In this paper the author examines some of the varieties of definitions of fact and formulation within contemporary psychoanalytic perspectives. A common thread running throughout various definitions of fact is the way in which fact is never theory-free. An attempt is made to compare and contrast the ways in which fact and formulation are contextually bound to theory. Questions are raised about the extent to which we can claim evidential status of propositions versus viewing formulations as useful illustrations of our work. Implicit in this paper is the current tension in psychoanalytic theory between psychoanalysis as a theory of motivation and meaning.