Fact vs. Fiction: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 10, 2024
Fact refers to a statement or information based on reality and evidence, while fiction is a narrative or content created from imagination.
Key Differences
A fact is a statement or piece of information verified by evidence or observation, representing objective reality. Fiction, on the other hand, is a form of narrative often created from imagination, not necessarily reflecting real events or factual accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
In journalism, facts are crucial for reporting real-world events accurately and credibly. Fiction, in contrast, is used in novels and stories, offering a platform for creativity and imagination without the constraint of factual accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
Facts are often used in academic and scientific contexts to establish theories or hypotheses based on evidence. Fiction plays a vital role in literature and entertainment, creating stories, characters, and worlds that may not exist in reality.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
The verification of facts is essential in fields like history and science, requiring evidence and corroboration. Fiction, however, is evaluated based on narrative techniques, character development, and thematic depth rather than factual accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
In legal settings, facts are indispensable for making informed decisions and judgments. Fiction, conversely, is used in creative writing and storytelling, allowing for exploration of hypothetical scenarios and artistic expression.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Role in Journalism
Essential for accurate reporting.
Used in storytelling, not news.
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Jan 10, 2024
Use in Academia
Basis for theories and research.
Explored in literature and creative writing.
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Jan 10, 2024
Verification
Requires evidence and corroboration.
Evaluated for narrative quality.
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Jan 10, 2024
Legal Importance
Crucial for informed judgments.
Used for hypotheticals in creative contexts.
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Jan 10, 2024
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Fact and Fiction Definitions
Fact
Based on observable evidence.
The fact that smoking is harmful is supported by extensive research.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fiction
A story that is invented or made up.
Children's fairy tales are classic examples of fiction.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fact
A piece of information proven to be true.
The fact that Earth orbits the sun was once controversial.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fiction
Writing that explores imaginary events.
His talent for fiction was evident in his compelling short stories.
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Fact
Something universally accepted as true.
It's a fact that the Earth is round.
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Fiction
A story created from imagination.
Her latest novel is a work of fiction set in a futuristic world.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fact
Knowledge or information based on real occurrences
An account based on fact.
A blur of fact and fancy.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
Literature not based on fact.
Science fiction often explores concepts beyond current scientific understanding.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fact
Something demonstrated to exist or known to have existed
Genetic engineering is now a fact. That Chaucer was a real person is an undisputed fact.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
The category of literature, drama, film, or other creative work whose content is imagined and is not necessarily based on fact.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
Something believed to be true or real
A document laced with mistaken facts.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
A thing that has been done, especially a crime
An accessory before the fact.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
Narrative, explanatory material, or belief that is not true or has been imagined or fabricated
The notion that he was at the scene of the crime is pure fiction.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
(Law) A conclusion drawn by a judge or jury from the evidence in a case
A finding of fact.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
A narrative, explanation, or belief that may seem true but is false or fabricated
"Neutrality is a fiction in an unneutral world" (Howard Zinn).
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
Something actual as opposed to invented.
In this story, the Gettysburg Address is a fact, but the rest is fiction.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
(Law) A verbal contrivance that is in some sense inaccurate but that accomplishes a purpose, as in the treatment of husband and wife as one person or a corporation as an entity.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
(literature) Literary type using invented or imaginative writing, instead of real facts, usually written as prose.
I am a great reader of fiction.
The fiction section of the library
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
Something concrete used as a basis for further interpretation.
Let's look at the facts of the case before deciding.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
A verbal or written account that is not based on actual events (often intended to mislead).
The company’s accounts contained a number of blatant fictions.
The butler’s account of the crime was pure fiction.
Separate the fact from the fiction
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
An objective consensus on a fundamental reality that has been agreed upon by a substantial number of experts.
There is no doubting the fact that the Earth orbits the Sun.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
Information about a particular subject, especially actual conditions and/or circumstances.
The facts about space travel.
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Fiction
The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining; as, by a mere fiction of the mind.
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Fact
(databases) An individual value or measurement at the lowest level of granularity in a data warehouse.
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Fiction
That which is feigned, invented, or imagined; especially, a feigned or invented story, whether oral or written. Hence: A story told in order to deceive; a fabrication; - opposed to fact, or reality.
