Ask Difference

Account vs. Story — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 25, 2024
An account is a report or description of an event or experience, often factual and detailed, while a story is a narrative designed to entertain, teach, or convey a moral, and can be factual or fictional.
Account vs. Story — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Account and Story

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Key Differences

An account typically refers to a factual and detailed reporting of events, emphasizing accuracy and the sequence of happenings. It is often used in formal or official contexts, like news reporting or historical documentation. On the other hand, a story is crafted primarily to engage or entertain an audience, focusing on plot, characters, and a narrative arc, and can either be based on true events or entirely fictional.
Accounts are generally objective, presenting information without embellishment or subjective interpretation. They are meant to inform or provide evidence and are crucial in contexts like journalism, academia, or law. Conversely, stories often include imaginative elements, designed to provoke thoughts, evoke emotions, or impart lessons, commonly found in literature, cinema, and folklore.
While an account aims to be clear and direct about the facts, a story prioritizes the flow of the narrative and the development of its elements, such as tension and resolution. This difference in focus influences how information is presented; accounts are straightforward and concise, whereas stories might explore various viewpoints or complex themes.
In terms of structure, accounts usually follow a logical or chronological order, making it easier to track the unfolding of real events. Stories, however, may use a variety of narrative techniques, such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, or multiple perspectives, to enhance the storytelling experience.
The purpose of an account is often to document or provide a record, serving as a reference or a source of information. Stories, however, are primarily meant to entertain, teach, or carry cultural significance, often leaving a lasting impact through the moral or message they convey.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

A factual, detailed report of events
A narrative designed to entertain or teach

Purpose

To inform or provide evidence
To entertain, teach, or convey a moral

Content Type

Factual, often lacking embellishment
Can be factual or fictional, often creative

Structure

Logical, chronological
May use varied narrative techniques

Audience

Intended for those seeking information
Targeted at those looking for engagement

Compare with Definitions

Account

Often used in financial contexts to describe records of transactions.
She meticulously maintained every account in the ledger.

Story

A narrative, either true or fictional, intended to entertain, teach, or explain.
She told a story that captivated all the children.

Account

A detailed report or description of an event.
The journalist provided an account of the political rally.

Story

Used in journalism to refer to a news article or report.
The editor assigned the new story to her.

Account

Can denote a user’s registration with an online system.
He set up an account on the website to manage his subscriptions.

Story

Often involves characters, a plot, and a setting.
The story of his adventures abroad was both exciting and inspirational.

Account

Describes a representation or statement of facts, not fictional.
The historical account was confirmed with various sources.

Story

Can refer to a lie or a fabricated tale.
His story about the missing money didn’t convince anyone.

Account

A record that maintains factual details of occurrences.
His account of the meeting was used as a reference in the report.

Story

In architecture, refers to a level of a building.
The library was a three-story building.

Account

A narrative or record of events.

Story

An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment
I'm going to tell you a story
An adventure story

Account

A reason given for a particular action or event
What is the account for this loss?.

Story

An account of past events in someone's life or in the development of something
The film is based on a true story
The story of modern farming

Account

A report relating to one's conduct
Gave a satisfactory account of herself.

Story

The commercial prospects or circumstances of a particular company
The investors' flight to profitable businesses with solid stories

Account

A basis or ground
No reason to worry on that account.

Story

Variant spelling of storey

Account

A formal banking, brokerage, or business relationship established to provide for regular services, dealings, and other financial transactions.

Story

An account or report regarding the facts of an event or group of events
The witness changed her story under questioning.

Account

A precise list or enumeration of financial transactions.

Story

An anecdote
Came back from the trip with some good stories.

Account

A sum of money deposited for checking, savings, or brokerage use.

Story

A lie
Told us a story about the dog eating the cookies.

Account

A customer having a business or credit relationship with a firm
Salespeople visiting their accounts.

Story

A usually fictional prose or verse narrative intended to interest or amuse the hearer or reader; a tale.

Account

A private access to a computer system or online service, usually requiring a password to enter.

Story

A short story.

Account

Worth, standing, or importance
A landowner of some account.

Story

The plot of a narrative or dramatic work.

Account

Profit or advantage
Turned her writing skills to good account.

Story

A news article or broadcast.

Account

To consider as being; deem. See Usage Note at as1.

Story

Something viewed as or providing material for a literary or journalistic treatment
"He was colorful, he was charismatic, he was controversial, he was a good story" (Terry Ann Knopf).

Account

(accounting) A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review.

Story

The background information regarding something
What's the story on these unpaid bills?.

Account

(banking) A bank account.

Story

Romantic legend or tradition
A hero known to us in story.

Account

A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; a reason of an action to be done.
No satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena.

Story

A complete horizontal division of a building, constituting the area between two adjacent floors.

Account

A reason, grounds, consideration, motive; a person's sake.
Don't trouble yourself on my account.
On no account
On every account
On all accounts

Story

The set of rooms on the same floor of a building.

Account

A record of events; a relation or narrative.
An account of a battle.

Story

To decorate with scenes representing historical or legendary events.

Account

An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.

Story

(Archaic) To tell as a story.

Account

Importance; worth; value; esteem; judgement.

Story

An account of real or fictional events.
The book tells the story of two roommates.

Account

Authorization as a specific registered user in accessing a system.
I've opened an account with Wikipedia so that I can contribute and partake in the project.

Story

A lie, fiction.
You’ve been telling stories again, haven’t you?

Account

(archaic) A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning.

Story

A soap opera.
What will she do without being able to watch her stories?

Account

(uncountable) Profit; advantage.
The young man soon turned his woodworking skills to some account.

Story

(obsolete) History.

Account

To provide explanation.

