WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FACT AND OPINION? (EXAMPLES) - HISTORY - 2025

Among the main differences between fact and opinion, it stands out that facts are verifiable, while opinions are subjective in nature. Furthermore, the facts will always be the same, since they are objective situations; instead, opinions may vary over time.

Although both terms have different meanings depending on the discipline being studied and in the context in which it is analyzed, basically an event is an event that has occurred and that its existence can be verified. Instead, an opinion is a judgment that someone makes about something, whether it is about an event, a person or something.

The main difference between fact and opinion is that the former is verifiable, while the latter is not. Source: pixabay.com

This is why one of the main characteristics of a fact is its veracity, which makes it verifiable. In the case of opinion, it is a subjective idea that one has about something, which could be true or not.

It is very common to create an opinion based on a fact, even taking sides on whether the fact is right or wrong according to our experiences, values ​​and customs. On the other hand, an opinion can help to imagine or try to reconstruct a fact; however, this practice often distorts reality.

How to differentiate a fact from an opinion?

In daily life, people are in constant interaction with their environment through social networks, participation in the community, religious practices, mobile phones and other means. In this way, the individual is forming a judgment or concept of everything that surrounds him.

When the way of thinking is common to the majority, it is known as public opinion, and sometimes it is taken as reality; however, it is necessary to keep in mind that it may be a stimulated trend for a particular purpose.

In order to differentiate what is really a fact from what is an opinion, it is key to start with the definitions.

Done

A fact can be verified; that is, it can be verified that it occurred in such a place, at such a time, with such people involved and brought such consequences. A fact is something completely real and objective.

For this reason, it cannot change over time. It is something that happened and therefore cannot be changed. It's how it is, how it happened.

Opinion

Instead, an opinion is a thought about something, either about a fact or about a person, thing or place. That thought or idea is supported by the arguments put forward by the person issuing it, which can change over time.

Main differences between fact and opinion

Verifiability

One fact is fully verifiable; that is, it can be verified exactly that it happened. On the other hand, the subjective nature of an opinion makes it not possible to verify it.

Veracity

As a fact is verifiable, this means that it is true, that it is true. The facts can hardly be falsified.

On the contrary, an opinion can be easily falsified, since it is not supported by verifiable elements.

Consequences

All the facts carry a series of implications, that is why they are considered transcendent.

Instead, opinions may or may not be transcendent; At this point, the level of significance will depend on the interlocutor and the context in which said opinion is issued.

Types of facts

To differentiate opinion from fact, it is pertinent to know the different types of facts that exist, since in some cases they may be similar to opinions and, therefore, confusion can be generated as to the scope of the terms.

Although a fact is an observable and verifiable event, in different branches of knowledge it has particular meanings.

In the legal field, an event is a transcendent event in the legal field that has to do with the due compliance with the laws and legal regulations.

In the case of a scientific fact, it refers to an event that can be verified through the scientific method. In this case it becomes more evident that it can be observable, verifiable and measurable.

As for journalism, a fact is an event that deserves to be reviewed in the media through a news story given its impact and social relevance.

There is also the historical event, which is usually defined as the reconstruction of something that happened in the past. Usually what happened was documented and is developed by a historian.

In this area, it is important to highlight that the historian has the responsibility to base his reconstruction on facts and not on opinions given by the actors of the time.

Examples

In everyday life, as well as in the media, facts and opinions are present and even intermingled, which could cause some confusion and make people not fully understand reality.

The best way to distinguish them is by stopping to think about what is being seen or read, analyzing how it is being counted or interpreted and if they meet the previously mentioned characteristics.

Here are some examples of facts and opinions, which reflect the characteristics of each one:

Examples of facts

- The summer solstice is June 21.

- The Avengers Endgame movie beat Titanic at the box office.

- Monday is the first day of the week.

- In Paraguay, on May 15, Mother's Day is celebrated along with Independence Day.

- The university is 20 minutes from home. If we have class at 8, we must leave at least 7:40 to be on time.

- Dr. Jacinto Convit created the vaccine against leprosy.

- On April 15, a fire occurred at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

- Iker Casillas suffered a heart attack during Porto training.

Opinion examples

- I don't like cough syrup, it tastes very bitter.

- The movie Titanic is one of my favorites.

- Mondays depress me.

- Mother's Day is my favorite day of the year.

- I would like you to be a punctual person and arrive on time to class.

- Leprosy is a denigrating disease.

- Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught fire due to the effect of the well-known gargoyle curse. As they were removed during the restoration, they left the temple unprotected.

References

1. "Difference Between Fact and Opinion" (July 22, 2016) in Key Differences. Retrieved May 13, 2019 at Key Differences: keydifferences.com
2. «Fact or opinion. Distinguishing between fact and opinion »(2011) on BBC. Retrieved May 13, 2019 on BBC: bbc.co.uk
3. «Fact or opinion. What are facts and opinions? » (2011) on BBC. Retrieved May 13, 2019 on BBC: bbc.co.uk
4. Piris Galeano, E. (October 28, 2008) "Fact and opinion: differentiate them" in abc Color. Retrieved May 13, 2019 in abc Color: abc.com.py
5. "The Difference Between Facts and Opinions" in Educational Research Techniques. Retrieved May 13, 2019 in Educational Research Techniques: educationalresearchtechniques.com
6. What's the difference between facts and opinion? In Strange notions. Retrieved May 13, 2019 in Strange notions: strangenotions.com