The fiction of those golden apples kept by a dragon.
When it could no longer be denied that her flight had been voluntary, numerous fictions were invented to account for it.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
Fictitious literature; comprehensively, all works of imagination; specifically, novels and romances.
The office of fiction as a vehicle of instruction and moral elevation has been recognized by most if not all great educators.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
A wrongful or criminal deed.
He had become an accessory after the fact.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
An assumption of a possible thing as a fact, irrespective of the question of its truth.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
Any like assumption made for convenience, as for passing more rapidly over what is not disputed, and arriving at points really at issue.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
A literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
A doing, making, or preparing.
A project for the fact and vendingOf a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to pass; an act; an event; a circumstance.
What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to conjecture.
He who most excels in fact of arms.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fiction
Narrative art form using creative imagination.
The movie's plot was pure fiction but very entertaining.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fact
Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest; the fact is, he was beaten.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes, even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to be done; as, history abounds with false facts.
I do not grant the fact.
This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true.
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
A piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred;
First you must collect all the facts of the case
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
A statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened;
He supported his argument with an impressive array of facts
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
An event known to have happened or something known to have existed;
Your fears have no basis in fact
How much of the story is fact and how much fiction is hard to tell
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
A concept whose truth can be proved;
Scientific hypotheses are not facts
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Dec 13, 2023
Fact
Represents objective truth.
It's a fact that water boils at 100°C at sea level.
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Dec 16, 2023
Fact
Accurate representation of past events.
The fact of the moon landing in 1969 is well-documented.
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Dec 16, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is historical fiction based on facts?
Historical fiction often uses real historical events as a backdrop but includes fictional elements.
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Jan 10, 2024
How do we determine if something is a fact?
By verifying it through evidence, observation, or reliable sources.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can facts change over time?
As new evidence emerges, what is considered a fact can be re-evaluated and updated.
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Jan 10, 2024
Why is fiction important in literature?
Fiction allows exploration of human experiences, emotions, and ideas in a creative and imaginative way.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can a story contain both fact and fiction?
Yes, many stories blend factual elements with fictional storytelling.
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Jan 10, 2024
How do authors blend fact and fiction in writing?
Authors may use real events or settings as a foundation for a fictional story.
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Jan 10, 2024
Are documentaries considered fiction?
Documentaries are typically based on facts, but they may include some dramatized or fictional elements.
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Jan 10, 2024
Do fictional stories always include completely made-up elements?
Not necessarily; fiction can be inspired by real experiences or events, but it includes imaginative elements.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can scientific theories be considered facts?
Scientific theories are based on facts but remain open to revision and refinement as new evidence arises.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can fiction influence reality?
Yes, fiction can shape perceptions, inspire change, and influence cultural and societal norms.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can opinions be considered facts?
Opinions are subjective and not facts, though they may be based on factual information.
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Jan 10, 2024
Is it always easy to separate fact from fiction?
Not always, especially in cases of historical narratives or dramatized accounts of real events.
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Jan 10, 2024
How do facts contribute to learning?
Facts provide a foundation for understanding concepts, theories, and the world around us.
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Jan 10, 2024
How do educators use fiction in teaching?
Fiction is used to develop critical thinking, creativity, and understanding of diverse perspectives.
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Jan 10, 2024
How do biographies differ from fictional accounts?
Biographies aim to accurately portray a person's life based on facts, while fictional accounts may embellish or alter true events for storytelling purposes.
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Jan 10, 2024
Are news reports considered factual?
Ideally, news reports should be factual, but they can sometimes contain biases or inaccuracies.
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Jan 10, 2024
Why do some people prefer fiction over non-fiction?
Fiction offers an escape into imaginative worlds and explores complex human emotions and experiences.
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Jan 10, 2024
Is it necessary for fiction to be realistic?
Fiction does not have to be realistic; it can explore fantastical, exaggerated, or surreal elements.
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Jan 10, 2024
Are myths and legends considered fiction?
Myths and legends are forms of traditional fiction, often containing moral or cultural stories.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can a fact ever be subjective?
Facts are objective, but interpretation or presentation of facts can be subjective.
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Jan 10, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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