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Difference between article and essay: We all have written several articles and essays during our academic sessions. Many people consider these two terms synonymous. But this is not the truth. Both articles and essays are distinct terms with different formats. An article is meant to explain and persuade a larger audience and is generally more objective, whereas an essay is written on a particular topic and is more subjective. This blog will provide you with a thorough understanding of the difference between articles and essays, allowing you to write in a more effective way.
Table of Contents
- 1 Difference Between Article and Essay: Purpose
- 2 Difference Between Article and Essay: Structure
- 3 Difference Between Article and Essay: Tone and Style
- 4 Difference Between Article and Essay: Audience
- 5 Difference Between Article and Essay: Length
- 6 Difference Between Article and Essay: Content and Research
- 7 FAQs
Difference Between Article and Essay: Purpose
Articles and Essays are written for different purposes. Here are the key differences between the intent of article and essay:
| Purpose of an Article | Purpose of an Essay |
| – Aims to explain, inform or update readers on a given topic. – Written for a larger audience. It focuses on current events and educational information. | – Aims to go in-depth and allow the writer to investigate a topic from multiple perspectives. – Often written in educational contexts, but they can also be personal or opinionated, depending on their purpose and audience. |
Also Read: Article Writing: Stepwise Guide, Format, Sample, & Tips
Difference Between Article and Essay: Structure
Articles are often organised into short sections with subheadings. This format makes them easier to read. An article is structured in the inverted pyramid format, which means that the most important information is presented first, followed by supporting details. The language is simple and direct, with the aim of presenting information in a quicker way.
Whereas, essays use a more formal and structured format. It begins with an introduction, then proceeds to a thorough analysis in the body paragraphs, and concludes with a summary of the points presented in the essay.
Let us take a look at the difference between article and essay based on structure:
| Structure of an Article | Structure of an Essay |
| – Headline: A catchy title that draws attention. – Introduction: A brief overview of the topic. – Body: Divided into sections with facts, explanations, or examples. – Conclusion: A closing that summarises the whole encourages further article. | – Headline: Simple and straightforward title. – Introduction: Introduces the topic. – Body: Each paragraph presents a single point with examples. – Conclusion: Summarise the essay. |
Difference Between Article and Essay: Tone and Style
As an article and an essay are written for various purposes and audiences, each varies in tone and style of writing. The key differences between the tone and style of article and essay are discussed below:
| Tone and Style of an Article | Tone and Style of an Essay |
| – Often written in an informational tone, depending on the target audience. -Written casually and engagingly, with a sharp writing style. Even the language can be harsh at times, depending on the content. | – Written in a more formal and structured format. – The writing style is detailed and uses a serious tone. Essay writing requires a more advanced language because it is supposed to offer well-researched information. |
Also Read: 10 Steps on How to Write an Essay in English
Difference Between Article and Essay: Audience
Articles are written for a general audience. Whereas, essays are written for a specific audience. Here, we will mention the difference between an essay and an article based on the audience.
| Target Audience of an Article | Target Audience of an Essay |
| – Written to engage or inform a large audience, hence they are made to be easily accessible. | – Focus on in-depth analysis of a specific issue. |
Difference Between Article and Essay: Length
The length and word limit of an essay and an article differ depending on the purpose they serve. The difference between article and essay length is mentioned in the following table:
| Length of an Article | Length of an Essay |
| – Typically short. Can be longer. – 300 to 1500 words (can exceed word limit based on topic and type of publication) | – Length depends on the target audience. – 100 to 1000 words. |
Difference Between Article and Essay: Content and Research
The articles and essays may be written on various common topics. However, the content may vary based on the intent and audience. Owing to this, the content of each writing form may vary. Also, the research methods vary depending on the content.
Here are some basic differences between articles and essays based on the content and research method:
| Content and Research for Article | Content and Research for Essay |
| – Articles are frequently based on factual information and do not require extensive study. -Journalists may create articles based on interviews, reports, or quick data collection. The focus is on providing information in a way that is easy to understand. | – Extensive research is required when writing an essay, especially for academic purposes. -Writers require reliable sources to gather information and deliver it in a logical and organised way. Academic essays often include citations and evidence of the writer’s thorough research on the topic. |
FAQs
Articles and Essays serve different purposes for different target audiences. Articles are published for a general audience, whereas essays are more formal and in-depth studies of a topic. Whether you are writing an essay or an article, you must understand the difference between the two so that you can structure your work correctly and efficiently.
The purpose of an essay is to go in-depth and allow the writer to investigate a topic from multiple perspectives. Essays are more formal in tone and involve a thorough examination of a subject.
Articles are typically short, ranging from 300 to 1500 words. The length varies depending on the topic and publisher.
The four types of essays are argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.
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