Article vs. Essay — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
An article typically provides information on a specific topic for a broader audience, while an essay conveys personal perspectives or arguments on a subject, often with a narrower focus.
Difference Between Article and Essay
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An article is generally a piece of writing published in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms. It aims to inform, educate, or entertain readers about a particular topic, event, or issue. Articles are often objective and present facts, data, or expert opinions.
On the other hand, an essay is a shorter piece of writing that presents the author's personal viewpoint or argument. Essays can be subjective, allowing for personal reflections, arguments, and observations. They often delve into the nuances of a topic, giving readers insight into the author's thoughts and feelings.
While both articles and essays can inform a reader, the primary purpose of an article is to provide information, while an essay seeks to persuade or enlighten through personal perspective. Furthermore, articles often adhere to journalistic standards and are intended for a wider, general audience.
Articles are commonly found in journalistic outlets and may include interviews, research, or other third-party inputs. They're structured to engage a broad readership and might contain headings, subheadings, or bullet points. In contrast, essays are more free-form and might be found in literary journals, academic publications, or collections of personal writings.
Ultimately, while articles and essays overlap in many ways, they differ in purpose, tone, structure, and audience. An article informs using factual and objective information, while an essay offers a more personal, reflective, or argumentative perspective on a topic.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Inform, educate, or entertain
Present personal viewpoint or argument
Tone
Objective, factual
Subjective, reflective
Audience
Broader, general
Might be narrower, focused on those interested in the topic
Structure
May have headings, subheadings
More free-form, continuous text
Sources
Research, interviews, experts
Personal reflections, might include research
Compare with Definitions
Article
A particular item or object
Small household articles
Articles of clothing
Essay
A written composition of moderate length.
The students wrote an essay about their favorite books.
Article
A piece of writing included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication
An article about middle-aged executives
Essay
A short piece of writing on a particular subject.
She submitted her essay on Renaissance art.
Article
A separate clause or paragraph of a legal document or agreement, typically one outlining a single rule or regulation
It is an offence under Article 7 of the Treaty
Essay
An attempt or effort.
He made an essay at playing the guitar.
Article
A period of training with a firm as a solicitor, architect, surveyor, or accountant
It may be worth taking articles in a specialized firm
He is already in articles
Essay
A test or trial.
He took an essay in patience when teaching the new recruit.
Article
The definite or indefinite article.
Essay
An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have traditionally been sub-classified as formal and informal.
Article
Bind (a trainee solicitor, architect, surveyor, or accountant) to undergo a period of training with a firm in order to become qualified
He was articled to a firm of solicitors in York
Essay
A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
Article
An individual thing or element of a class; a particular object or item
An article of clothing.
Articles of food.
Essay
Something resembling such a composition
A photojournalistic essay.
Article
A particular section or item of a series in a written document, as in a contract, constitution, or treaty.
Essay
A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing
An essay of the students' capabilities.
Article
A nonfictional literary composition that forms an independent part of a publication, as of a newspaper or magazine.
Essay
An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt.
Article
The part of speech used to indicate nouns and to specify their application.
Essay
To make an attempt at; try.
Article
Any of the words belonging to this part of speech. In English, the indefinite articles are a and an and the definite article is the.
Essay
To subject to a test.
Article
A particular part or subject; a specific matter or point.
Essay
(authorship) A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
Article
To bind by articles set forth in a contract, such as one of apprenticeship.
Essay
(obsolete) A test, experiment; an assay.
Article
A piece of nonfictional writing such as a story, report, opinion piece, or entry in a newspaper, magazine, journal, dictionary, encyclopedia, etc.
Essay
An attempt.
Article
An object, a member of a group or class.
An article of clothing
A sales article
Essay
A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.
Article
(grammar) A part of speech that indicates, specifies and limits a noun (a, an, or the in English). In some languages the article may appear as an ending (e.g. definite article in Swedish) or there may be none (e.g. Russian, Pashto).
Essay
To try.
Article
A section of a legal document, bylaws, etc. or, in the plural, the entire document seen as a collection of these.
The Articles of War are a set of regulations...to govern the conduct of...military...forces
Essay
(intransitive) To move forth, as into battle.
