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Fact and Opinion: How to Tell Them Apart

In one line: A fact is a statement that can be checked and proved true or false, while an opinion is what someone thinks, feels or believes, so people can disagree with it.

Why it works

Every day you read things that try to tell you what is true or what to think, such as adverts, news stories, book reviews and websites. If you can spot which parts are facts and which parts are opinions, you can decide what to trust and make up your own mind. It also helps you write better, because you can back up your opinions with facts.

Think of it like: A fact is like measuring a table with a ruler: anyone who measures carefully gets the same answer. An opinion is like a taste test of ice cream: one person gives chocolate ten out of ten and another gives it three, and neither of them is wrong. (Where this breaks: Unlike a ruler, you cannot always check a fact yourself (for example, how far away the Sun is), so sometimes you need a trusted source such as an encyclopaedia or an expert. Also, real sentences often mix facts and opinions together, which a simple ruler-or-taste-test picture does not show.)

Worked example

Sort each sentence into fact or opinion: (1) Koalas live in eastern Australia. (2) Koalas eat eucalyptus leaves. (3) Koalas are the cutest animals in the world. (4) Everyone should visit a koala sanctuary.

  1. Read each sentence on its own, one at a time.
  2. Ask the checking question: could I prove this using a book, a map, a measurement or by observing (watching carefully)?
  3. Sentences 1 and 2 can be checked in a reliable book or by scientists who study koalas, so they are facts.
  4. Look for opinion clue words such as best, cutest, beautiful, boring, should and I think.
  5. Sentence 3 uses 'cutest', and people could disagree, so it is an opinion. Sentence 4 uses 'should', which tells people what to do, so it is also an opinion.

Answer: Sentences 1 and 2 are facts; sentences 3 and 4 are opinions.

Common mistakes

  • Calling a sentence a fact just because you agree with it is a mistake, so instead ask whether it could be checked and proved, not whether you like it.
  • Thinking a wrong statement is an opinion (such as 'Spiders have six legs') is a mistake, because it can be checked and shown to be false, so it is an incorrect fact statement, not an opinion.
  • Believing something is a fact because lots of people say it or it sounds confident is a mistake, so look for judging words like best, worst or should, which signal an opinion.
  • Labelling a whole sentence as fact when it hides an opinion word (like 'The delicious cake was baked on Monday') is a mistake, so check every describing word, because 'delicious' is an opinion even though the day is a fact.

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Which sentence is a fact?

Questions parents ask

What year do kids learn fact and opinion?

Children usually meet the idea informally around ages 7 to 8, which is Year 2–3 in Australia and the UK and grades 2–3 in the US. In England it is a named reading skill in Years 5–6, and in Australia and the US it is built on through Years 3–6 (grades 3–5) as children read and write persuasive texts.

How can I help my child with fact and opinion at home?

Use everyday texts such as cereal boxes, adverts, film reviews and news headlines, and ask 'Could we check that?' for each claim. You can also play a quick game where you take turns saying a fact and an opinion about the same thing, such as your pet or a favourite meal.

If a statement is wrong, is it an opinion?

No. A statement like 'The Sun goes around the Earth' is a factual claim that can be checked and shown to be false, so it is a wrong fact statement rather than an opinion. Opinions are about feelings, beliefs or judgements that cannot be proved right or wrong.

Why is it important for children to tell fact from opinion online?

Websites, videos and social media posts often present opinions as if they were facts, sometimes to sell something or change what people think. Children who know to look for clue words and to check claims with trusted sources are better at staying safe and thinking for themselves.