What is the difference between
A matter of fact
and
The matter of fact
?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

That only makes sense if you are using “matter-of-fact” as an adjective. When used as an adjective, it can either mean to be unemotional or to only be concerned with factual content, not style or expression.

Examples:
• “I told him I am moving to a different country. The matter-of-fact response he gave was surprising.”

• “My sister’s husband has no personality. Everything he says is so matter-of-fact.”

• “The book we had to read for school was boring. It was written in a matter-of-fact manner. I felt like I was reading a textbook.”

———

As a noun, matter of fact can either mean something of factual nature or, specifically for Law, a statement or allegation to be judged only by the evidence. You would not use the article “the” when using matter of fact as a noun.

Examples:
• “It’s a matter of fact that Joe Biden is the President of the United States.”

• “They are brother and sister. It’s a matter of fact.”

• “We presented all the evidence to the judge. Now, it becomes a matter of fact if he finds her innocent or guilty for the crime.”

———

As a matter of fact = idiom/phrase
The fact of the matter = idiom/phrase
Matter-of-fact = adjective
Matter of fact = noun

In summary, you can use “the” when using “matter-of-fact” as an adjective. If you want to say “the matter of fact”, you would say “the fact of the matter” instead. If you use “matter of fact” as a noun, it will start with the article “a” —> “a matter of fact”.


Does that help?