When searching for more information on a topic, there are various sources to choose from, such as the internet, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, journals, and articles. This article will focus on two of these reading materials: journals and articles. The terms journal and article will be explained and compared, highlighting the similarities and differences between the two.
Journal
A journal is a publication that focuses on a specific subject matter and can be either a scholarly journal or an academic journal. Examples of journals include Harvard Health Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, The Chemical Engineering Journal, International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Journal of Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, etc. Journals typically contain a selection of articles that are focused on a specific field, such as business journals, medical journals, bio science journals, engineering journals, etc. Articles published in a journal are written by scholars on serious subject matter backed by facts and evidence. These articles cannot be published by the author/authors as they please, as they undergo a review process by a panel of editors and scholars who ultimately decide whether the article meets the standards for journal publishing. It is important to note that journal articles are written in a very formal and technical/subject-related language and aim to provide further research and insight into a chosen topic.
Article
An article, like the one you are reading now, is a write-up containing information regarding a certain topic of interest. There are many different types of articles, varying by the types of publications in which they appear. An article may be found in a journal, newspaper, magazine, newsletter, website, etc. Articles can be written by any person and can be about anything. An article written for a journal, as explained, is quite structured and professional, whereas an article published in a magazine may be on any topic of interest and may even simply be the thoughts of the writer or gossip about a prominent celebrity.
Journal vs Article
Journals and articles are quite different from one another, as explained above. Journals are collections of articles that are written in a specific manner about a precise subject matter. An article may refer to any form of write-up that can appear in any sort of publication. A number of articles make up a publication, and the type of article will depend on the type of publication, whether scholarly, news, gossip, information, education, etc.
Key Takeaways
- Journals are publications focused on specific subject matter and contain a selection of articles related to that field.
- Articles are write-ups containing information on a particular topic of interest and can appear in various types of publications, such as journals, newspapers, magazines, or websites.
- The type of article depends on the type of publication it appears in, ranging from scholarly and formal in journals to informal and entertaining in magazines.
