Lesson · R.2.3

Fact versus opinion

Tell HESI A2 fact statements from opinion statements by testing whether a sentence can be verified, and watch for the evaluative words that give an opinion away.

ObjectiveR.2.3Read3 minExam weightMeaning and Craft ≈ 34% of Reading

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What you will be able to do

Apply a one-line test to sort any sentence into fact or opinion.
Spot the evaluative and abstract words that signal an opinion.
Separate a passage's factual claims from the writer's judgements on the same topic.

What the lesson concludes

A fact can be checked and confirmed true or false; an opinion cannot.
Measurable, countable, or documented details are usually facts.
Words like best, worst, should, and clearly usually mark an opinion.
A passage can mix fact and opinion in the same paragraph, even the same sentence.
HESI questions often ask you to pick the one opinion hidden among several facts.