<span>
Critics of women cyclists used words like “disgusting” and “degrading” to describe how they felt about women cycling. </span>
This sentence is subjective because all the author is doing is conveying the facts.
<span>When one
expresses an idea, it only possible to do so in two ways—subjectively or
objectively. Something that is expressed objectively will only contain unbiased information. When an idea is expressed
subjectively, what that means is that one has included some type of analysis,
interpretation, judgement, and/or opinion on the matter. Let’s look at what makes the other sentences
subjective:</span>
Women began
to try to break each other’s cycling records, some biking unbelievable and
possibly unhealthy distances over long periods of time.
<span>Here, the
use of “unbelievable” is subjective because it is certain there would be
someone who believes the distance. It is
unbelievable only to the author.</span>
Women were
strong competitors, which I believe is why they were able to excel at racing.
Here, the
use of “I believe” is the giveaway because the author is blatantly stating that
what is written is opinion.
The
opposition was right in thinking that women should not be cyclists.
This
sentence is subjective because the author is passing judgement (opinion)
validating the thoughts of others are correct.