Public information is available to anyone who wants to know it.
If a store is opened to the public, it means anyone can come in.
(A public company makes its shares available for purchase by any investor.)
Private information is not open to everyone, but is only available to trusted friends or family.
Information about one's secret hopes and dreams is usually private.
(Most people keep their personal information private.)
Confidential information is secret information.
Confidential information is not supposed to be shared with others.
(The details of a secret design or how a company makes decisions are often confidential.)
(The password to your bank account is private information.)
Gossip is information that is often exchanged because it's exciting or fun, even though it may not be true.
Office gossip is often entertaining, but it can also be damaging.
(Gossip may hurt or embarrass the person being gossiped about.)
Opinions are what people think or feel about something, as opposed to factual information.
Factual information is based on facts or evidence, but opinions are what people think or feel.
(Opinions often differ, and when they do people may argue.)
(Someone's opinion is what they think or feel about something.)
(Revealing confidential information may be illegal.)
(Anyone can invest in a public company by buying its shares.)
(When people gossip, they may hurt someone by spreading false or embarrassing information.)
