Draft vs. Working — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 15, 2024
Draft refers to an initial version of a document needing revisions, while working signifies a document in progress, often closer to completion.
Difference Between Draft and Working
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A draft is typically the first version of a document, created to flesh out ideas and establish a basic structure, focusing on getting the content down. Whereas, a working document implies that it's an ongoing project, continuously edited and updated until it reaches its final form.
Drafts are usually rough and not intended for final presentation, containing placeholders and incomplete sections. On the other hand, a working document might be shared among team members for contributions and feedback, reflecting more refinement and collaboration.
The term draft emphasizes the preliminary nature of the work, suggesting that substantial changes are expected. Conversely, a working document may already incorporate earlier feedback and adjustments, moving closer to completion.
In drafting, the creator often works alone to establish the document's framework, making independent decisions about content and layout. In contrast, working documents frequently involve multiple revisions influenced by input from various stakeholders, enhancing the document's effectiveness and accuracy.
The draft phase is critical for creative freedom, allowing the author to experiment without commitment to the final details. Meanwhile, a working document often follows established guidelines and aims to align closely with project objectives, focusing on precision and adherence to requirements.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To start shaping ideas
To refine and finalize
Level of Completion
Early, rough
More advanced, nearing finish
Collaboration
Often minimal
Usually involves more feedback
Flexibility
High, with room for changes
Less, more structured
Presentation
Not for final use
Closer to final presentation
Compare with Definitions
Draft
A current of air in an enclosed area.
Working
A document that is still in progress and under revision.
The working version of the contract includes several new clauses.
Draft
A device that regulates the flow or circulation of air.
Working
Used to describe something that is continually updated.
The software’s working copy gets updates during each phase of testing.
Draft
The act of pulling loads; traction.
Working
Pertaining to a functioning condition or state.
The working conditions in the factory are regularly monitored for safety.
Draft
Something that is pulled or drawn; a load.
Working
Relating to practical or operational aspects of work.
She compiled a working list of issues to address.
Draft
A team of animals used to pull loads.
Working
Involving the ongoing development of projects or tasks.
The working group meets weekly to discuss the project's progress.
Draft
(Nautical)The depth of a vessel's keel below the water line, especially when loaded
A river vessel of shallow draft.
Working
Performing work
A working committee.
Draft
A heavy demand on resources.
Working
Operating or functioning as required
A working flashlight.
Draft
A written order directing the payment of money from an account or fund.
Working
Having a paying job; employed
Working mothers.
Draft
A gulp, swallow, or inhalation.
Working
Spent at work
A working life of 40 years.
Draft
The amount taken in by a single act of drinking or inhaling.
Working
Taken while continuing to work
A working vacation.
Draft
A measured portion; a dose.
Working
Sufficient to allow action
A working majority.
Draft
The drawing of a liquid, as from a cask or keg.
Working
Adequate for practical use
A working knowledge of Spanish.
Draft
An amount drawn
Ordered two drafts of ale.
Working
Serving as a basis or guide for further work
A working hypothesis.
Draft
The process or method of selecting one or more individuals from a group, as for a service or duty
A candidate who did not pursue the nomination, but accepted a draft by the party convention.
Working
The manner in which something operates or functions
The workings of the mind.
Draft
Compulsory enrollment in the armed forces; conscription.
Working
The parts of a mine or quarry that have been or are being excavated.
Draft
A body of people selected or conscripted.
Working
Operation; action.
Draft
(Sports)A system in which the exclusive rights to new players are distributed among professional teams.
Working
Method of operation.
Draft
The act of drawing in a fishing net.
Working
(arithmetic) The incidental or subsidiary calculations performed in solving an overall problem.
Be sure to check your working.
Draft
The quantity of fish caught.
Working
Fermentation.
Draft
Any of various stages in the development of a plan, document, or picture
A preliminary draft of a report.
The final draft of a paper.
Working
(of bodies of water) Becoming full of a vegetable substance.
Draft
A representation of something to be constructed.
Working
A place where work is carried on.
The abandoned mine workings
Draft
A narrow line chiseled on a stone to guide a stonecutter in leveling its surface.
Working
(countable) A train movement.
Draft
A slight taper given a die to facilitate the removal of a casting.
Working
Present participle of work
Leave him alone; he’s working.
Draft
An allowance made for loss in weight of merchandise.
