Fact or Opinion? You Decide!

Read these two sentences: • 'Dogs have four legs.' • 'Dogs are the best pets in the world.' Both sentences sound confident. But are they the same kind of statement? Think about which one everyone must agree with, and which one some people might argue about. Hold that thought — this lesson will give you the tools to tell them apart every single time.

A fact is a statement that can be checked and proved to be true or false. It does not change depending on who you ask. For example: 'The Sun is a star.' You can look this up in any science book and confirm it is true. An opinion is a statement that shows what someone thinks or feels. Different people can have different opinions about the same thing, and that is fine. For example: 'Sunny days are better than rainy days.' Not everyone agrees — some people love rain! How do you spot an opinion? Look for clue words. Opinion sentences often use words like: • think, believe, feel • best, worst, greatest, most boring • should, must • in my view, I think Fact sentences usually name things you can measure, count, or look up — like dates, numbers, or scientific information. Be careful! A sentence can sound very confident and still be an opinion. 'Pizza is the most delicious food' sounds certain, but it is still an opinion because not everyone agrees.