Story

A sequence of events, or a situation, such as might be related in an account.
What's the story with him?
I tried it again; same story, no error message, nothing happened.

Account

To present an account of; to answer for, to justify.

Story

A chronological collection of pictures or short videos published by a user on an application or website that is typically only available for a short period.

Account

To give an account of financial transactions, money received etc.

Story

(computing) user story

Account

(transitive) To estimate, consider (something to be as described).

Story

To tell as a story; to relate or narrate about.

Account

(intransitive) To consider that.

Story

A set of rooms on the same floor or level; a floor, or the space between two floors. Also, a horizontal division of a building's exterior considered architecturally, which need not correspond exactly with the stories within.

Account

(intransitive) To give a satisfactory evaluation for financial transactions, money received etc.
An officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.

Story

A narration or recital of that which has occurred; a description of past events; a history; a statement; a record.
One malcontent who did indeed get a name in story.
Venice, with its unique city and its Impressive story.
The four great monarchies make the subject of ancient story.

Account

(intransitive) To give a satisfactory evaluation for (one's actions, behaviour etc.); to answer for.
We must account for the use of our opportunities.

Story

The relation of an incident or minor event; a short narrative; a tale; especially, a fictitious narrative less elaborate than a novel; a short romance.

Account

(intransitive) To give a satisfactory reason for; to explain.
Idleness accounts for poverty.

Story

A euphemism or child's word for "a lie;" a fib; as, to tell a story.

Account

(intransitive) To establish the location for someone.
After the crash, not all passengers were accounted for.

Story

To tell in historical relation; to make the subject of a story; to narrate or describe in story.
How worthy he is I will leave to appear hereafter, rather than story him in his own hearing.
It is storied of the brazen colossus in Rhodes, that it was seventy cubits high.

Account

To count.

Story

A message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program;
His narrative was interesting
Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children

Account

To calculate, work out (especially with periods of time).

Story

A piece of fiction that narrates a chain of related events;
He writes stories for the magazines

Account

(obsolete) To count (up), enumerate.

Story

Structure consisting of a room or set of rooms comprising a single level of a multilevel building;
What level is the office on?

Account

(obsolete) To recount, relate (a narrative etc.).

Story

A record or narrative description of past events;
A history of France
He gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president
The story of exposure to lead

Account

A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
A beggarly account of empty boxes.

Story

A short account of the news;
The report of his speech
The story was on the 11 o'clock news
The account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious

Account

A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's account at the bank.

Story

A trivial lie;
He told a fib about eating his spinach
How can I stop my child from telling stories?

Account

A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc., explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason, ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every account, on all accounts.

Account

A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a battle.

Account

A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with reference to judgment thereon.
Give an account of thy stewardship.

Account

An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment.

Account

Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit.
This other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged against it.

Account

To reckon; to compute; to count.
The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are accounted.

Account

To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to assign; - with to.

Account

To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or consider; to deem.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up.

Account

To recount; to relate.

Account

To render or receive an account or relation of particulars; as, an officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.

Account

To render an account; to answer in judgment; - with for; as, we must account for the use of our opportunities.

Account

To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to explain; - with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty.
Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century.

Account

A formal contractual relationship established to provide for regular banking or brokerage or business services;
He asked to see the executive who handled his account

Account

The act of informing by verbal report;
He heard reports that they were causing trouble
By all accounts they were a happy couple

Account

A record or narrative description of past events;
A history of France
He gave an inaccurate account of the plot to kill the president
The story of exposure to lead

Account

A short account of the news;
The report of his speech
The story was on the 11 o'clock news
The account of his speech that was given on the evening news made the governor furious

Account

A statement of recent transactions and the resulting balance;
They send me an accounting every month

Account

A statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.;
The explanation was very simple
I expected a brief account

Account

An itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered;
He paid his bill and left
Send me an account of what I owe

Account

Grounds;
Don't do it on my account
The paper was rejected on account of its length
He tried to blame the victim but his success on that score was doubtful

Account

Importance or value;
A person of considerable account
He predicted that although it is of small account now it will rapidly increase in importance

Account

The quality of taking advantage;
She turned her writing skills to good account

Account

Be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something;
Passing grades account for half of the grades given in this exam

Account

Keep an account of

Account

To give an account or representation of in words;
Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental

Account

Furnish a justifying analysis or explanation;
I can't account for the missing money

Common Curiosities

What defines a story?

A story is a narrative designed to entertain, teach, or convey a moral, featuring characters, a plot, and often imaginative elements.

What makes a good account?

A good account is clear, accurate, and provides a detailed and chronological report of events, making it easy for the reader to understand the facts.

How do accounts and stories differ in purpose?

Accounts aim to inform or document events accurately, while stories aim to engage or impart lessons through narrative.

Can an account become a story?

Yes, an account of real events can be adapted into a story by adding narrative elements like character development and thematic layers to enhance its appeal.

What is an account?

An account is a factual report or description of an event, emphasizing accuracy and often lacking in fictional elements.

How do narrative techniques enhance a story?

Narrative techniques such as flashbacks, multiple perspectives, and foreshadowing enrich a story by adding depth, complexity, and emotional impact.

What are the key elements of a story?

The key elements of a story include characters, a setting, a plot with conflict, and a resolution, crafted to engage the audience emotionally and intellectually.

What is the role of creativity in stories?

Creativity in stories plays a significant role in crafting engaging narratives, developing relatable characters, and establishing immersive settings.

How can stories impact society?

Stories can profoundly impact society by shaping cultural values, influencing perceptions, and inspiring change through the morals and lessons they convey.

Why is objectivity important in accounts?

Objectivity is crucial in accounts to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, which is essential in formal and educational contexts.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Maham Liaqat
Tayyaba 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.

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