Ask Difference

History vs. Story — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 21, 2023
History refers to factual events and experiences from the past, while a Story can be fictional or factual narratives crafted for various purposes. Both capture events, but History focuses on accuracy, and Story emphasizes narrative.
History vs. Story — What's the Difference?

Difference Between History and Story

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Key Differences

History and Story are both narratives, but they serve different functions. History is an account of past events, typically in a systematic and objective manner. It aims to present facts and interpretations of those events based on evidence, often with the purpose of understanding the past and learning from it. History is grounded in research, documents, testimonies, and artifacts.
In contrast, a Story may or may not be based on real events. It is a narrative designed to entertain, educate, or convey a message, often invoking emotions. A Story might be rooted in reality, like a personal anecdote, or be entirely fictional, like a fairy tale. The primary focus of a Story is its narrative arc, characters, and the message or emotions it wishes to convey.
Furthermore, while History remains consistent (though interpretations might vary), a Story can be adapted, embellished, or entirely reimagined to fit different contexts or audiences. For instance, historical events remain the same, but the way they are presented or interpreted might differ across historians. On the other hand, a fairy tale might have multiple versions across cultures.
In essence, while both History and Story recount events, History is a disciplined study aiming for factual accuracy and understanding, and a Story is a crafted narrative that prioritizes engagement, emotion, or moral lessons. The beauty of language allows us to appreciate both the factual accounts of History and the imaginative realms of Story.

Comparison Chart

Basis

Factual events from the past.
Can be fictional or factual narratives.
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Purpose

Understand past, learn, and record events.
Entertain, educate, or convey a message.

Flexibility

Remains consistent; interpretations vary.
Can be adapted, embellished, or reimagined.

Evidence Requirement

Based on research, documents, testimonies, and artifacts.
Doesn't always require evidence; may prioritize narrative.

Emphasis

Accuracy and objectivity.
Narrative arc, characters, emotion, or moral lessons.

Compare with Definitions

History

A study of past events, particularly in human affairs.
The History of ancient Rome fascinates many scholars.

Story

A narrative, either factual or fictional, that is recounted to others.
She told a captivating Story about her trip to Europe.

History

A systematic written account of events.
He published a History of the medieval period.

Story

An untruth or falsehood.
He realized that the tale was nothing but a made-up Story.

History

The aggregate of past events.
History repeats itself if we don’t learn from its mistakes.

Story

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

History

The continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present.
History is a testament to human achievements and failures.

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

History

The development and record of an activity or institution.
The History of baseball reflects America's evolving culture.

Story

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

History

History (from Greek ἱστορία, historia, meaning "inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation") is the study of the past. Events before the invention of writing systems are considered prehistory.

Story

Variant spelling of storey

History

A chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events
A history of the Vikings.

Story

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

History

A formal written account of related natural phenomena
A history of volcanoes.

Story

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

History

A record of a patient's general medical background
Took the patient's history.

Story

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

History

An established condition or pattern of behavior
An inmate with a history of mental illness and drug abuse.

Story

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

History

The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events
"History has a long-range perspective" (Elizabeth Gurley Flynn).

Story

A short story.

History

The past events relating to a particular thing
The history of their rivalry is full of intrigue.

Story

The plot of a narrative or dramatic work.

History

The aggregate of past events or human affairs
Basic tools used throughout history.

Story

A news article or broadcast.

History

An interesting past
A house with history.

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).

History

Something that belongs to the past
Their troubles are history now.

Story

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

History

(Slang) One that is no longer worth consideration
Why should we worry about him? He's history!.

Story

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

History

A drama based on historical events
The histories of Shakespeare.

Story

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

History

The branch of knowledge that studies the past; the assessment of notable events.
He teaches history at the university.
History will not look kindly on these tyrants.
He dreams of an invention that will make history.

Story

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

History

The portion of the past that is known and recorded by this field of study, as opposed to all earlier and unknown times that preceded it (prehistory).
In all of human history and prehistory
In all recorded history

Story

To decorate with scenes representing historical or legendary events.

History

(countable) A set of events involving an entity.
What is your medical history?
The family's history includes events best forgotten.
A long and sordid history

Story

(Archaic) To tell as a story.

History

(countable) A record or narrative description of past events.
I really enjoyed Shakespeare's tragedies more than his histories.
A short history of post-Columbian colonization

Story

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

History

A list of past and continuing medical conditions of an individual or family.
A personal medical history is required for the insurance policy.
He has a history of cancer in his family.
This diagnosis is usually based solely on the history and physical examination, although laboratory tests are occasionally also obtained.

Story

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

History

A record of previous user events, especially of visited web pages in a browser.
I visited a great site yesterday but forgot the URL. Luckily, I didn't clear my history.

Story

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

History

(informal) Something that no longer exists or is no longer relevant.
I told him that if he doesn't get his act together, he's history.

Story

(obsolete) History.

History

(uncountable) Shared experience or interaction.
There is too much history between them for them to split up now.
He has had a lot of history with the police.

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.

History

(obsolete) To narrate or record.

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.

History

A learning or knowing by inquiry; the knowledge of facts and events, so obtained; hence, a formal statement of such information; a narrative; a description; a written record; as, the history of a patient's case; the history of a legislative bill.

Story

(computing) user story

History

A systematic, written account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art, and usually connected with a philosophical explanation of their causes; a true story, as distinguished from a romance; - distinguished also from annals, which relate simply the facts and events of each year, in strict chronological order; from biography, which is the record of an individual's life; and from memoir, which is history composed from personal experience, observation, and memory.
Histories are as perfect as the historian is wise, and is gifted with an eye and a soul.
For aught that I could ever read,Could ever hear by tale or history.
What histories of toil could I declare!
Justly Cæsar scorns the poet's lays;It is to history he trusts for praise.
No more yet of this;For 't is a chronicle of day by day,Not a relation for a breakfast.
Many glorious examples in the annals of our religion.

Story

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

History

To narrate or record.

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.

History

The aggregate of past events;
A critical time in the school's history

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.

History

The continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future;
All of human history

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.

History

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

Story

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

History

The discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings;
He teaches Medieval history
History takes the long view

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.

History

All that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; a body of knowledge;
The dawn of recorded history
From the beginning of history

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

History

Events that form the subject of a historical account.
The civil rights movement is a significant part of American History.

Story

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

Story

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

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

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

Story

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

Story

An account of incidents or events.
The newspaper ran a Story about the local elections.

Story

A plot or storyline.
The movie had a compelling Story that resonated with many.

Story

The narrative progression or sequence in a play, book, movie, etc.
The Story unfolded with unexpected twists and turns.

Common Curiosities

Can History be presented as a Story?

Yes, many historical events are narrated as Stories to make them more engaging.

Is History always accurate?

While History aims for accuracy, interpretations and perspectives can vary.

Are all Stories based on History?

No, Stories can be fictional, factual, or a blend of both.

Can History change?

While events don't change, new discoveries can lead to revised interpretations of History.

Why is History important?

History helps understand the past, learn from it, and shape a better future.

Can a Story be entirely fictional?

Yes, many Stories are imaginative creations with no basis in reality.

Can Stories convey truths?

Absolutely, Stories often convey moral, cultural, or experiential truths, even if fictional.

How can one distinguish between historical Stories and fictional Stories?

Research, evidence, and context can help discern the accuracy or basis of a Story.

Is every personal account considered History?

Not necessarily; while personal accounts can be historical, they can also be subjective or anecdotal.

Why do people create Stories?

Stories entertain, educate, preserve culture, share experiences, and convey emotions or morals.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
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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