The key difference between preface and introduction is that a preface is written by the author and tells the readers why and how the book was written, while an introduction presents the readers to the main topics of the book and prepares them for its content. A preface can be considered as an introduction to a book, containing the reasons for the author to write the book, how the storyline was formed, and the thanks and acknowledgments to people who helped the author to finish writing the book successfully. An introduction only gives a summary of the book; therefore, even before start reading, readers can get an idea as to what to expect by reading the book.
Key Takeaways
- A preface is written by the author and provides the background story, reasons for writing the book, and acknowledgments.
- An introduction offers a summary of the book and presents the main topics to the readers.
- Both preface and introduction should be short and engaging to capture the readers’ interest and encourage them to read the book.
What is a Preface
A preface, also known as a proem, is an introduction to a book or any kind of literary work. It introduces the book to the readers and may include information about the reasons for writing the book, how the writer got the idea, the reasons for the title, how the story was developed, the writer’s motivations, the process of finding relevant information, the process of writing the book, the challenges encountered, the purpose of the book, and thanks and acknowledgment to those who helped. Through a preface, the readers get a first impression of the book. However, it is optional to include a preface in a book, especially if the book is short.
What is an Introduction?
An introduction, also known as a prolegomenon, is vital for any book as it provides a summary of the book or the document and describes it in a nutshell. The readers can have an idea about the content of the book through the introduction. A good introduction may keep the reader engaged, making it interesting to read. Generally, every non-fiction book contains an introduction. The introduction of a book comes just before chapter one and should be written attractively. Moreover, it should not be long or boring, because that will prevent the readers from reading the book.
What is the Difference Between Preface and Introduction?
Both preface and introduction are included at the beginning of books or documents to provide the readers with information about the book and the author. The key difference between preface and introduction is that a preface is written by the author and tells the readers why and how the book was written, while an introduction presents the readers to the main topics of the book and prepares them for its content.
Summary – Preface vs Introduction
The key difference between preface and introduction is that a preface gives the readers all the background details about the book, the reasons for writing the book, the difficulties the author faced, and acknowledgment, while an introduction contains the summary of the content of the book. An introduction mentions the major themes of the book, what the reader will encounter when reading the book, and the things he will gain by reading it. When writing a preface or an introduction, it is important to keep them short so as not to lose the interest of the reader.
