Opinion vs. Position — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 7, 2024
Opinion reflects personal beliefs without a need for backing, whereas a position is a stance based on arguments and evidence.
Difference Between Opinion and Position
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An opinion is inherently subjective, based on personal feelings, beliefs, or thoughts about a topic. Whereas, a position is a more structured assertion that is usually supported by facts or reasoned arguments. This means that while opinions can be based on individual experiences or emotions, positions often stem from a logical or informed point of view.
Opinions are often expressed in casual conversations and can vary widely among different people. On the other hand, positions are typically presented in more formal contexts such as academic, professional, or political discussions, where justification and support of the stance are expected.
The flexibility of opinions allows for a broad range of ideas and perspectives, making them highly diverse and personal. In contrast, positions tend to be more consistent among individuals who share similar information and evidentiary standards.
Since opinions do not require justification, they are easier to form and change. Meanwhile, positions, being based on evidence and reasoning, might require more effort to develop and are often more stable over time.
While everyone can have an opinion on virtually anything, adopting a position usually requires some level of expertise or thorough understanding of the subject matter, which filters who can credibly hold certain positions.
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Comparison Chart
Basis
Personal beliefs or feelings
Evidence and reasoned arguments
Formality
Informal
Formal
Flexibility
High (can change easily)
Lower (more stable and consistent)
Expertise Required
No
Often yes (in professional or technical contexts)
Purpose
To express personal views or emotions
To establish a stance on an issue with backing
Compare with Definitions
Opinion
A conclusion or judgment held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.
The expert expressed his opinion on the matter during the meeting.
Position
The arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other.
The strategic position of the troops was crucial for the battle's outcome.
Opinion
A belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge but on what seems true, valid, or probable to one's own mind.
Her opinion of the restaurant's quality is very high.
Position
A stance or viewpoint adopted on a particular issue, especially one elaborated with reasons or justification.
The company took a firm position against the proposed law.
Opinion
Judgment or advice not necessarily grounded in fact or knowledge.
His medical opinions are highly sought after.
Position
A status or rank given to an individual or an entity based on achievement or assigned role.
She holds a senior position in the firm.
Opinion
An estimation of something's quality that may vary from person to person.
Opinions on the new policy vary widely.
Position
A commitment to a particular attitude or course of action.
He has maintained his position on the issue despite criticism.
Opinion
A personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
In my opinion, the movie was too long.
Position
A condition with reference to place; location or situation.
The GPS system reports your position as within two meters accuracy.
Opinion
An opinion is a judgement, viewpoint, or statement that is not conclusive, rather than facts, which are true statements.
Position
A place or location.
Opinion
A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof
"The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion" (Elizabeth Drew).
Position
The right or appropriate place
The bands are in position for the parade's start.
Opinion
A judgment based on special knowledge and given by an expert
A medical opinion.
Position
A strategic area occupied by members of a force
The troops took up positions along the river.
Opinion
A judgment or estimation of the merit of a person or thing
Has a low opinion of braggarts.
Position
The way in which something is placed
The position of the clock's hands.
Opinion
The prevailing view
Public opinion.
Position
The arrangement of body parts; posture
A standing position.
Opinion
A court's formal, usually written statement explaining its reasons for its decision in a case.
Position
In ballet, any of the five arrangements of the arms and feet in which the legs are turned out from the pelvis.
Opinion
An attorney's formal, usually written statement giving an assessment of how the law should be or is likely to be applied in a particular situation.
Position
An advantageous place or location
Jockeys maneuvering for position.
Opinion
A piece of testimony that is not usually admissible when given by a layperson, as in contrast to an opinion given by an expert witness.
Position
A situation as it relates to the surrounding circumstances
In a position to bargain.
Opinion
A belief, judgment or perspective that a person has formed, either through objective or subjective reasoning, about a topic, issue, person or thing.
I would like to know your opinions on the new filing system.
In my opinion, white chocolate is better than milk chocolate.
Every man is a fool in some man's opinion.
We invite you to state your opinions about the suggestions.
Position
A point of view or attitude on a certain question
The mayor's position on taxes.
Opinion
The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
Position
Social standing or status; rank.
Opinion
(obsolete) Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
Position
A post of employment; a job.
Opinion
(obsolete) Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
Position
(Sports) The area for which a particular player is responsible.
Opinion
The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a doctor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
Position
The arrangement of the pieces or cards at any particular time in a game such as chess, checkers, or bridge.
Opinion
(European Union law) a judicial opinion delivered by an Advocate General to the European Court of Justice where he or she proposes a legal solution to the cases for which the court is responsible
Position
The act or process of positing.
Opinion
To have or express as an opinion.
Position
A principle or proposition posited.
Opinion
That which is opined; a notion or conviction founded on probable evidence; belief stronger than impression, less strong than positive knowledge; settled judgment in regard to any point of knowledge or action.
Opinion is when the assent of the understanding is so far gained by evidence of probability, that it rather inclines to one persuasion than to another, yet not without a mixture of incertainty or doubting.
I can not put off my opinion so easily.
Position
A commitment to buy or sell a given amount of securities or commodities.
Opinion
The judgment or sentiment which the mind forms of persons or things; estimation.
I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.
Friendship . . . gives a man a peculiar right and claim to the good opinion of his friend.
