Differences between Objective and Subjective
Contents
Comparison Article[edit]
The distinction between objective and subjective information is based on whether something is rooted in verifiable facts or personal perspectives.[1] Objective information is based on observable and measurable data, independent of individual thoughts or feelings.[2][3] Conversely, subjective information is derived from personal opinions, beliefs, and experiences, and can differ from one person to another.[3] The terms originate from the philosophical concepts of the "object" (the thing being observed) and the "subject" (the observer).[4]
Information presented objectively is intended to be unbiased and based on evidence.[5] For instance, a statement like "The boiling point of water at sea level is 100°C" is objective because it can be verified through experiment and is consistently true regardless of who is observing it. Fields[3] such as journalism, scientific research, and law place a high value on objectivity, as their purpose is to convey factual information without personal distortion.
Subjective information, in contrast, is shaped by an individual's unique perspective. A[1] statement such as "That painting is beautiful" is subjective; its truth is dependent on the individual's personal taste and cannot be universally proven. This type of information is common in personal essays, art criticism, and any context where personal interpretation is central. While[2] an objective statement's validity is independent of who states it, a subjective statement's truth value can vary from person to person.
Comparison Table[edit]
| Category | Objective | Subjective |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Based on verifiable facts and evidence. [3] | Based on personal opinions, feelings, or interpretations. |
| Nature | Independent of the mind; universal. [4] | Dependent on the mind; varies between individuals. |
| Verification | Can be proven true or false through measurement or observation. [2] | Cannot be definitively proven; no universal standard of truth applies. |
| Language | Uses neutral, quantifiable, and unbiased words. | Uses descriptive, judgmental, and personal language. |
| Example Statement | "Earth completes one rotation in approximately 24 hours." | "Twenty-four hours is not enough time to get everything done." |
| Primary Use | News reporting, scientific papers, legal documents, technical manuals. | Opinion pieces, reviews, personal essays, creative writing. |
Philosophical and grammatical context[edit]
In philosophy, the distinction is fundamental. An objective truth is considered to exist independently of consciousness, while a subjective truth is contingent on the mind of an individual. This[4] addresses questions of reality and knowledge, exploring how much of human understanding is based on the external world versus internal perception. [1] The terms also have a distinct meaning in grammar, although this usage is less common in general discourse. In this context, "objective" refers to the case of a noun or pronoun that functions as the object of a verb or preposition. "[1]Subjective" refers to the case of a noun or pronoun that is the subject of a sentence, the one performing the action. For[1] example, in the sentence "She read the book," "She" is in the subjective case, and "the book" is in the objective case.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "dictionary.com". Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "quillbot.com". Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "prowritingaid.com". Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved January 30, 2026.
- ↑ "vocabulary.com". Retrieved January 30, 2026.
