Account vs. Story — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 25, 2024
An account is a report or description of an event or experience, often factual and detailed, while a story is a narrative designed to entertain, teach, or convey a moral, and can be factual or fictional.
Difference Between Account and Story
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An account typically refers to a factual and detailed reporting of events, emphasizing accuracy and the sequence of happenings. It is often used in formal or official contexts, like news reporting or historical documentation. On the other hand, a story is crafted primarily to engage or entertain an audience, focusing on plot, characters, and a narrative arc, and can either be based on true events or entirely fictional.
Accounts are generally objective, presenting information without embellishment or subjective interpretation. They are meant to inform or provide evidence and are crucial in contexts like journalism, academia, or law. Conversely, stories often include imaginative elements, designed to provoke thoughts, evoke emotions, or impart lessons, commonly found in literature, cinema, and folklore.
While an account aims to be clear and direct about the facts, a story prioritizes the flow of the narrative and the development of its elements, such as tension and resolution. This difference in focus influences how information is presented; accounts are straightforward and concise, whereas stories might explore various viewpoints or complex themes.
In terms of structure, accounts usually follow a logical or chronological order, making it easier to track the unfolding of real events. Stories, however, may use a variety of narrative techniques, such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, or multiple perspectives, to enhance the storytelling experience.
The purpose of an account is often to document or provide a record, serving as a reference or a source of information. Stories, however, are primarily meant to entertain, teach, or carry cultural significance, often leaving a lasting impact through the moral or message they convey.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A factual, detailed report of events
A narrative designed to entertain or teach
Purpose
To inform or provide evidence
To entertain, teach, or convey a moral
Content Type
Factual, often lacking embellishment
Can be factual or fictional, often creative
Structure
Logical, chronological
May use varied narrative techniques
Audience
Intended for those seeking information
Targeted at those looking for engagement
Compare with Definitions
Account
Often used in financial contexts to describe records of transactions.
She meticulously maintained every account in the ledger.
Story
A narrative, either true or fictional, intended to entertain, teach, or explain.
She told a story that captivated all the children.
Account
A detailed report or description of an event.
The journalist provided an account of the political rally.
Story
Used in journalism to refer to a news article or report.
The editor assigned the new story to her.
Account
Can denote a user’s registration with an online system.
He set up an account on the website to manage his subscriptions.
Story
Often involves characters, a plot, and a setting.
The story of his adventures abroad was both exciting and inspirational.
Account
Describes a representation or statement of facts, not fictional.
The historical account was confirmed with various sources.
Story
Can refer to a lie or a fabricated tale.
His story about the missing money didn’t convince anyone.
Account
A record that maintains factual details of occurrences.
His account of the meeting was used as a reference in the report.
Story
In architecture, refers to a level of a building.
The library was a three-story building.
Account
A narrative or record of events.
Story
An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment
I'm going to tell you a story
An adventure story
Account
A reason given for a particular action or event
What is the account for this loss?.
Story
An account of past events in someone's life or in the development of something
The film is based on a true story
The story of modern farming
Account
A report relating to one's conduct
Gave a satisfactory account of herself.
Story
The commercial prospects or circumstances of a particular company
The investors' flight to profitable businesses with solid stories
Account
A basis or ground
No reason to worry on that account.
Story
Variant spelling of storey
Account
A formal banking, brokerage, or business relationship established to provide for regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions.
Story
An account or report regarding the facts of an event or group of events
The witness changed her story under questioning.
Account
A precise list or enumeration of financial transactions.
Story
An anecdote
Came back from the trip with some good stories.
Account
A sum of money deposited for checking, savings, or brokerage use.
Story
A lie
Told us a story about the dog eating the cookies.
Account
A customer having a business or credit relationship with a firm
Salespeople visiting their accounts.
Story
A usually fictional prose or verse narrative intended to interest or amuse the hearer or reader; a tale.
Account
A private access to a computer system or online service, usually requiring a password to enter.
Story
A short story.
Account
Worth, standing, or importance
A landowner of some account.
Story
The plot of a narrative or dramatic work.
Account
Profit or advantage
Turned her writing skills to good account.
Story
A news article or broadcast.
Account
To consider as being; deem. See Usage Note at as1.
Story
Something viewed as or providing material for a literary or journalistic treatment
"He was colorful, he was charismatic, he was controversial, he was a good story" (Terry Ann Knopf).
