Journals
and diaries are among the most prevalent forms of literature written by common
people, prominent figures, and celebrated authors alike. Dating back to the
fifteenth century in Europe (and earlier elsewhere), diary keeping was well
established by the time the first settlers arrived in British North America during the 1600s and
1700s. At that time diaries and journals served miscellaneous purposes, both
practical and imaginative.
They
were cherished as spiritual and intellectual anchors during turbulent times. By
the 1820s diaries and journals, along with the new nation, had become more
complex. They provided a forum for negotiating change experienced by westward
pioneers, sojourning politicians, Civil War civilians and
soldiers, and even professional authors pondering the national spirit of
growth.
As
white women achieved higher levels of schooling, they, along with some free
African American women, increasingly turned to diaries as self-reflective and
expressive outlets. So esteemed was diary writing as a mark of intellectual
attainment that many people practiced it for its own sake, sometimes
maintaining the routine for decades. Each one a unique artifact that reveals
through its author's eyes how life was mentally constructed in another era, the
diary surpasses other records of the past for its sense of social and cultural
immediacy.
In
talented hands, certainly those of eminent authors, the nineteenth-century
journal achieved an elevated, literary quality. As multivalent productions,
diaries and journals justly hold a notable place in American literary history.
After reading the above historical account, maybe you’ve always wondered if
there is a difference between the words diary and the journal, or are they
synonyms?
A
diary is a record of personal experiences which you face in your daily routine
of life. It’s up to you what things you
include in the diary. While writing a
diary the things to be considered are date, time, and place. A diary is
something which consists of feelings wrapped in words. It includes thoughts
which are to be considered as confidential.
A journal can have a variety of uses, but is often used for
the purpose of exploring ideas. Unlike a diary, a journal is unstructured when
you buy it, and then you can add in any structure you would like. Journals lend
themselves to lists: a bucket list, a gratitude list, anything at all you’d
like to note down. Another use is creative writing. Do you have a story inside
you? Get writing in your journal.
Journal includes the
daily news and events. Journaling means writing down thoughts into words. They
are progressive reports about any content. Often journals are informative booklets.
Journals consist of focused topics. Journals can be of any type comprising of
academic journal, daily journals like magazines, public journals, and business
journals. Nowadays, journals are used at many levels, such as in schools,
colleges, business forums, and many others.
These two words—diary and journal—are often used interchangeably, but there is actually a difference between the two. A diary is something that is more likely to be used every day to record specific things that happened on a specific day. It can be used to record feelings, moods, and emotions. A diary can also track data to help you make an important discovery. For instance, writing in a food diary might help you uncover the source of your migraine headaches. Tracking your exercise habits may help you make a connection between your mood and whether or not you were physically active that day.
The contents of a journal, on the other hand,
aren't necessarily constrained by the dates on a calendar. Journals can include
random thoughts, lists, ideas, pictures, doodles, memories, song lyrics, and
anything else that comes to mind. A journal is where
you would keep design ideas, sketches, rough drafts, and notes.
Does it really matter if there is a difference between a diary and a journal? No. It doesn't matter which format you choose, as long as it works for you and your needs. Writing, whether in a diary or in a journal, can help you organize your thoughts and help you feel more balanced. Expressive writing can result in overall long-term improvements in both a person's emotional and physical well-being.
“If you would not be forgotten as
soon as you are dead and rotten either write things worth reading, or do things
worth writing.” (Benjamin Franklin)[i]
[i] Sources
used:
·
“Diary vs.
Journal: What's the difference?” by Hugo
·
“What’s the difference between a diary and a
journal?” by Lucy
·
“Diary vs. Journal: What's the Difference?” by
·
“Difference between Diary and Journal” by Difference
Between
·
“Journals and Diaries” by Encyclopedia.com
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