Article
A genuine article.
Essay
An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a friend.
Article
A part or segment of something joined to other parts, or, in combination, forming a structured set.
Each of the chelicerae is composed of two articles, forming a powerful pincer.
Essay
A composition treating of any particular subject; - usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce.
Article
A person; an individual.
A shrewd article
Essay
To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to try.
What marvel if I thus essay to sing?
Essaying nothing she can not perform.
A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should essay the impossible.
Article
(archaic) A wench.
She's a prime article (whip slang), she's a devilish good piece, a hell of a goer.
Essay
To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay.
Article
(dated) Subject matter; concern.
Essay
An analytic or interpretive literary composition
Article
(dated) A distinct part.
Essay
A tentative attempt
Article
(obsolete) A precise point in time; a moment.
Essay
Make an effort or attempt;
He tried to shake off his fears
The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps
The police attempted to stop the thief
He sought to improve himself
She always seeks to do good in the world
Article
(transitive) To bind by articles of apprenticeship.
To article an apprentice to a mechanic
Essay
Put to the test, as for its quality, or give experimental use to;
This approach has been tried with good results
Test this recipe
Article
(obsolete) To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles or accusations.
Essay
A literary composition that reflects personal opinions or viewpoints.
His essay on existentialism was profound.
Article
To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
Article
A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating of various topics; as, an article in the Constitution. Hence: A clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement; as, articles of agreement.
Article
A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.
Article
Subject; matter; concern; distinct.
A very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding.
This last article will hardly be believed.
Article
A distinct part.
The articles which compose the blood.
Article
A particular one of various things; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article.
They would fight not for articles of faith, but for articles of food.
Article
Precise point of time; moment.
This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
Article
One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite article, the the definite article.
Article
One of the segments of an articulated appendage.
Article
To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
If all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.
Article
To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles.
He shall be articled against in the high court of admiralty.
Article
To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation; as, to article an apprentice to a mechanic.
Article
To agree by articles; to stipulate; to bargain; to covenant.
Then he articled with her that he should go away when he pleased.
Article
Nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
Article
One of a class of artifacts;
An article of clothing
Article
A separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)
Article
(grammar) a determiner that may indicate the specificity of reference of a noun phrase
Article
Bind by a contract; especially for a training period
Article
A piece of writing for publication in a newspaper or magazine.
She wrote an article about the local election results.
Article
A particular item or object.
He purchased an article of clothing from the store.
Article
A separate clause or provision of a legal document.
The contract's article specified payment terms.
Article
An individual thing or element of a class.
A bird is an article of the avian class.
Article
A nonfictional prose composition.
The article detailed the history of the town.
Common Curiosities
How long is an essay?
Essays vary in length but are often shorter than full-length articles, focusing on a single idea.
Can an essay be objective?
Yes, though essays often convey personal viewpoints, they can be objective, especially in academic settings.
Where might I find articles?
Articles are commonly in newspapers, magazines, and online platforms.
Are articles and essays the same?
No, while both are writings, articles typically inform, and essays express personal perspectives.
Can an article include personal opinions?
Yes, especially in opinion or editorial sections.
Are articles always factual?
While articles should be based on facts, they can contain biases or inaccuracies. Always consider the source.
What's a photo essay?
It's a collection of images that tell a story or convey a thematic message, similar to a written essay.
What's the primary aim of an essay?
To convey the author's viewpoint, reflection, or argument on a topic.
Can essays have headings?
While less common, essays can have headings, especially in academic or longer compositions.
Who is the audience for essays?
Essays might target a narrower audience, interested in the topic or familiar with the author.
Are all articles found in newspapers?
No, articles can be in magazines, journals, online platforms, and more.
Can articles be personal?
Some articles, like personal essays or memoir pieces, can be deeply personal.
Are essays always formal?
No, essays can be informal, depending on the purpose and audience.
How are articles structured?
They might have headings, subheadings, bullet points, and follow a clear flow of ideas.
Is research necessary for essays?
Not always, but essays can include research to support the writer's viewpoint.
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Written 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.
