“Subjective” vs “Objective”: What’s The Difference?
We’re here to clear all of that up by explaining what each word means and how each should be used. Something that’s truly objective has nothing to do with a person’s own feelings or views—it just deals with facts. When someone says “Objectively speaking,” they’re indicating that they’re going to give an unbiased assessment—not one based on their personal preferences. Subjective most commonly means based on the personal perspective or preferences of a person—the subject who’s observing something. In contrast, objective most commonly means not influenced by or based on a personal viewpoint—based on the analysis of an object of observation only. In grammar, the word objective is applied to words that function as objects—the recipients of actions.
In the sentence The dog ate my homework, the word homework is in the objective case (meaning that it’s the object—the recipient—of the action). The word subjective, on the other hand, is applied to a word that’s the subject of the sentence (in the given example, the dog is the subject—the one performing the action). Subjective observation is centered on a person’s own mind and perspectives, as opposed to being general, universal, or scientific. In this way, describing an observation as subjective often implies that it comes with (or is based on) personal biases. There may be certain foods that you subjectively dislike—ones that are just not to your taste. Even if you’re served a dish that you subjectively don’t like, it’s your job to objectively assess its quality.
What does subjective mean?
Intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. Use objective when you’re talking about something—like an assessment, decision, or report—that’s unbiased and based solely on the observable or verifiable facts. Let’s think about some scenarios in which something might be classified as subjective or objective. Everyone’s experience of an event is subjective, because each person’s circumstances and background are unique, leading to different interpretations.
Examples of subjective vs. objective
- End stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.
- Intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain.
- Objective most commonly means not influenced by an individual’s personal viewpoint—unbiased (or at least attempting to be unbiased).
But science is about being completely objective by gathering data and making conclusions based on the data. In philosophy, subjective specifically means relating to an object as it exists in the mind, as opposed to the thing as it exists in reality (the thing in itself). All perception relies on your mind, so your perception of a thing is ultimately subjective.
If confusing pairs of words brings about anxiety for you, do they evoke or invoke it? Learn the difference here.
Without wanting to sound pompous, “favourite” is a concept I find problematic – I’m a journalist and my job is to be objective. Last month, India achieved its objective of blending 20% ethanol with petrol, known as E20, five what is the objective of financial statements years ahead of its target. Dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment. Equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned.
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In everyday life, your objective opinion is the one that sets aside your subjective preferences or feelings about something and instead assesses it based on facts and reality. In most cases, it comes down to whether something is based on personal experience or on verifiable facts. An opinion or viewpoint can be said to be objective or subjective, depending on how it was formed.
In most of its common uses, objective is contrasted with subjective, often as if it’s the opposite. Objective most commonly means not influenced by an individual’s personal viewpoint—unbiased (or at least attempting to be unbiased). It’s often used to describe things like observations, decisions, or reports that are based on an unbiased analysis.
- Even if you’re served a dish that you subjectively don’t like, it’s your job to objectively assess its quality.
- Use objective when you’re talking about something—like an assessment, decision, or report—that’s unbiased and based solely on the observable or verifiable facts.
- In contrast, objective most commonly means not influenced by or based on a personal viewpoint—based on the analysis of an object of observation only.
- All perception relies on your mind, so your perception of a thing is ultimately subjective.
- Let’s think about some scenarios in which something might be classified as subjective or objective.
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Objective is also commonly used as a noun meaning a goal or a target, as in The objective of this article is to teach you about the difference between objective and subjective. Use subjective when you’re talking about an opinion or feeling that is based on an individual’s perspective or preferences. In a scientific experiment, your hypothesis might be based—at least in part—on your subjective opinion about what the results will be.
Journalists are trained to be as objective as possible when reporting—to leave their opinions out of it and just record and present the facts. Generally speaking, subjective is used to describe something that exists in the mind of a person or that pertains to viewpoints of an individual person. End stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such. Fair, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, objective mean free from favor toward either or any side. Material, physical, corporeal, phenomenal, sensible, objective mean of or belonging to actuality.
Objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one’s own interest or feelings. Objective may stress material or independent existence apart from a subject perceiving it. Material implies formation out of tangible matter; used in contrast with spiritual or ideal it may connote the mundane, crass, or grasping. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous.
Corporeal implies having the tangible qualities of a body such as shape, size, or resistance to force.
