Facts
English Language: Edexcel IGCSE - Specification B, topic 4.3.3
Facts
A fact is a statement that cannot be argued with – it is true and can be proven. By putting facts in your writing, you add credibility and truth to your ideas, meaning your reader trusts you more.
Bad for your heart
- Too much salt is bad for your heart.
- It is a proven, scientific fact that salt causes problems for the human heart. So this is a fact and cannot be argued with.
- A scientific fact like this adds credibility to your argument. No one can disagree with your statement because evidence has been collected to support this – it has been proven.
- Scientific facts make you really seem to know what you are talking about, meaning that your reader is more likely to trust your advice.
Sir Ian McKellan
- Sir Ian McKellan played Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films.
- It is a proven fact that Sir Ian McKellan played Gandalf – if we put the film on, we can see him acting as Gandalf. So this statement cannot be argued with.
- A fact like this adds credibility to your argument. No one can disagree with your statement because evidence has been collected to support this – it has been proven.
- Facts make you really seem to know what you are talking about, meaning that your reader is more likely to trust your advice.
Women live longer than men
- Generally, women live longer than men.
- According to statistics, women generally have a longer lifespan than men. This is a statistical fact, proven by birth and death records – it cannot be argued with.
- A statistical fact like this adds credibility to your argument. No one can disagree with your statement because evidence has been collected to support this – it has been proven.
- Statistical facts make you really seem to know what you are talking about, meaning that your reader is more likely to trust your advice.
Tips for Using Facts
A fact is a statement that cannot be argued with – it is true and can be proven. By putting facts in your writing, you add credibility and truth to your ideas, meaning your reader trusts you more.
Make facts believable
- Facts must be believable, even if you invent them to add to your writing.
Don't exaggerate your facts
- Don’t exaggerate your facts or present them in an overly-dramatic way – this makes them seem fake.
Use facts sparingly
- Use facts sparingly in your writing – if you just list a lot of facts, it can make your work really dull.
Choose vocabulary carefully
- Your choice of vocabulary is vital in creating your language devices effectively.
Test yourself on Facts
Which of these is a fact?
Which of these are facts?
Which of these is NOT a fact about England?
Why is it a good idea to include facts in your writing?
How should you use facts in your writing?