Question

As the World Wildlife Foundation reports on its website, "Pirate fishing accounts for an estimated 20% of the world’s catch and as much as 50% in some fisheries. The costs of illegal fishing are significant, with the value of pirate fish products estimated at between $10–$23.5 billion annually."

How do you know this excerpt contains objective language?


The information is from a website.


The author's opinion is convincing.


It stresses the author's point of view.


It provides factual information that can be verified

Answer 1

The excerpt contains objective language because it provides factual information that can be verified.

Here are some specific examples of objective language in the excerpt:

• "Pirate fishing accounts for an estimated 20% of the world's catch and as much as 50% in some fisheries."

• "The costs of illegal fishing are significant, with the value of pirate fish products estimated at between $10–$23.5 billion annually."

• These statements are based on facts and statistics that can be verified by other sources, such as government agencies or scientific studies.

In contrast, the following statements would be considered subjective:

• "Pirate fishing is the biggest threat to our oceans."

• "We must stop pirate fishing at all costs."

• "Pirate fishermen are criminals who deserve to be punished severely."

These statements express the author's opinion or point of view, and they cannot be verified by other sources.

It is important to note that objective language does not mean that the author's writing is boring or uninteresting. Objective language can be used to write clear, concise, and informative prose. It is also important to note that objective language does not mean that the author does not have a point of view. However, the author should avoid expressing their personal opinions or beliefs in their writing.