Working
That is or are functioning.
A working ventilator
Draft
To select from a group for some usually compulsory service
Drafted into the army.
Working
That suffices but requires additional work.
A working copy of the script
Draft
To select from a group for placement on a sports team.
Working
In paid employment.
Working mothers
Draft
To draw up a preliminary version of or plan for.
Working
Of or relating to employment.
The working week
Draft
To create by thinking and writing; compose
Draft a speech.
Working
Enough to allow one to use something.
Draft
To work as a drafter.
Working
Used in real life; practical.
The working minimum focus distance is the distance from the closest focusable subject to the lens.
Draft
To move, ride, or drive close behind a fast-moving object so as to take advantage of the slipstream, especially in a race.
Working
(obsolete) Efficacious.
Draft
Suited for or used for drawing heavy loads
Oxen and other draft animals.
Working
A mine or quarry that is being or has been worked
Draft
Drawn from a cask or tap
Draft beer.
Working
Actively engaged in paid work;
The working population
The ratio of working men to unemployed
A working mother
Robots can be on the job day and night
Draft
(US spelling) A current of air, usually coming into a room or vehicle.
Working
Adequate for practical use; especially sufficient in strength or numbers to accomplish something;
The party has a working majority in the House
A working knowledge of Spanish
Draft
(US spelling) The draw through a flue of gasses (smoke) resulting from a combustion process.
Working
Adopted as a temporary basis for further work;
A working draft
A working hypothesis
Draft
(US spelling) An act of drinking.
Working
(of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of performing;
In running (or working) order
A functional set of brakes
Draft
(US spelling) The quantity of liquid (such as water, alcohol, or medicine) drunk in one swallow.
To drink at a draft
She took a deep draft from the bottle of water.
Working
Serving to permit or facilitate further work or activity;
Discussed the working draft of a peace treaty
They need working agreements with their neighbor states on interstate projects
Draft
(US spelling) A dose (of medicine, alcohol, etc.).
Draft
(US spelling) Liquid, especially beer or other alcohol, drawn from a cask or keg rather than a bottle or can.
Draft
The depth of water needed to float a particular ship; the depth from the waterline to the bottom of a vessel's hull; the depth of water drawn by a vessel.
Draft
An early version of a written work (such as a book or e-mail) or drawing.
I have to revise the first draft of my term paper.
His first drafts were better than most authors' final products.
Draft
A preliminary sketch or outline for a plan.
Draft
A cheque, an order for money to be paid.
Draft
Conscription, the system of forcing people to serve in the military.
He left the country to avoid the draft.
Draft
A system of forcing or convincing people to take an elected position.
Draft
A system of assigning rookie players to professional sports teams.
Draft
The pulling force (tension) on couplers and draft gear during a slack stretched condition.
Draft
The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, so that it can be drawn from the sand without damaging the mould.
Draft
The action or an act (especially of a beast of burden or vehicle) of pulling something along or back.
Using oxen for draft
Shot forth an arrow with a mighty draft
Draft
The act of drawing in a net for fish.
Draft
That which is drawn in; a catch, a haul.
He cast his net, which brought him a very great draft.
Draft
A quantity that is requisitioned or drawn out from a larger population.
Draft
(transitive) To write a first version, make a preliminary sketch.
Draft
To draw in outline; to make a draught, sketch, or plan of, as in architectural and mechanical drawing.
Draft
To write a law.
Draft
To conscript a person, force a person to serve in some capacity, especially in the military.
He was drafted during the Vietnam War.
Draft
To select someone (or something) for a particular role or purpose.
There was a campaign to draft Smith to run for President.
They drafted me to be the chairperson of the new committee.
Draft
To select and separate an animal or animals from a group.
The calves were drafted from the cows.
Draft
To select a rookie player onto a professional sports team.
After his last year of college football, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
Draft
(ambitransitive) To follow very closely (behind another vehicle), thereby providing an aerodynamic advantage to both lead and follower and conserving energy or increasing speed.
Draft
To draw out; to call forth.
Draft
To draw fibers out of a clump, for spinning in the production of yarn.
Draft
(not comparable) Referring to drinks on tap, in contrast to bottled.
I'd rather have a fresh, cheap draft beer.
Draft
Referring to animals used for pulling heavy loads.
A Clydesdale is a draft horse.
