Essay vs. Composition — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
An Essay is a short piece of writing on a specific topic, often presenting an argument or viewpoint, while a Composition is a broader term referring to any piece of written work, including essays, poems, and stories.
Difference Between Essay and Composition
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Key Differences
The realm of writing offers varied forms, among which the Essay and Composition are commonly encountered.
An Essay is a structured piece of writing, often short, that delves into a specific subject or topic. It usually carries a thesis or central argument and provides evidence or commentary to support or challenge it. Essays are common in academic settings, where they often serve as a means to assess students' understanding or opinions on a particular issue.
A Composition, on the other hand, is a more general term. It encompasses any written work, be it a story, poem, essay, or any other form. In educational contexts, especially at elementary levels, students are often assigned "compositions" where they might write on a given topic without the stringent structural requirements of an essay.
Therefore, while every Essay can be considered a Composition, not every Composition is an Essay. The latter can be diverse, from lyrical pieces to narratives, while the former is specifically centered around a central theme or argument.
The distinction, while subtle, is rooted in the purpose and structure of the written piece, with Essays being more focused and argumentative, and Compositions offering a wider array of creative freedom.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A short written piece on a specific topic.
Any written work, irrespective of form.
Structure
Typically has a defined structure (introduction, body, conclusion).
May or may not follow a strict structure.
Purpose
Often to argue or present a viewpoint.
Can range from expressing thoughts to storytelling.
Academic Context
Common in higher education as a means of assessment.
Used broadly in education, especially at elementary levels.
Flexibility
Less flexibility due to its argumentative nature.
Offers more creative freedom.
Compare with Definitions
Essay
A short piece of writing on a particular subject.
She submitted an Essay on climate change for her final exam.
Composition
A creative work, especially a poem or piece of music.
Beethoven's Compositions are timeless.
Essay
A written piece that presents an argument or viewpoint.
His Essay on human rights was truly persuasive.
Composition
The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.
Essay
An academic assignment requiring research and analysis.
Students dreaded the upcoming history Essay.
Composition
The manner in which such parts are combined or related.
Essay
An attempt or effort.
He made an Essay into entrepreneurship with his startup.
Composition
General makeup
The changing composition of the electorate.
Essay
A literary form with a distinct style and structure.
Montaigne's works are classic examples of the Essay format.
Composition
The result or product of composing; a mixture or compound.
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.
Composition
Arrangement of artistic parts so as to form a unified whole.
Essay
A short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author.
Composition
The art or act of composing a musical or literary work.
Essay
Something resembling such a composition
A photojournalistic essay.
Composition
A work of music, literature, or art, or its structure or organization.
Essay
A testing or trial of the value or nature of a thing
An essay of the students' capabilities.
Composition
A short essay, especially one written as an academic exercise.
Essay
An initial attempt or endeavor, especially a tentative attempt.
Composition
(Law) A settlement whereby the creditors of a debtor about to enter bankruptcy agree, in return for some financial consideration, usually proffered immediately, to the discharge of their respective claims on receipt of payment which is in a lesser amount than that actually owed on the claim.
Essay
To make an attempt at; try.
Composition
(Linguistics) The formation of compounds from separate words.
Essay
To subject to a test.
Composition
(Printing) Typesetting.
Essay
(authorship) A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
Composition
The act of putting together; assembly.
Essay
(obsolete) A test, experiment; an assay.
Composition
A mixture or compound; the result of composing.
Essay
An attempt.
Composition
The proportion of different parts to make a whole.
Essay
A proposed design for a postage stamp or a banknote.
Composition
The general makeup of a thing or person.
Essay
To try.
Composition
(obsolete) An agreement or treaty used to settle differences; later especially, an agreement to stop hostilities; a truce.
Essay
(intransitive) To move forth, as into battle.
Composition
(obsolete) A payment of money in order to clear a liability or obligation; a settling or fine.
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.
Composition
A payment of fine in order to settle a (usually minor) criminal charge.
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.
Composition
(legal) an agreement or compromise by which a creditor or group of creditors accepts partial payment from a debtor.
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.
Composition
An essay.
Essay
To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay.
Composition
(linguistics) The formation of compound words from separate words.
Essay
An analytic or interpretive literary composition
Composition
A work of music, literature or art.
Essay
A tentative attempt
Composition
(printing) Typesetting.
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
Composition
(mathematics) Applying a function to the result of another.
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
Composition
(physics) The compounding of two velocities or forces into a single equivalent velocity or force.
Composition
(obsolete) Consistency; accord; congruity.
Composition
Synthesis as opposed to analysis.
Composition
The arrangement and flow of elements in a picture.
Composition
(object-oriented programming) Way to combine simple objects or data types into more complex ones.
Composition
The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients.
Composition
The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment.
View them in composition with other things.
The elementary composition of bodies.
Composition
A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition.
A composition that looks . . . like marble.
Composition
A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; - often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise.
Composition
Consistency; accord; congruity.
There is no composition in these newsThat gives them credit.
Composition
Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement.
Thus we are agreed:I crave our composition may be written.
Composition
The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment.
Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood.
Cleared by composition with their creditors.
Composition
Synthesis as opposed to analysis.
The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition.
Composition
A mixture of ingredients
Composition
The way in which someone or something is composed
Composition
The spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole;
Harmonious composition is essential in a serious work of art
Composition
A musical work that has been created;
The composition is written in four movements
Composition
Musical creation
Composition
The act of creating written works;
Writing was a form of therapy for him
It was a matter of disputed authorship
Composition
Art and technique of printing with movable type
Composition
An essay (especially one written as an assignment);
He got an A on his composition
Composition
Something that is created by arranging several things to form a unified whole;
He envied the composition of their faculty
Composition
The act or process of creating written works.
Her Composition skills improved with practice.
Composition
A piece of written work by a student.
The teacher was impressed with his Composition on ancient civilizations.
Composition
The structure or makeup of a thing.
The Composition of the committee was diverse.
Composition
Arrangement or placement of visual elements.
The artist focused on the Composition of his painting.
Common Curiosities
Is an Essay the same as a Composition?
No, while every Essay is a Composition, not every Composition is an Essay.
Do Essays always follow a strict structure?
Typically, Essays have a defined structure but can vary based on style and purpose.
What's the main aim of an Essay?
An Essay usually aims to argue or present a viewpoint on a specific topic.
Can a Composition be a poem?
Yes, a Composition can be any written work, including poems.
Can a Composition be musical?
Yes, the term Composition can also refer to a piece of music.
In what educational settings are Compositions typically assigned?
Compositions are often assigned at elementary to high school levels.
Can a Composition be objective?
Yes, while Essays often carry a viewpoint, a Composition can be purely objective or factual.
Which requires more research, an Essay or a Composition?
Typically, Essays require more research, especially if they're argumentative or analytical.
Are all Compositions graded on structure?
No, while structure might be important for an Essay, other forms of Composition might be graded on creativity or content.
Do Compositions require a thesis statement?
Not always, but Essays typically have a thesis or central argument.
Are Essays typically longer than Compositions?
Not necessarily. Essays can be short or long, and so can Compositions.
Do all Essays present arguments?
Most do, but some may simply explore or inform about a topic.
How does the purpose of an Essay differ from other Compositions?
Essays typically aim to persuade, inform, or analyze, while other Compositions might entertain or express.
Can an Essay be a work of fiction?
Generally, Essays are non-fiction, but there are "personal essays" or "narrative essays" that can blend facts and personal stories.
Can an Essay be considered creative writing?
Yes, while many are academic, there are creative essays that focus on personal experiences or narratives.
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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.
