In I Think, Because you wrote an opinion with a reason. Expository writing sticks to facts. Before you write to persuade, you need to tell three kinds of statements apart.
| Kind | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fact | can be checked and shown true or false | The library is open until 6 p.m. on weekdays. |
| Opinion | a belief, feeling or judgment | The library is the best place in town. |
| Claim | a statement an argument sets out to prove with reasons and evidence | The library should stay open until 8 p.m. on weekdays. |
Key idea
A fact can be checked. An opinion is a belief or judgment. A claim is a debatable statement that an argument supports with reasons and evidence. A false statement is still a statement of fact: it can be checked, and it fails.
Why it works
Arguments are built from facts in support of claims. If you can’t tell which is which, you may think a strong feeling proves something, or that a fact you agree with settles a question it doesn’t touch. Sorting statements is the first step in judging any argument.
Worked example: Words that signal judgment
Fact or opinion? “Summer is the most enjoyable season.”
- “Most enjoyable” is a judgment. People disagree, and no measurement settles it.
- Words like best, worst, beautiful, boring and should often signal opinion.
Answer: Opinion.
Worked example: A strongly worded statement
Fact or opinion? “It is absolutely certain that pizza is the greatest food.”
- Strong words (“absolutely certain”) don’t make something checkable.
- “Greatest food” is still a judgment.
Answer: Opinion, however strongly it is stated.
Common mistake
Treating a strongly worded opinion as a fact, or thinking a fact you agree with proves an opinion. Check: ask “How could someone test this?” If there is a way (count it, measure it, look it up), it is a statement of fact. If the answer depends on taste or values, it is an opinion.
Opinions are not bad. Informed opinions, backed by evidence, are what good arguments and the Debate section are made of. The point is to know when you are stating one.