Facts vs Opinions

Supporting your main idea with details, examples, and reasons is essential no matter what the speaking task may be. When you are presented with a situation that requires a narration, there is a level of detail that is expected. This is especially true when you are asked to share your ideas on a specific topic. When you are asked to give your opinion on an issue such as What is the best way to respond to climate change? the listener will expect an organized presentation of arguments.

Although the task itself would be defined as giving your opinion, it is understood that your perspective should be shaped by information you have learned from outside sources as well as your personal perspective and experience. Therefore, you will use a combination of fact and opinion statements to support your point of view. In this lesson, we will discuss some strategies for signaling to a listener which type of statement you are offering in support of your claim.

The main difference between a fact and an opinion is first and foremost the idea itself, how widely accepted it is, and how much quality evidence exists to support it. This is important to keep in mind in the following sections. It is possible for a person to present an opinion as a fact (or vice-versa) using these signals, but that does not change the essence of the supporting detail. Word choice alone does not control the categorization of these two types of support. However, it can be a useful tool for both a speaker and listener to use to detect bias and the strength of an argument.

Fact

a statement that can be proven through evidence such as objective physical proof or support from a witness; this can be checked and validated by an outside observer

Opinion

a statement that is based on belief and cannot be objectively measured or proven; typically based on personal experience and perspective, which means it is open to question. 

Tips for Recognizing Facts vs Opinions

When you are evaluating your own supporting ideas, here are some questions to keep in mind to help you present your facts and opinions clearly and distinctly

1. Where did the information come from? Is the original source trustworthy? Did I fully understand the source I am using to support my opinion? What degree of expertise does the original source have on this topic?
2. Is it a commonly known idea or supported by various people or organizations? Or is there a lot of controversy around this topic? 
3. Does this statement rely more on emotional appeal or a personal anecdote? 
4. What evidence is there to support this statement? 

Again, both facts and opinions can be appropriately used to support your point of view, but being critical about what type of support you are using will only strengthen your position. By fully understanding the type of supporting ideas you are using, you can create a more fully developed and balanced argument.

Signaling Facts

Facts are presented directly. This means that the verbs and adverbs used around a fact signal confidence in the truthfulness of a statement. This can be done in a few different ways. The most basic way that a fact might be signaled is by using a verb that is neutral in connotation (secondary meaning). For example:

• I went running this morning.
• The librarian knows where to find the book.
• I will definitely* examine this idea further.

In these three example sentences, the information is presented clearly and directly. It is unlikely that anyone would present a counter argument for any of these ideas because they are stated with confidence and there is little room to question whether or not the statements are true.

*Notice how the addition of the adverb emphasizes certainty. However, this same adverb could be used in an opinion statement for a similar purpose. The inclusion of the adverb only strengthens the point, it is not a signal of accuracy on its own.

When you are supporting an idea with facts, it is important to structure the sentence in such a way that the listener is clear that the supporting statement is based on a neutral reality. As discussed in the following section, opinions are also typically based in observations and experience, but a fact is expected to be universal, evidenced, and observable. Below are some ideas of how to signal to a listener that a statement is a fact.

Choosing Verbs

There are many verbs that do not carry an additional connotation that can be used to state facts. Below are some examples that you can compare with the verbs in the opinions section to see how verb choice can indicate fact or opinion.

• The investigators believe she is guilty. 
• The reporters asked the actor about the new film.
• He is considering the business plan.
• LSU is viewed as a good school.
• Susan discovered the truth. 
• The advertisement states the effectiveness of the product.
• That point was omitted from the article.
• Councilwoman Aiko will propose building a new park.
• The CEO commented that the employees are paid well. 

Signaling Opinions

Opinions are influenced by personal experience and bias. This does not mean that they are not based in fact. Rather, it means that the listener needs to think critically about the ideas presented. 

Noticing word choice can significantly help a listener to be aware of signals that a supporting idea should not be taken at face value. This is very connected to the ideas presented in the lesson Listening Comprehension: Identify Speaker's Point of View. Essentially, the speaking strategy of signaling for opinions is just applying your ability to identify point of view so that your own point of view is clear to the listener.

Choosing Verbs

Compare these verbs with the ones listed in the fact section and notice how the main meaning of the word is influenced by the connotation to signal an opinion.

• The investigators assume she is guilty. 
• The reporters grilled the actor about the new film.
• He is scrutinizing the business plan.
• LSU is regarded as a good school.
• Susan uncovered the truth. 
• The advertisement exaggerates the effectiveness of the product.
• That point was excluded from the article.
• Councilwoman Aiko will advocate building a new park.
• The CEO asserted that the employees are paid well. 

Value Words

Another example of how word choice can signal an opinion is the use of value words. This means that the word has a judgement connected to the meaning, and they are often used for statements that cannot be verified.

• Mangoes are the best/worst fruit.
• The phrase to whom it may concern is a great/terrible way to begin a cover letter.
• Chicago is a beautiful/disgusting city.
• Country music is bad/good. 

Hedging

One more distinction between the presentation of a fact vs an opinion is that an opinion is far more likely to include modals to soften the language. This hedging could either be the result of the speaker's lack of confidence in the statement or their concern for offending the listener by stating a point too directly. Hedging is discussed more in the lesson Unexpected Complications: Polite Language. Notice the difference between these statements:

Other hedging phrases can also be used to make a statement feel more polite. For example, an opinion may be softened by the speaker beginning with:

• I am not an expert, but...
• Based on what I've learned...
• You may be right, but could...
• I'm not really sure, but...
• I see what you're saying, however...

Mixed Signals

As stated in the introduction, the distinction between a fact and an opinion is not always easily spotted. At times, statements are phrased in a way that is ambiguous, either to make an argument seem stronger or because we have not fully considered the validity of the point. As we pointed out in the example of using definitely to emphasize a fact, there are many adverbials that can be used regardless of whether a statement is objectively true or simply an opinion.

Rather than indicate whether the statement itself should be categorized as a fact or opinion, these signals show the speaker's opinion about the statement. In other words, it may be a fact, but the adverbial could demonstrate the speaker's disagreement or indicate the strength of agreement.

Here are some examples:

• Electric cars are clearly the future of private transportation.
• This decision will certainly have a positive impact on the future of the company.
• Undoubtedly, the founder of the startup had a strong vision for the workplace environment.
• Incredibly, the environmental impact of electric car production is equal to that of a traditional gas-powered car.
• Surely the team captain should be Vanessa. 
• Fortunately for the majority of car drivers, the cost of electric cars is decreasing over time. 
• When we consider all of these points, we should obviously choose to homeschool our children.

As a note, these words indicate some level of tone and attitude about the ideas presented, but you should also remember to consider you intonation and stress. For example, overemphasis of the word definitely in the following sentence shifts the meaning from an reinforced positive opinion to a sarcastic statement: She is definitely the best cook in the family. Using opposite intonation patterns (ex. rising on a statement rather than falling) can also signal the speaker's certainty about the statement.