Account vs. Narrative — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 28, 2024
An account is a factual description or report, while a narrative is a structured story with a plot and characters.
Difference Between Account and Narrative
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An account typically refers to a factual, often firsthand description or report of events. It aims to convey information accurately and objectively, focusing on the details of what happened. Whereas, a narrative is a crafted story, whether based on real events or fictional, that includes elements like plot, characters, and a structured sequence. Narratives are designed to entertain, convey themes, or impart moral lessons, often engaging the reader's emotions and imagination.
Accounts are often found in journalistic writing, history books, and in the context of eyewitness or expert testimonies. They prioritize clarity, accuracy, and objectivity, presenting information without embellishment. On the other hand, narratives are common in literature, cinema, and oral storytelling, where the emphasis is on story arc, character development, and thematic depth. The intention behind a narrative is not just to inform but to evoke an emotional response or reflection.
While accounts aim to document or explain, providing a clear understanding of events or situations without personal bias, narratives often include the author's or narrator's perspective, influencing the reader's interpretation through the chosen storytelling techniques. This distinction highlights the different purposes these forms serve, with accounts leaning towards informational and narratives towards experiential.
In an account, the language used is typically straightforward and factual, intended to convey information as clearly as possible. In contrast, narratives often employ descriptive, figurative language to paint vivid scenes and bring characters to life, enhancing the reader's engagement and emotional investment in the story.
Despite their differences, both accounts and narratives can overlap. For example, historical narratives can combine factual accounts with storytelling elements to make history more engaging. Similarly, personal accounts can contain narrative elements, especially when recounting events in a way that builds a compelling story.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To inform or report facts
To tell a story with plot and characters
Content
Factual descriptions, eyewitness reports
Plot, setting, characters, themes
Language
Straightforward and objective
Descriptive, emotive, figurative
Emphasis
Accuracy and clarity
Engagement, emotion, reflection
Common Forms
News articles, history books
Novels, films, oral stories
Compare with Definitions
Account
A factual report or description.
The witness gave an account of the events leading up to the accident.
Narrative
A way of presenting or understanding information.
The documentary challenges the traditional narrative about the war.
Account
A record of financial transactions.
She reviewed her bank account to track her spending.
Narrative
A representation in art of an event or story.
The painting tells a complex narrative through its imagery.
Account
To explain or justify.
He was asked to account for his time on the day of the theft.
Narrative
A story or account of events.
The novel's narrative spans several generations.
Account
A user's access to a system or service.
I set up an account on the website to manage my subscriptions.
Narrative
The structured story within a book, movie, or play.
The film's narrative focuses on redemption.
Account
A representation of facts or concepts.
The scientist provided an account of the new research findings.
Narrative
The act of telling a story.
Her narrative skill brings the characters to life.
Account
A narrative or record of events.
Narrative
A narrative, story or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travelogue, etc.) or fictional (fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller, novel, etc.). Narratives can be presented through a sequence of written or spoken words, still or moving images, or any combination of these.
Account
A reason given for a particular action or event
What is the account for this loss?.
Narrative
A narrated account; a story.
Account
A report relating to one's conduct
Gave a satisfactory account of herself.
Narrative
The art, technique, or process of narrating
The highest form of narrative.
Account
A basis or ground
No reason to worry on that account.
Narrative
A presentation of real-world events that connects them in a storylike way
"There has been less of a coherent, connected media narrative and more of a kind of episodic focus on events, controversies and gaffes" (Mark Jurkowitz).
Account
A formal banking, brokerage, or business relationship established to provide for regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions.
Narrative
An explanation or interpretation of events in accordance with a particular theory, ideology, or point of view
The competing narratives of capitalism and Marxism.
Account
A precise list or enumeration of financial transactions.
Narrative
Consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story
Narrative poetry.
Account
A sum of money deposited for checking, savings, or brokerage use.
Narrative
Of or relating to narration
Narrative skill.
Account
A customer having a business or credit relationship with a firm
Salespeople visiting their accounts.
Narrative
Telling a story.
Account
A private access to a computer system or online service, usually requiring a password to enter.
Narrative
Overly talkative; garrulous.
Account
Worth, standing, or importance
A landowner of some account.
Narrative
Of or relating to narration.
The narrative thrust of a film
Account
Profit or advantage
Turned her writing skills to good account.
Narrative
The systematic recitation of an event or series of events.
Account
To consider as being; deem. See Usage Note at as1.
Narrative
That which is narrated.
Account
(accounting) A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review.
Narrative
A representation of an event or story in a way to promote a certain point of view.
Changing, controlling the narrative
Account
(banking) A bank account.
Narrative
(creative writing) A manner of conveying a story, fictional or otherwise, in a body of work.
The plot is full of holes, but the narrative is extremely compelling.
Account
A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; a reason of an action to be done.
No satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena.
Narrative
Of or pertaining to narration; relating to the particulars of an event or transaction.
Account
A reason, grounds, consideration, motive; a person's sake.
Don't trouble yourself on my account.
