Difference Between Facts and Opinions

Facts vs Opinions
 

Knowing the difference between facts and opinions can aid you to use them appropriately and accurately. In fact, facts and opinions are two terms that show some difference between them when it comes to their meanings and connotations. Fact is something based on observation and hence is considered true whereas opinion is an assumption or a belief. This is one of the main differences between a fact and an opinion. Fact and opinion are the singular forms of facts and opinions. Opinion originated from Middle English. There are a number of phrases that use these two terms, facts and opinions. For example, a matter of opinion, difference of opinion, facts and figures, a fact of life, etc.

What do Facts mean?

A fact is a statement that can be considered as a proved opinion. A fact is an objective statement. Unlike opinions that are emotional outbursts, facts are not emotional outbursts but in fact they are proved observations that do not tend to change in due course of time. A fact is not characterized by difference since it is an established statement or reality. There is strictly no room for difference in a fact. A fact is universal in character.

What do Opinions mean?

On the other hand, an opinion cannot be substantiated by a fact. It is simply a statement that is not characterized by the establishment of a fact. Opinion is a subjective statement. Another important difference between facts and opinions is that opinions are mostly emotional outbursts of individuals. These outbursts tend to change in due course of time too. It is interesting to note that opinions are useful in the formation of facts in most cases. This is especially true in the case of scientific truths. Initially, the opinions of scientists were taken into consideration to form facts or truths about various observations. The best opinion becomes the scientific fact. Opinions are very much useful in organizational behavior and marketing techniques. These opinions are taken down as surveys when new products are launched by a firm or a new service is extended to the customers by an organization. Opinions in a way are very useful in shaping up the future of a company or an organization. The difference between opinion and fact is that an opinion is characterized by difference and that is why we hear of the expression ‘difference of opinion’. An opinion is not universal in character but is individualistic in essence. There can be as many opinions as there are people.

What is the difference between Facts and Opinions?

• Fact is something based on observation and hence is considered true whereas opinion is an assumption or a belief. This is one of the main differences between a fact and an opinion.

• A fact is a statement that can be considered as a proved opinion.

• On the other hand, an opinion cannot be substantiated by a fact. It is simply a statement that is not characterized by the establishment of a fact.

• Opinion is a subjective statement whereas a fact is an objective statement.

• Opinions are mostly emotional outbursts of individuals.

• The difference between opinion and fact is that an opinion is characterized by difference and that is why we hear of the expression ‘difference of opinion’. On the other hand, a fact is not characterized by difference since it is an established statement or reality. There is strictly no room for difference in a fact.

• A fact is universal in character.