Main Difference – Context vs Content
Though context and content sound more or less similar, there is a distinct difference between these two words. These two words can be very confusing when they are used in a text or an exercise. For example, the phrases the content of the text and the context of the text can be bewildering for many English learners. The main difference between context and content is that content refers to the topics or matter treated in a work, particularly a written work whereas context refers to the components of a text that surround a word or passage and help the reader to understand its meaning.
Context – Meaning and Usage
Context can refer to a circumstance that shape the setting for an event, idea or statement and in terms of which it can be fully understood. For example, the term historical context refers to the period time in which something took place or was created. If we are looking at a past custom or practice, we cannot understand it properly without looking at the historical context.
When we are talking about a text, context can also refer to the parts of the text that precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning. Thus, it is clear that understanding the context of a text is essential to understand the entire meaning.
Context is also a notion studied in linguistics and other language sciences. Here, it is categorized into two: verbal context and social context. Verbal context refers to the text or speech surrounding a word, phrase or a sentence. Social context refers to the social identity being construed and displayed in text and talk by language users.
Content – Meaning and Usage
Content refers to the subject matter in a text. Content is the material dealt with in a speech, literary work. For instance, if we take an essay, all three components, the introduction, the body and the conclusion can be taken as the content. In simple words, the material that is written about the given topic is the content of a document. The term content can be also used to talk about articles, essays, videos, speeches, etc. The word content refers to what is contained in the work. So the best way of identifying the difference between context and content is to remember that content is what is contained in the work whereas context is the circumstances that help us to understand the text.
Difference Between Context and Content
Definition
Context refers to the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning
Content refers to the topics or matter treated in a work, particularly a written work.
Role
Context is the events, circumstances or background that helps us to interpret a piece of work.
Content is what is contained in the work.
Type of word
The term context is used as a technical word in some fields like linguistics.
Content is a broad word.
Image Courtesy:
“Child reading at Brookline Booksmith” by Tim Pierce – originally posted to Flickr as lost. (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons
“Content is like water” by Stéphanie Walter. (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons
