Why Is It Important to Distinguish Fact and Opinion?

It is important to distinguish between fact and opinion because a fact is a truth based on evidence, while an opinion is a view that is not based on checkable evidence. People use facts to create their own opinions about a certain topic. Opinions can carry a bias and may be judged by who is giving them.

Journalists will often use a mix of facts and people’s opinions when covering a story. Readers can use the facts to learn more about the story and can use the opinions to spark the formation of their own opinion. Customers also use a combination of facts and opinions when choosing items. For example, someone searching for a vegetarian restaurant will need to know if a location is vegetarian, but may also use reviews from other customers to decide whether to make a reservation.