Plot vs. Plat — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 4, 2023
"Plot" can mean the main events of a story or a tract of land, whereas "Plat" is a detailed map or drawing outlining land divisions.
Difference Between Plot and Plat
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A plot can refer to the sequence of events in a story or a piece of ground. A plat, however, is a term used in surveying to refer to a map or drawing representing a piece of land. When discussing a plot, one might think of a novel or a garden, whereas a plat would come to mind when considering property boundaries or architectural plans.
The plot is a storyteller’s realm, where characters and narratives are weaved into a coherent whole. The plat is the surveyor's domain, depicting measurements and boundaries with precision. A plot's value is in its narrative or spatial potential, while a plat’s value lies in its legal and technical accuracy.
In a plot, the elements come together to form a story or a planned subdivision of land. A plat, by contrast, delineates specific lots and parcels within a larger tract. One may purchase a plot of land to build a home, but a plat will be needed to define its official boundaries.
The plot is used in creative writing and real estate, while plat is most often used in land surveying and urban planning. A reader engages with a plot, while a developer or a city planner would utilize a plat. The intrigue of a plot lies in its unfolding, while the usefulness of a plat lies in its clear detail.
Plot and plat, though phonetically similar, serve distinct purposes—one in the realm of narrative and real estate, the other in legal documentation and mapping. Where a plot can be fictional or tangible, a plat is always a concrete representation of land.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Narrative structure or a piece of land.
A map or survey of land, especially detailing divisions.
Usage
In storytelling, real estate.
In land surveying, legal documents.
Purpose
To tell a story, develop land.
To document land boundaries, create maps.
Value
In its creative or developmental potential.
In its legal and technical accuracy.
Association
With writers, gardeners, homeowners.
With surveyors, architects, urban planners.
Compare with Definitions
Plot
The sequence of events in a story.
The plot of the novel was full of unexpected twists.
Plat
A map showing actual or planned features.
The developer studied the plat before buying the land.
Plot
A secret plan against someone or something.
The characters in the play were involved in a treasonous plot.
Plat
A survey drawing of a piece of land.
The plat accurately showed every easement and boundary.
Plot
A plan made in secret by a group of people to do something illegal or harmful
There's a plot to overthrow the government
Plat
A legal document depicting land divisions.
The city hall has a plat of every subdivision in the area.
Plot
The main events of a play, novel, film, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence
The plot consists almost entirely of a man and woman falling in love
He outlined his idea for a movie plot
Plat
An artistic representation of a land area.
The architect's plat included future development phases.
Plot
A small piece of ground marked out for a purpose such as building or gardening
A vegetable plot
Plat
A diagram used in urban planning.
The plat was used to design the new park layout.
Plot
A graph showing the relation between two variables.
Plat
In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Surveys to show the distance and bearing between section corners, sometimes including topographic or vegetation information.
Plot
Secretly make plans to carry out (an illegal or harmful action)
The two men are serving sentences for plotting a bomb campaign
Brother plots against brother
Plat
To plait or braid.
Plot
Devise the sequence of events in (a play, novel, film, or similar work)
In a crime story you have to plot carefully to achieve the surprise at the end
She would plot a chapter as she drove
Plat
To make a plat of
Plat a new town.
Plot
Mark (a route or position) on a chart
He started to plot lines of ancient sites
Plat
A braid.
Plot
A small piece of ground, generally used for a specific purpose
A garden plot.
Plat
A piece of land; a plot.
Plot
A measured area of land; a lot.
Plat
A map showing actual or planned features, such as streets and building lots.
Plot
A ground plan, as for a building; a diagram.
Plat
A plot of land; a lot.
Plot
See graph1.
Plat
A map showing the boundaries of real properties (delineating one or more plots of land), especially one that forms part of a legal document.
Plot
The pattern or sequence of interrelated events in a work of fiction, as a novel or film.
Plat
(obsolete) A plot, a scheme.
Plot
A secret plan to accomplish a hostile or illegal purpose; a scheme.
Plat
A braid; a plait (of hair, straw, etc.).
Plot
To represent graphically, as on a chart
Plot a ship's course.
Plat
Material produced by braiding or interweaving, especially a material of interwoven straw from which straw hats are made.
Plot
To locate (points or other figures) on a graph by means of coordinates.
Plat
(transitive) To create a plat; to lay out property lots and streets; to map.
Plot
To draw (a curve) connecting points on a graph.
Plat
To braid, to plait.
Plot
To write or develop the plot of
"I began plotting novels at about the time I learned to read" (James Baldwin).
Plat
Flat; level; (by extension) frank, on the level.
Plot
To form a plot for; prearrange secretly or deviously
Plot an assassination.
Plat
Flatly, plainly.
Plot
To form or take part in a plot; scheme
Were plotting for months before the attack.
Plat
To form by interlaying interweaving; to braid; to plait.
Plot
To write or develop the plot for a work of fiction
A good mystery writer must plot well.
Plat
To lay out in plats or plots, as ground.
Plot
(narratology) The course of a story, comprising a series of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
Plat
Work done by platting or braiding; a plait.
Her hair, nor loose, nor tied in formal plat.
