Serial vs. Series — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Serial is a work published or broadcast in installments. Series is a group of related works released as a collection.
Difference Between Serial and Series
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Serial refers to a story or work released in successive parts. Series denotes a collection of related works, not necessarily sequential.
Serial implies a progression, with each installment building on the last. Series, however, can be enjoyed with each part standing independently.
A serial often has suspense between installments. A series may have a common theme or characters but without cliffhangers.
Serials are typical in magazines or TV. Series are found in TV, books, or podcasts, encompassing complete sets.
Serials require following in order for full understanding. Series allows for more flexibility in viewing or reading order.
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Comparison Chart
Format
Published/broadcast in parts
Collection of related works
Progression
Sequential
Independent parts
Viewing
Requires order
Flexible order
Suspense
Often has cliffhangers
Not necessarily suspenseful
Medium
Magazines, TV
TV, books, podcasts
Compare with Definitions
Serial
Successive installments
She eagerly awaited the next serial in her favorite magazine.
Series
Multiple parts
The series included three movies with the same characters.
Serial
Serialized story
The TV serial kept viewers hooked with cliffhangers.
Series
Set of works
He collected the complete series of the artist's prints.
Serial
Ongoing narrative
He wrote a serial that spanned several years.
Series
A number of objects or events arranged or coming one after the other in succession.
Serial
Installment-based
The podcast released a new serial episode weekly.
Series
A set of stamps, coins, or currency issued in a particular period.
Serial
Of, forming, or arranged in a series.
Series
Physics & Chemistry A group of objects related by linearly varying successive differences in form or configuration
A radioactive decay series.
The paraffin alkane series.
Serial
Published or produced in installments, as a novel or television drama.
Series
(Mathematics) The sum of a sequentially ordered finite or infinite set of terms.
Serial
Relating to such publication or production.
Series
(Geology) A group of rock formations closely related in time of origin and distinct as a group from other formations.
Serial
Relating to or engaging in a series of similar acts or behaviors
Serial arson.
A serial procrastinator.
Series
(Grammar) A succession of coordinate elements in a sentence.
Serial
(Music) Relating to or based on a row of tones, especially the 12 pitches of the chromatic scale.
Series
A succession of publications that present an extended narrative, such as a comic book series, or that have similar subjects or similar formats, such as a series of cookbooks.
Serial
Of or relating to the sequential transmission of all the bits of a byte over one wire
A serial port.
A serial printer.
Series
A succession of individual programs presented as parts of a unified whole, such as the set of episodes of a television show or a podcast.
Serial
Of or relating to the sequential performance of multiple operations
Serial processing.
Series
(Sports) A number of games played by the same two teams, often in succession.
Serial
A work of entertainment, as in film or literature, published or produced in installments that usually contain a narrative thread or overarching theme; a series.
Series
(Baseball) The World Series.
Serial
Having to do with or arranged in a series.
Series
(Linguistics) A set of vowels or diphthongs related by ablaut, as in sing, sang, sung, and song.
Serial
(of a person) Who performs a specified action or course of action repeatedly or regularly.
The serial killer had a string of victims across seven states.
He was a serial entrepreneur, always coming up with a new way to make cash.
Series
A number of things that follow on one after the other or are connected one after the other.
A series of seemingly inconsequential events led cumulatively to the fall of the company.
Serial
Published or produced in installments.
Series
(broadcasting) A television or radio program which consists of several episodes that are broadcast in regular intervals
“Friends” was one of the most successful television series in recent years.
Serial
(grammar) Of or relating to a grammatical aspect relating to an action that is habitual and ongoing.
Series
(mathematics) The sequence of partial sums of a given sequence ai.
The harmonic series has been much studied.
Serial
A work, such as a work of fiction, published in installments, often numbered and without a specified end.
Series
A group of matches between two sides, with the aim being to win more matches than the opposition.
The Blue Jays are playing the Yankees in a four-game series.
Serial
A publication issued in successive parts, often numbered and with no predetermined end.
Series
(zoology) An unranked taxon.
Serial
A serial number, esp. one required to activate software.