However, I have no opinion of those things.
Position
The amount of securities or commodities held by a person, firm, or institution.
Opinion
Favorable estimation; hence, consideration; reputation; fame; public sentiment or esteem.
Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion.
This gained Agricola much opinion, who . . . had made such early progress into laborious . . . enterprises.
Position
The ownership status of a person's or institution's investments.
Opinion
Obstinacy in holding to one's belief or impression; opiniativeness; conceitedness.
Position
To put in place or position.
Opinion
The formal decision, or expression of views, of a judge, an umpire, a counselor, or other party officially called upon to consider and decide upon a matter or point submitted.
Position
To determine the position of; locate.
Opinion
To opine.
Position
A place or location.
Opinion
A personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty;
My opinion differs from yours
What are your thoughts on Haiti?
Position
A post of employment; a job.
Opinion
A belief or sentiment shared by most people; the voice of the people;
He asked for a poll of public opinion
Position
A status or rank.
Chief of Staff is the second-highest position in the army.
Opinion
A message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof;
His opinions appeared frequently on the editorial page
Position
An opinion, stand, or stance.
My position on this issue is unchanged.
Opinion
The legal document stating the reasons for a judicial decision;
Opinions are usually written by a single judge
Position
A posture.
Stand in this position, with your arms at your side.
Opinion
The reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
Position
(figurative) A situation suitable to perform some action.
The school is not in a position to provide day-care after 4:00 pm.
Opinion
A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying
Position
(team sports) A place on the playing field, together with a set of duties, assigned to a player.
Stop running all over the field and play your position!
Position
(finance) An amount of securities, commodities, or other financial instruments held by a person, firm, or institution.
Long position
Naked position
Position
(finance) A commitment, or a group of commitments, such as options or futures, to buy or sell a given amount of financial instruments, such as securities, currencies or commodities, for a given price.
Position
(arithmetic) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; also called the rule of trial and error.
Position
(chess) The full state of a chess game at any given turn.
Position
(poker) The order in which players are seated around the table.
Position
To put into place.
Position
The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position.
We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it.
Position
The spot where a person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position.
Position
Hence: The ground which any one takes in an argument or controversy; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to define one's position; to appear in a false position.
Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which go before.
Position
Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position.
Position
A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; - called also the rule of trial and error.
Position
To indicate the position of; to place.
Position
The particular portion of space occupied by a physical object;
He put the lamp back in its place
Position
A point occupied by troops for tactical reasons
Position
A way of regarding situations or topics etc.;
Consider what follows from the positivist view
Position
Position or arrangement of the body and its limbs;
He assumed an attitude of surrender
Position
The relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society;
He had the status of a minor
The novel attained the status of a classic
Atheists do not enjoy a favorable position in American life
Position
A job in an organization;
He occupied a post in the treasury
Position
The spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated;
The position of the hands on the clock
He specified the spatial relations of every piece of furniture on the stage
Position
The appropriate or customary location;
The cars were in position
Position
(in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player;
What position does he play?
Position
The act of putting something in a certain place or location
Position
A condition or position in which you find yourself;
The unpleasant situation (or position) of having to choose between two evils
Found herself in a very fortunate situation
Position
An item on a list or in a sequence;
In the second place
Moved from third to fifth position
Position
A rationalized mental attitude
Position
An opinion that is held in opposition to another in an argument or dispute;
There are two sides to every question
Position
The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another;
Can you go in my stead?
Took his place
In lieu of
Position
The act of positing; an assumption taken as a postulate or axiom
Position
Cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation
Position
Put into a certain place or abstract location;
Put your things here
Set the tray down
Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
Place emphasis on a certain point
Common Curiosities
How does a position differ from a belief?
A position is a well-argued stance on an issue, while a belief is a conviction held often without the need for evidence.
What is an opinion?
An opinion is a personal belief or judgment not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
What does taking a position mean?
Taking a position means adopting a specific stance on an issue, often supported by reasons and evidence.
Are opinions important in professional settings?
Opinions can provide insight into personal perspectives but generally have less weight than informed positions in professional settings.
How do opinions influence decisions?
Opinions can influence decisions by shaping one's feelings and attitudes towards options.
How can someone change their opinion?
Opinions can change with new experiences, information, or changes in personal feelings.
Is it necessary to always have a position on issues?
It is not necessary to have a position on every issue unless required by context or profession.
What makes a position strong?
A strong position is well-supported by facts, logically coherent, and convincingly argued.
Can opinions be wrong?
Opinions are not about right or wrong; they reflect personal beliefs or feelings.
What is the role of evidence in forming a position?
Evidence plays a crucial role in forming a position as it provides the basis for reasoned arguments.
Why might someone hesitate to express their opinion?
People might hesitate to express opinions due to fear of conflict, social repercussions, or uncertainty about their own views.
Can a person's position evolve?
Yes, a person's position can evolve as they encounter more evidence and develop deeper understanding.
How can someone clarify their position on a matter?
Clarifying a position involves outlining the supporting evidence, reasoning, and the implications of the stance.
How are opinions formed?
Opinions are formed based on personal experiences, emotions, cultural background, and information perceived.
What impact do social influences have on opinions?
Social influences can significantly shape opinions by altering perceptions and introducing new information or biases.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