Plot
An area or land used for building on or planting on.
Plat
A small piece or plot of ground laid out with some design, or for a special use; usually, a portion of flat, even ground.
This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve.
I keep smooth plat of fruitful ground.
Plot
A graph or diagram drawn by hand or produced by a mechanical or electronic device.
Plat
The flat or broad side of a sword.
Plot
A secret plan to achieve an end, the end or means usually being illegal or otherwise questionable.
The plot would have enabled them to get a majority on the board.
The assassination of Lincoln was part of a larger plot.
Plat
A plot; a plan; a design; a diagram; a map; a chart.
Plot
Contrivance; deep reach thought; ability to plot or intrigue.
Plat
Plain; flat; level.
Plot
Participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.
Plat
Plainly; flatly; downright.
But, sir, ye lie, I tell you plat.
Plot
A plan; a purpose.
Plat
Flatly; smoothly; evenly.
Plot
Attractive physical attributes of characters involved in a story, originating from ironic juxtaposition with the original meaning (course of the story).
I'm not sure what's happening in that show, I mainly watch it for the plot.
Plat
A map showing planned or actual features of an area (streets and building lots etc.)
Plot
To conceive (a crime, misdeed etc).
They had plotted a robbery.
They were plotting against the king.
Plat
Make a plat of;
Plat the town
Plot
(transitive) To trace out (a graph or diagram).
They plotted the number of edits per day.
Plot
(transitive) To mark (a point on a graph, chart, etc).
Every five minutes they plotted their position.
Plot
A small extent of ground; a plat; as, a garden plot.
Plot
A plantation laid out.
Plot
A plan or draught of a field, farm, estate, etc., drawn to a scale.
Plot
Any scheme, stratagem, secret design, or plan, of a complicated nature, adapted to the accomplishment of some purpose, usually a treacherous and mischievous one; a conspiracy; an intrigue; as, the Rye-house Plot.
I have overheard a plot of death.
O, think what anxious moments pass betweenThe birth of plots and their last fatal periods!
Plot
A share in such a plot or scheme; a participation in any stratagem or conspiracy.
And when Christ saith, Who marries the divorced commits adultery, it is to be understood, if he had any plot in the divorce.
Plot
Contrivance; deep reach of thought; ability to plot or intrigue.
Plot
A plan; a purpose.
Plot
In fiction, the story of a play, novel, romance, or poem, comprising a complication of incidents which are gradually unfolded, sometimes by unexpected means.
If the plot or intrigue must be natural, and such as springs from the subject, then the winding up of the plot must be a probable consequence of all that went before.
Plot
To make a plot, map, pr plan, of; to mark the position of on a plan; to delineate.
This treatise plotteth down Cornwall as it now standeth.
Plot
To form a scheme of mischief against another, especially against a government or those who administer it; to conspire.
The wicked plotteth against the just.
Plot
To contrive a plan or stratagem; to scheme.
The prince did plot to be secretly gone.
Plot
To plan; to scheme; to devise; to contrive secretly.
Plot
A secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal);
They concocted a plot to discredit the governor
I saw through his little game from the start
Plot
A small area of ground covered by specific vegetation;
A bean plot
A cabbage patch
A briar patch
Plot
The story that is told in a novel or play or movie etc.;
The characters were well drawn but the plot was banal
Plot
A chart or map showing the movements or progress of an object
Plot
Plan secretly, usually something illegal;
They plotted the overthrow fo the government
Plot
Make a schematic or technical drawing of that shows how things work or how they are constructed
Plot
Make a plat of;
Plat the town
Plot
A plan or scheme.
They hatched a plot to surprise their teacher.
Plot
A small area of land used for a specific purpose.
She grows vegetables on a small plot behind her house.
Plot
A graph showing the relationship between variables.
The scientist drew a plot to illustrate the data.
Common Curiosities
How is a plot used in storytelling?
It refers to the sequence of events and character actions that make up a story.
What genres rely heavily on plot?
All storytelling genres, from mysteries to romances, rely on plot.
What is a plat used for?
A plat is used for depicting the divisions, boundaries, and areas of land.
Do plats show topography?
Some do, but their primary purpose is to show boundaries and divisions.
Can plat and plot be used interchangeably?
No, they serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.
Can plot mean the same as plat?
No, plot and plat have different meanings, though both can refer to land in different contexts.
Is plot used in legal documents?
Yes, when referring to a piece of land, but not in the storytelling sense.
What exactly is a plot?
A plot can be a narrative structure in literature or a parcel of land.
How important is a plat in real estate?
It's crucial for defining property lines and is used in legal and ownership documents.
Is knowledge of plats important for homeowners?
Yes, for understanding property boundaries and legal descriptions.
What professions create plats?
Surveyors and urban planners typically create plats.
Does a plat need to be officially recorded?
Yes, typically in a public records office.
Can a plot be purely theoretical?
In storytelling, yes; in land use, it refers to actual or planned development.
Is a plat only about land?
Primarily, though it can include structures and other features.
Who uses a plot in their work?
Writers, directors, and developers might work with plots.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Socket vs. Plug
Next Comparison
Interface vs. InterlockAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba 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.