Draft
The act of drawing; also, the thing drawn. Same as Draught.
Everything available for draft burden.
Draft
A selecting or detaching of soldiers from an army, or from any part of it, or from a military post; also from any district, or any company or collection of persons, or from the people at large; also, the body of men thus drafted.
Several of the States had supplied the deficiency by drafts to serve for the year.
Draft
An order from one person or party to another, directing the payment of money; a bill of exchange.
I thought it most prudent to defer the drafts till advice was received of the progress of the loan.
Draft
An allowance or deduction made from the gross weight of goods.
Draft
A drawing of lines for a plan; a plan delineated, or drawn in outline; a delineation. See Draught.
Draft
The form of any writing as first drawn up; the first rough sketch of written composition, to be filled in, or completed. See Draught.
Draft
A narrow border left on a finished stone, worked differently from the rest of its face.
Draft
The slant given to the furrows in the dress of a millstone.
Draft
Depth of water necessary to float a ship. See Draught.
Draft
A current of air. Same as Draught.
Draft
A quantity of liquid poured out for drinking; a dose.
Draft
The act of drawing a quantity of liquid from a large container; also, the quantity of liquid so drawn.
Draft
A device for regulating the flow of gases in a chimney, stovepipe, fireplace, etc.; as, to close the chimney draft. It is usually a flat plate of the same internal dimensions as the flue, which can be rotated to be parallel to or perpendicular to the current of gases.
Draft
Pertaining to, or used for, drawing or pulling (as vehicles, loads, etc.). Same as Draught; as, a draft horse.
Draft
Relating to, or characterized by, a draft, or current of air. Same as Draught.
Draft
To draw the outline of; to delineate.
Draft
To compose and write; as, to draft a memorial.
Draft
To draw from a military band or post, or from any district, company, or society; to detach; to select; especially, to compulsorily select and induct members of a population to serve in the armed forces.
HotLips Houlihan: How did a degenerate person like him achieve such a position of responsibility in the army?Radar: He was drafted.
Some royal seminary in Upper Egypt, from whence they drafted novices to supply their colleges and temples.
Draft
To transfer by draft.
All her rents been drafted to London.
Draft
A document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
Draft
A current of air (usually coming into a room or vehicle)
Draft
A preliminary sketch of a design or picture
Draft
A serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg;
They served beer on draft
Draft
Preliminary version of a written work
Draft
The depth of a vessel's keel below the surface (especially when loaded)
Draft
A regulator for controlling the flow of air in a fireplace
Draft
A dose of liquid medicine;
He took a sleeping draft
Draft
Compulsory military service
Draft
A large and hurried swallow;
He finished it at a single gulp
Draft
The act of moving a load by drawing or pulling
Draft
Draw up an outline or sketch for something;
Draft a speech
Draft
Engage somebody to enter the army
Draft
Make a blueprint of
Draft
A preliminary version of a piece of writing.
She reviewed the draft of her report to ensure all points were included.
Draft
Something drawn up as a preliminary form.
The architect submitted a draft of the building plans.
Draft
A rough sketch or outline.
He made a quick draft of his essay before starting a detailed revision.
Draft
The process of drafting or creating initial versions.
Drafting the proposal took longer than expected.
Draft
Used to denote the early stages of written work.
The first draft of his novel was vastly different from the published version.
Common Curiosities
Why is flexibility important in drafting?
Flexibility allows for the exploration of ideas and making changes without constraints, which is vital in early stages.
What role does collaboration play in the creation of working documents?
Collaboration is crucial as it involves gathering and implementing feedback to enhance the document.
Can a draft be used as a final document?
No, drafts are preliminary and require further development and refinement.
How do drafts help in project development?
Drafts provide a foundational layout from which all project development stages progress.
What is the primary purpose of a draft document?
It serves to start detailing ideas and concepts, which are refined in subsequent versions.
What is usually included in a working document?
It includes more detailed and finalized content, often after several rounds of feedback.
How does a working document differ from a draft?
A working document is an ongoing version that incorporates feedback and revisions, often closer to completion.
Is it common to share drafts with others?
Typically, drafts are not shared widely until they have been refined into working documents.
What is the significance of revisions in working documents?
Revisions are essential to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to objectives.
How should one handle the transition from draft to working document?
Transition involves refining the draft based on feedback and aligning it with the final goals and standards.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
