Thoroughly differentiate an editorial and an essay please?

Question

I most certainly know what an ediotorial is, and so do I with essays. Other than the fact that an editorial is clearly made by the editor/editors, in terms if form or any other thing, differentiate an editorial from an essay please...


And also, other than the fact that editorials have to be related to that particular issue of a mag or newspaper....

Are they just the same? I think so.

Answer 1

For the first two answers, some clarification:

Usually, an editorial is written by a staff member (often a high level editor) and is not written in the first person. It covers a wide range of topics often based on the goings on in the world. However, with some newspapers, an editorial is written in the first person with the writer detailing his/her viewpoint.

Of course this isn't all, but there are indeed some that write first person. I wish I could give examples but I simply can't think of any right now.

Answer 2

I don't necessarily agree with Kristy: as a Major only in English and, an author of many magazine articles, and one short story, the winner of one award through the Literary society of the area University I attended for four years.

I maintain an editorial is the views of the writer and not the views of the editorial staff or the paper. Whereas a essay is the thoughts and views of the writer and, a survey or authoritative view with articles or proofs of these theories.

I apologize if I'm wrong but, have been writing editorials for many years now, no one has said if I was mistakenly writing wrong?

Answer 3

An editorial is an explanation of the news. It usually (presented as) the stand of the editorial board of a newspaper on an issue. It should be written concisely, and it can never be written in the first person. Edit: Columns are there to facilitate the views of writers and guest columnists/contributors.

Essays can be academic or personal. Topics range from politics and theories to personal experiences and opinions. There is freedom in terms of writing style; you can use longer sentences compared to those in editorials (when necessary, and provided, of course, that your point is clear). While the tone could either be formal (authoritative) or informal (personal), you can definitely use the first person when writing essays.