On no account
On every account
On all accounts
Narrative
Apt or inclined to relate stories, or to tell particulars of events; story-telling; garrulous.
But wise through time, and narrative with age.
Account
A record of events; a relation or narrative.
An account of a battle.
Narrative
That which is narrated; the recital of a story; a continuous account of the particulars of an event or transaction; a story.
Cyntio was much taken with my narrative.
Account
An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.
Narrative
Consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story;
Narrative poetry
Account
Importance; worth; value; esteem; judgement.
Account
Authorization as a specific registered user in accessing a system.
I've opened an account with Wikipedia so that I can contribute and partake in the project.
Account
(archaic) A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning.
Account
(uncountable) Profit; advantage.
The young man soon turned his woodworking skills to some account.
Account
To provide explanation.
Account
To present an account of; to answer for, to justify.
Account
To give an account of financial transactions, money received etc.
Account
(transitive) To estimate, consider (something to be as described).
Account
(intransitive) To consider that.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory evaluation for financial transactions, money received etc.
An officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory evaluation for (one's actions, behaviour etc.); to answer for.
We must account for the use of our opportunities.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory reason for; to explain.
Idleness accounts for poverty.
Account
(intransitive) To establish the location for someone.
After the crash, not all passengers were accounted for.
Account
To count.
Account
To calculate, work out (especially with periods of time).
Account
(obsolete) To count (up), enumerate.
Account
(obsolete) To recount, relate (a narrative etc.).
Account
A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
A beggarly account of empty boxes.
Account
A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank.
Account
A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts.
Account
A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle.
Account
A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon.
Give an account of thy stewardship.
Account
An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.
Account
Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit.
This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it.
Account
To reckon; to compute; to count.
The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are accounted.
Account
To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to assign; - with to.
Account
To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or consider; to deem.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up.
Account
To recount; to relate.
Account
To render or receive an account or relation of particulars; as, an officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.
Account
To render an account; to answer in judgment; - with for; as, we must account for the use of our opportunities.
Account
To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to explain; - with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty.
Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century.
Account
A formal contractual relationship established to provide for regular banking or brokerage or business services;
He asked to see the executive who handled his account
Account
The act of informing by verbal report;
He heard reports that they were causing trouble
By all accounts they were a happy couple
Account
A record or narrative description of past events;
A history of France
He gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president
The story of exposure to lead
Account
A short account of the news;
The report of his speech
The story was on the 11 o'clock news
The account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious
Account
A statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance;
They send me an accounting every month
Account
A statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.;
The explanation was very simple
I expected a brief account
Account
An itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered;
He paid his bill and left
Send me an account of what I owe
Account
Grounds;
Don't do it on my account
The paper was rejected on account of its length
He tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful
Account
Importance or value;
A person of considerable account
He predicted that although it is of small account now it will rapidly increase in importance
Account
The quality of taking advantage;
She turned her writing skills to good account
Account
Be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something;
Passing grades account for half of the grades given in this exam
Account
Keep an account of
Account
To give an account or representation of in words;
Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental
Account
Furnish a justifying analysis or explanation;
I can't account for the missing money
Common Curiosities
How do accounts serve the reader?
Accounts provide the reader with information and factual insights into events or topics, aiming for clarity and understanding.
What is an account in writing?
An account is a detailed, factual report of events or a situation, focusing on accuracy and objectivity.
What is the main difference between an account and a narrative?
The main difference is that an account focuses on factual reporting, while a narrative tells a story with structured elements.
Is a biography an account or a narrative?
A biography can be both, presenting factual information in a narrative form to tell a person's life story.
Can a narrative be factual?
Yes, narratives can be based on real events but are structured as stories with elements like plot and character development.
Why are narratives important?
Narratives are important for their ability to engage emotions, impart moral lessons, and deepen understanding through storytelling.
Can a narrative be without characters?
While most narratives involve characters, some can focus on themes or events, using abstract or non-traditional storytelling methods.
What makes an account reliable?
An account's reliability depends on its source's credibility, accuracy of details, and objectivity in presentation.
Can an account become a narrative?
Yes, an account can be transformed into a narrative by adding storytelling elements like character development and a plot structure.
How does perspective play a role in narratives?
Perspective in narratives influences how stories are told and received, shaping the reader's understanding and emotional response.
How do personal accounts fit into this comparison?
Personal accounts can blend both elements, factually reporting personal experiences while sometimes employing narrative storytelling techniques.
Do all narratives have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
While traditional narratives follow this structure, experimental narratives might play with non-linear timelines and structures.
What role does language play in differentiating between accounts and narratives?
Language in accounts is straightforward and objective, while in narratives, it's often descriptive and aimed at evoking emotions.
Why might someone choose a narrative over an account for presenting information?
Someone might choose a narrative to engage the audience more deeply, using storytelling to make the information more relatable and memorable.
Is a news article an account or a narrative?
News articles are typically accounts, focusing on reporting facts, though narrative journalism incorporates storytelling elements.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
