1. Separating facts and opinions can be diffi cult, not only when you’re speaking but also when you’re listening to others. Practice that skill by watching a television newscast or reading an Internet blog. Write down fi ve statements you hear or read, and for each one, ask yourself if it is a fact, an opinion, or some other type of statement (such as an instruction). Remember that facts make claims that can be verifi ed with evidence, whereas opinions express a person’s judgments or evaluations about something. With practice, you’ll sharpen your ability to distinguish opinions from facts.