Fact and OpinionHow to tell the difference

FACTS Something that has happened, or Can be proven Can be measured or observed Uses details, dates, statistics

Examples: A McDonald’s Big Mac has 550 calories. A Big Mac has fewer calories than a Double

Quarter Pounder with cheese. Over 50% of the North American population

uses Facebook. More women use Facebook than men.

OPINIONS Can not be proven Can be argued Often expresses feeling or judgment Some key words and phrases: I/We think,

I/We feel, I/We believe, In my opinion, never, always, all, best, greatest, cutest, ugliest, brave, etc.

May be supported with facts

Examples of Opinions

Lake Michigan is fun to swim in. All lifeguards working on Lake Michigan

are friendly. Compared to all other fast food burgers,

the Big Mac is the tastiest of them all. Facebook is a waste of time. I like playing games on the Internet.

Fact or Opinion?

The Family Guy is not appropriate to watch during school.

There are fewer panda bears in the world than grizzly bears.

Drinking orange juice right after brushing your teeth tastes bad.

Justin Bieber deserved to win the Grammy for best new artist.

Chicken that has not been properly prepared and cooked may cause salmonella.

Cheating on your boyfriend or girlfriend is wrong.

The Xbox came out before the Wii.

Super Mario is one of the greatest video game characters of all time.

Chocolate milk tastes better than regular milk.

Students should get a break for the summer.