What is the difference between a fact and an opinion in a text, and how can you tell?

• A. A fact is a judgment or belief; an opinion is verifiable.
• B. A fact is verifiable; an opinion is a judgment or belief; look for evidence and language indicating certainty or subjectivity.
• C. Facts are always false; opinions are always true.
• D. Facts are opinions expressed as quotes.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how to tell if a statement can be checked versus what someone thinks or feels. A fact is something that can be verified with evidence, data, or a reliable source. An opinion is a judgment or belief about something that reflects a person’s viewpoint. You can tell by the language and whether there’s supporting proof: facts come with or can be supported by evidence and can be tested by others, while opinions signal subjectivity and personal perspective. Look for cues like numbers, dates, or references that can be confirmed, versus words that express belief, preference, or certainty about a subjective claim. For example, “The earth orbits the sun” is verifiable, while “The best time to visit is spring” expresses a belief or preference. The statement that a fact is verifiable and an opinion is a judgment or belief, with guidance to look for evidence and language indicating certainty or subjectivity, captures this distinction best.