How can one distinguish between fantasy and science fiction?

One way to tell is by looking at the source of the power or technology. In fantasy, it often comes from magic or mythical elements. In sci-fi, it's based on scientific concepts or theories.

Look at the setting. If it's a world with magic and mythical beings, it's fantasy. If it's a future world with a lot of problems due to society or technology, it could be dystopian or science fiction. Dystopian will have a more negative and oppressive feel, while science fiction might be more about exploring new ideas. For example, a story with dragons is fantasy, a story about a totalitarian future is dystopian, and a story about colonizing Mars is science fiction.

One way to distinguish them is by looking at the role of science. In science fiction, science is a central element. It drives the plot, the setting, and the development of characters. For example, in 'Dune', the understanding of the planet's ecology and the spice's properties are crucial scientific aspects. In speculative fiction, science may not be as important. It could be more about exploring ideas like the meaning of life or different social structures without a scientific basis.

Look at the elements in the story. If it has things like spaceships, scientific experiments, or real - world diseases being cured in a scientific way, it's likely a science - based story. If there are unicorns, magic spells, or talking animals, it's probably a fantasy story.

In reality, events are usually based on evidence and facts. In fantasy fiction, a lot of the plot and settings are created from the author's imagination without the need for real - world evidence. So, if a story seems to be based on things that can't be proven or are highly unlikely in our world, it's probably fantasy.

Paranormal stories often rely on elements that are considered supernatural, like ESP (extra - sensory perception) or possession. These things don't have a scientific basis currently. Science fiction stories, in contrast, usually have a scientific concept at their core. For example, a story about a future where humans have found a way to live underwater due to some genetic engineering breakthrough. So, if the story has no scientific grounding and is more about the spooky and mysterious, it's paranormal; if it has a scientific idea as its foundation, it's science fiction.

Look at the methodology. In science facts, there are clear experimental or observational methods. For instance, in a study about the effect of a new drug, there will be a control group, an experimental group, and specific measurements. But in science fiction, there are no such strict methods. It can be as wild as imagining a world where people can travel through time just by thinking, without any scientific basis.

Look at the elements in the story. If there are spaceships, robots, and high - tech gadgets, it's likely sci - fi. If there are wizards, magic spells, and mythical beasts, it's probably fantasy.

Look at the core elements. If there are lots of magic, fairies, dragons etc., it's likely fantasy. But if it's about future tech, alternative social systems based on current trends, it's speculative fiction.

Fiction typically has characters and plots that are made up. In nonfiction, the information is based on research or real - life experiences. You can also check if there are footnotes or references in the text. If there are, it's more likely to be nonfiction. Fiction might have a more creative or fantastical writing style compared to the more straightforward style of nonfiction.