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.
Story
The background information regarding something
What's the story on these unpaid bills?.
Account
(banking) A bank account.
Story
Romantic legend or tradition
A hero known to us in story.
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.
Story
A complete horizontal division of a building, constituting the area between two adjacent floors.
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
Story
The set of rooms on the same floor of a building.
Account
A record of events; a relation or narrative.
An account of a battle.
Story
To decorate with scenes representing historical or legendary events.
Account
An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.
Story
(Archaic) To tell as a story.
Account
Importance; worth; value; esteem; judgement.
Story
An account of real or fictional events.
The book tells the story of two roommates.
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.
Story
A lie, fiction.
You’ve been telling stories again, haven’t you?
Account
(archaic) A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning.
Story
A soap opera.
What will she do without being able to watch her stories?
Account
(uncountable) Profit; advantage.
The young man soon turned his woodworking skills to some account.
Story
(obsolete) History.
Account
To provide explanation.
Story
A sequence of events, or a situation, such as might be related in an account.
What's the story with him?
I tried it again; same story, no error message, nothing happened.
Account
To present an account of; to answer for, to justify.
Story
A chronological collection of pictures or short videos published by a user on an application or website that is typically only available for a short period.
Account
To give an account of financial transactions, money received etc.
Story
(computing) user story
Account
(transitive) To estimate, consider (something to be as described).
Story
To tell as a story; to relate or narrate about.
Account
(intransitive) To consider that.
Story
A set of rooms on the same floor or level; a floor, or the space between two floors. Also, a horizontal division of a building's exterior considered architecturally, which need not correspond exactly with the stories within.
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.
Story
A narration or recital of that which has occurred; a description of past events; a history; a statement; a record.
One malcontent who did indeed get a name in story.
Venice, with its unique city and its Impressive story.
The four great monarchies make the subject of ancient story.
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.
Story
The relation of an incident or minor event; a short narrative; a tale; especially, a fictitious narrative less elaborate than a novel; a short romance.
Account
(intransitive) To give a satisfactory reason for; to explain.
Idleness accounts for poverty.
Story
A euphemism or child's word for "a lie;" a fib; as, to tell a story.
Account
(intransitive) To establish the location for someone.
After the crash, not all passengers were accounted for.
Story
To tell in historical relation; to make the subject of a story; to narrate or describe in story.
How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.
It is storied of the brazen colossus in Rhodes, that it was seventy cubits high.
Account
To count.
Story
A message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program;
His narrative was interesting
Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children
Account
To calculate, work out (especially with periods of time).
Story
A piece of fiction that narrates a chain of related events;
He writes stories for the magazines
Account
(obsolete) To count (up), enumerate.
Story
Structure consisting of a room or set of rooms comprising a single level of a multilevel building;
What level is the office on?
Account
(obsolete) To recount, relate (a narrative etc.).
Story
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 reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
A beggarly account of empty boxes.
Story
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 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.
Story
A trivial lie;
He told a fib about eating his spinach
How can I stop my child from telling stories?
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
What defines a story?
A story is a narrative designed to entertain, teach, or convey a moral, featuring characters, a plot, and often imaginative elements.
What makes a good account?
A good account is clear, accurate, and provides a detailed and chronological report of events, making it easy for the reader to understand the facts.
How do accounts and stories differ in purpose?
Accounts aim to inform or document events accurately, while stories aim to engage or impart lessons through narrative.
Can an account become a story?
Yes, an account of real events can be adapted into a story by adding narrative elements like character development and thematic layers to enhance its appeal.
What is an account?
An account is a factual report or description of an event, emphasizing accuracy and often lacking in fictional elements.
How do narrative techniques enhance a story?
Narrative techniques such as flashbacks, multiple perspectives, and foreshadowing enrich a story by adding depth, complexity, and emotional impact.
What are the key elements of a story?
The key elements of a story include characters, a setting, a plot with conflict, and a resolution, crafted to engage the audience emotionally and intellectually.
What is the role of creativity in stories?
Creativity in stories plays a significant role in crafting engaging narratives, developing relatable characters, and establishing immersive settings.
How can stories impact society?
Stories can profoundly impact society by shaping cultural values, influencing perceptions, and inspiring change through the morals and lessons they convey.
Why is objectivity important in accounts?
Objectivity is crucial in accounts to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, which is essential in formal and educational contexts.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
