Difference Wiki

Fact vs. Opinion

The main difference between Fact and Opinion is that Fact relates to the something true or real, which is confirmed by evidence, documentation, etc. and Opinion is what a person believes or thinks about something.

Key Differences

The fact explained as the declaration that can be verified or proved to be true. The opinion is an expression of judgment or belief about something.
Facts are information, and so it cannot be challenged or debated, but if we talk about opinions, they debated.
Janet White
Jun 11, 2019
Facts shown with unbiased words. However, opinion expressed with biased words.
Janet White
Jun 11, 2019
Facts can verify with the help of evidence or statistics. On the contrary, opinion not supported by any evidence.
Samantha Walker
Jun 11, 2019
Facts may alter anybody’s opinion, but vice versa is not possible.
Samantha Walker
Jun 11, 2019
The fact is a purpose reality whereas opinion is a subjective statement.
ADVERTISEMENT
Facts explain what happened. Distinct an opinion that represents a perception about something.
Fact depends on observation or research while opinion based on assumption.
Harlon Moss
Jun 11, 2019
One important aspect of the fact is that it is universal and does not vary from person to person. Compared this, every human being has a diverse opinion on a particular subject, and so, it varies from one person to another.
Harlon Moss
Jun 11, 2019

Comparison Chart

.

Fact applies to something that can be verified or proved to be true.
The opinion applies to a judgment or belief about something.

What is it?

Objective reality
Subjective statement

Represents

Something happened
A perception of something
ADVERTISEMENT

Based on

Observation or research.
Assumption or personal view.
Aimie Carlson
Jun 11, 2019

Words

Shown with unbiased words.
Expressed with biased words.

Influence

Facts have the power to influence others.
The opinion does not have the power to influence others.
Harlon Moss
Jun 11, 2019

Verification

Possible
Not possible
Harlon Moss
Jun 11, 2019

Change

Universal
Differs from person to person
Janet White
Jun 11, 2019

Debatable

No
Yes
Harlon Moss
Jun 11, 2019
ADVERTISEMENT

Fact and Opinion Definitions

Fact

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

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).

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.

Opinion

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

Fact

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

Opinion

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

Fact

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

Opinion

The prevailing view
Public opinion.

Fact

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

Opinion

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

Fact

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

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.

Fact

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

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.

Fact

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

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.

Fact

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

Opinion

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

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.

Opinion

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

Fact

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

Opinion

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

Fact

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

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.

Fact

(archaic) Action; the realm of action.

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

Fact

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

Opinion

To have or express as an opinion.

Fact

(obsolete) A feat or meritorious deed.

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.

Fact

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

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.

Fact

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

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.

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.

Opinion

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

Fact

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

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.

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.

Opinion

To opine.

Fact

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

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?

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

Opinion

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

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

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

Fact

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

Opinion

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

Opinion

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

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

Fact vs. Opinion

A fact is a thing that can be proven as true by someone else. This truth can test through observation, experimentation, experience or some other means. Opinions are assertions people make about their beliefs and or judgments. They cannot test and verify as facts can. Facts can be verified or proven after standard allusions or scientific experiments whereas opinions are the result of emotion or interpretation of facts, this can be supported by an argument, which can make two opposing opinions from the same set of facts. Fact is objective, and opinion is subjective and personal. Facts are hardcore, and hence they cannot keep constantly changing whereas opinions can vary and not set in stone; they can also change from conviction or circumstances. Facts are also general, and they do not change as per region, cast, culture, religion, etc. and an opinion can influence by culture, religion, society, etc.

Scientific facts generally arise from scientific inferences, an educated think or opinion, created by a person, while it is not a fact until is proven on the other side Opinions can also become facts when proven and believed that almost all facts were opinions before they were proven. A fact is only truth and truth itself whereas opinion is only just a thought or speculation and it can lead to controversies. Facts are strong statements and opinions can be biased statements. Facts always stay back in history. Conversely, opinions are only views that may not get into history.

What is Fact?

A fact defined as a thing that is known or proved to be true. The fact can also refer to a piece of information presented as having objective reality. The fact can always verify with proof or evidence. Facts are always objective and neutral. They are exactly defined and can be measured. It used in relation or bond with research and study. A fact can be an event or data, based on real occurrences which can test through checking, i.e., they supported by proofs, statistics, documentation, etc. hence, a fact is nothing but a certain truth or reality which are agreed upon by consensus of people. e.g., Sun rises from the east and sets from the west and autumn comes after summer. You can notice that all these facts can be confirmed or proved by concrete facts. Some of them have been demonstrating by scientific research whereas records and data can prove the general facts. It is also essential to note that facts can sometimes be affected by opinions and biases, even in some academic and research fields. Thus, facts which are influenced by opinions are not objective.

What is Opinion?

An opinion is a perspective or judgment about something, i.e., what someone thinks about something. Opinions not necessarily based on facts or knowledge. Opinions are always subjective. Opinions often identified by the use of adjectives, superlatives, comparatives and first-person point of view. e.g., The speed limit should reduce, or everyone respects the principle of our school. The opinion is extremely influenced by a person’s feelings, thoughts, perspective, desires, attitude, experiences, knowledge, beliefs, values, etc., which cannot be tested by solid evidence. Hence, due to individual differences, every person’s opinion on a particular matter is also different.

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons