What does "expressions of opinion" mean?
Expressions of opinion should be supported by reference to the authority on which they are made and the verifiable facts which support them.
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1If I say "wind is unpleasant" that is an "expression of opinion" – it is my opinion. The sentence requires that I back up that opinion with references as stated. The sentence is somewhat contradictory though, because if I cite an authority or verifiable facts, that is no longer an opinion.– Weather VaneCommented Jul 19, 2020 at 14:19
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@WeatherVane: I am not in complete agreement with you about its contradictoriness; I'd say its still an opinion. You might cite an authoritative anthropologist, who states that humans developed clothing because of the unpleasantness of wind, or various facts about unconscious reactions to wind. However "wind is unpleasant" remains an opinion because ,despite all that, I still find wind pleasant.– sharurCommented Jul 30, 2020 at 8:53
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@sharur I agree, and it not about one's preferences. It may be my opinion that wind causes an elevation of mood and I must show studies or surveys that back up the opinion.– Weather VaneCommented Jul 30, 2020 at 8:57
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I don't think the cited usage is idiomatic. It reads to me like a "not-very-fluent" writer's attempt to "improve" on the standard phrasing: Opinions should be supported by reference to...– FumbleFingersCommented Dec 31, 2023 at 19:44
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I’m voting to close this question because it's asking about the "meaning" of a non-idiomatic usage (expressions of opinion instead of just opinion).– FumbleFingersCommented Dec 31, 2023 at 19:46
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1 Answer
An expression is the process of transmitting ideas, such as thoughts, concepts, or feelings, between entities (such as individuals or groups).
An opinion is a judgement or view; thus it is not a fact or truth.
An "Expression of Opinion" is used in your example to distinguish between an "Expression of Fact", which would not necessarily need the references that are required for an "Expression of Opinion".
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I agree with your first two paragraphs. It is statements of facts that require support. Opinions are personal and subjective and thus are impossible to support. “i think this wind is unpleasant” may or may not reflect my true thoughts, but such opinions are almost never verified by a lie detector, which is the only conceivable method of validation. Commented May 12, 2022 at 15:50