Appendix vs Annex
What is the difference between appendix and annex? What is an appendix? What is an annex? If you have read some thesis or projects earlier, you must have come across documents at the end of the projects named as appendix and annex. Well, normally no one pays any attention as to what the meanings of these two terms could be, let alone differentiation between them. However, if you are going to get you project published soon, it would be prudent to learn the difference between appendix and annex so as to use the terms correctly and not make a fool of yourself.
What does Annex mean?
Annex is placed at the end of a document and contains information that is a part of the main text. It is placed to make the main text clearer to the reader. While an appendix can be called a document or documents relating to the main text, an annex can be a standalone document which has important information that adds value to the entire document. Unlike an appendix that is written by the writer of the main text, it is a common practice to get annex written by someone other than the writer of the main document.
What does Appendix mean?
On the other hand, appendix is additional information apart from the main text that is supplementary in nature and is not stand alone. When comparing the definition of an annex with that of the appendix, one can say that an annex can be classified as an appendix, but an appendix can never be called an annex.
The reason for placing appendix in the end is that it contains information that cannot be placed as the main text though there is reference to it several times in the main text. To make it clearer in mind, an appendix should be remembered as appending data at the end that makes understanding the main text easier by providing additional details (with images and graphs). In general practice, appendix is usually written by the writer of the main text.
Appendix, as a word, is only used as a noun. The plural of appendix can be either appendixes or appendices. However, this plural form depends on whether you are talking about the organ called appendix or the document that is attached to a project. If it is the organ, plural is appendixes. Otherwise, for the document, the plural form is appendices. This word appendix was formed in the mid 16th century.
Key Takeaways
- Annex is information that is part of the main text but placed at the end of the document for clarity, while appendix is supplementary information that is not standalone.
- An annex can be a standalone document and read in its own right, while an appendix is very related to the main document.
- An annex can be classified as an appendix, but an appendix can never be called an annex.
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