a newspaper.

5. HINTS FOR DECIDING IF A
STATEMENT IS A FACT OR
OPINION
■ To recognize an OPINION:
■ Read each answer choice and ask
yourself “Does this statement tell what
someone thinks, feels, or believes?”
■ Look in the answer choice for clue
words that signal an opinion

6. OPINION EXAMPLES:
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT AN
OPINION STATEMENT?
■ I think that Colorado is the best state in
which to live.
■ Chocolate cake is the most delicious kind of
dessert.
■ Nearly 65% of our teens are over-weight.
■ Taylor Swift is the greatest singer ever!

7. When you’re writing….
■ Remember:
■ Facts are often used
to support opinions
■ Good opinions are
based on facts, but
they are still opinions