Essay
ES-ay
/ˈɛseɪ/
A short piece of writing on a particular subject, often expressing the author's personal viewpoint or analysis.
In college applications, it's often a 'personal essay' or 'statement,' designed to reveal personality, writing ability, and suitability beyond academic metrics.
The story behind the word. The word 'essay' comes from the Old French word essai, meaning 'an attempt' or 'a trial.' It was popularized by the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne in the 16th century, who called his writings Essais because they were 'attempts' to explore his thoughts on various subjects. The idea was that an essay isn't necessarily a definitive statement, but an exploration.
Word relationships
- Composition: more general term for a piece of writing or music
- Paper: often refers to a more formal academic report
- Article: typically a published piece in a periodical
Commonly confused with
- Discourse: 'Essay' is a written piece; 'discourse' is a broader term for written or spoken communication, often formal and lengthy.
Word family
- Essayist (noun): a person who writes essays
- Essayer (verb (archaic)): to attempt or try
Collocations
- college essay
- personal essay
- write an essay
- submit an essay
- essay prompt
- analytical essay
- persuasive essay
Example sentences
- "Her college essay about her passion for astronomy was truly captivating." College application context.
- "Students were asked to write an essay reflecting on their most significant life experience." General assignment.
- "A well-crafted essay can often tip the scales in a competitive admissions process." Importance in admissions.
Memory hook
An ESSAY is your best ESSAY (as in, 'S.A.' for 'Say Anything') to express yourself. Essay is an attempt.
When not to use
Don't use 'essay' for a very long, comprehensive academic paper (which might be a 'thesis' or 'dissertation').
Fun facts
- Michel de Montaigne is considered the inventor of the essay as a literary genre.
- Many universities use essay prompts to assess critical thinking, creativity, and writing skills.
Related words
Explore more words
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