Claims

Question 1

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“You thought it was pretty good.”

Answer 1

Subjective claim

Question 2

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Art was at the bank with me.”

Answer 2

Too vague to be a claim.

This is a case of ambiguity-vagueness. It is unclear whether “bank” refers to a financial institution, or the edge of a river, or a snow bank, etc.

Question 3

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“My name is David Frump.”

Answer 3

Objective claim

Question 4

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
42 + 8 = 51

Answer 4

Objective claim

Question 5

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Akbar said that he really missed Jeff.”

Answer 5

Objective claim

Question 6

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Guelph is a city in Southern Ontario.”

Answer 6

Objective claim

Question 7

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“She believed him.”

Answer 7

Subjective claim

Question 8

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Newspaper Headline: ‘Prostitutes appeal to Pope.’”

Answer 8

Too vague to be a claim

Question 9

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“I had a pet dog as a child.”

Answer 9

Objective claim

Question 10

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“He seemed like a pretty smart fellow.”

Answer 10

Subjective claim

Question 11

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“The root of all evil.”

Answer 11

Not a claim, but not too vague

Question 12

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“How far were you from the dock?”

Answer 12

Not a claim, but not too vague

Question 13

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Go to Hell, you bad person!”

Answer 13

Not a claim, but not too vague.

It is an imperative (i.e. a command)

Question 14

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Did you go to a party?”

Answer 14

Not a claim, but not too vague

Question 15

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“The highway runs from my house to your house.”

Answer 15

Objective claim

Question 16

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“You thought you had forgotten your briefcase.”

Answer 16

Subjective claim

Question 17

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Sir John A. MacDonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada.”

Answer 17

Objective claim

Question 18

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“There are approximately 100 000 hair follicles on the average human head.”

Answer 18

Objective claim

Question 19

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“You are such a loser.”

Answer 19

Too vague to be a claim.

Loser can mean very different things.

Question 20

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Her car has lots of bells and whistles.”

Answer 20

Too vague to be a claim.

“Bells and whistles” means fancy accessories. Fancy accessories is vague.

Question 21

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Most people are of above-average intelligence.”

Answer 21

Objective claim

Question 22

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“Get going!”

Answer 22

Not a claim, but not too vague

Question 23

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“John likes vegemite.”

Answer 23

Subjective claim

Question 24

Is this an objective claim, a subjective claim, too vague to be a claim, or not a claim, but not too vague?
“That man is quite something.”

Answer 24

Too vague to be a claim.

Is “quite something” positive or negative?