Go to these sites for serials, cracks and keygens.
Series
(botany) A subdivision of a genus, a taxonomic rank below that of section (and subsection) but above that of species.
Serial
(UK) A unit of police officers equipped with shields to tackle a riot.
Series
(commerce) A parcel of rough diamonds of assorted qualities.
Serial
(transitive) to assign a serial number to (especially of aircraft)
Series
(phonology) A set of consonants that share a particular phonetic or phonological feature.
Serial
Of or pertaining to a series; consisting of a series; appearing in successive parts or numbers; as, a serial work or publication.
Series
(electronics) Connected one after the other in a circuit, in series.
You have to connect the lights in series for them to work properly.
Serial
Of or pertaining to rows.
Series
A number of things or events standing or succeeding in order, and connected by a like relation; sequence; order; course; a succession of things; as, a continuous series of calamitous events.
During some years his life a series of triumphs.
Serial
A publication appearing in a series or succession of part; a tale, or other writing, published in successive numbers of a periodical.
Series
Any comprehensive group of animals or plants including several subordinate related groups.
Serial
A serialized set of programs;
A comedy series
The Masterworks concert series
Series
In Engler's system of plant classification, a group of families showing certain structural or morphological relationships. It corresponds to the cohort of some writers, and to the order of many modern systematists.
Serial
A periodical that appears at scheduled times
Series
An indefinite number of terms succeeding one another, each of which is derived from one or more of the preceding by a fixed law, called the law of the series; as, an arithmetical series; a geometrical series.
Serial
In regular succession without gaps;
Serial concerts
Series
A mode of arranging the separate parts of a circuit by connecting them successively end to end to form a single path for the current; - opposed to parallel. The parts so arranged are said to be in series.
Serial
Pertaining to or composed in serial technique;
Serial music
Series
A parcel of rough diamonds of assorted qualities.
Serial
Pertaining to or occurring in or producing a series;
Serial monogamy
Serial killing
A serial killer
Serial publication
Series
Similar things placed in order or happening one after another;
They were investigating a series of bank robberies
Serial
Of or relating to the sequential performance of multiple operations;
Serial processing
Series
A serialized set of programs;
A comedy series
The Masterworks concert series
Serial
Published in parts
The novel was first introduced as a serial.
Series
A periodical that appears at scheduled times
Series
(sports) several contests played successively by the same teams;
The visiting team swept the series
Series
A group of postage stamps having a common theme or a group of coins or currency selected as a group for study or collection;
The Post Office issued a series commemorating famous American entertainers
His coin collection included the complete series of Indian-head pennies
Series
(mathematics) the sum of a finite or infinite sequence of expressions
Series
(electronics) connection of components in such a manner that current flows first through one and then through the other;
The voltage divider consisted of a series of fixed resistors
Series
Group of related works
The book series captivated readers of all ages.
Series
Collection in TV
She binge-watched the entire series over the weekend.
Series
Thematic connection
The documentary series explored different cultures.
Common Curiosities
Is every series a serial?
Not necessarily; a series can have independent parts.
Are all TV shows considered series?
Generally, yes, even if they have serialized elements.
Are serials common in newspapers?
Yes, especially for ongoing stories or comics.
Are soap operas considered serials?
Yes, they are serials with ongoing storylines.
Is a series always longer than a serial?
Not necessarily; it depends on the number of parts.
Can a book series have a different order?
Yes, some series don't require reading in a specific order.
Do serials always have cliffhangers?
Often, but not always.
Are mini-series considered series or serials?
They're a type of series, often with serialized storytelling.
Can a serial become a series?
Yes, if the serial parts are collected together.
Do serials require more commitment from the audience?
Generally, yes, due to their ongoing nature.
Can a series have standalone stories?
Yes, especially if they share a common theme or setting.
Can a series have both serialized and standalone elements?
Yes, some series mix both formats.
Can a series span different mediums?
Yes, like books to movies.
Is it easier to adapt a serial or series into a movie?
It varies; both have unique challenges.
Do serials tend to have more dramatic endings?
Often, to encourage continued engagement.
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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.
