Autobiography vs. Biography: The Differences + Examples

What Is An Autobiography?

An autobiography is a description of a person’s life written by that person himself/herself.

Writing an autobiography is different from a biography, although both describe the character of the story of one's life.

The aim of writing an autobiography is to describe the achievements and life experiences of the narrator. The autobiography format typically starts with early childhood and chronologically lists down life experiences.

These include information about a person’s young adulthood, career, life choices, achievements, and the difficulties they face along the way.

Key Traits Of An Autobiography

• Written in the first person 
• More subjective than biographies
• Broad in scope, often covers the writer’s entire life up to the present
• Inform and explain the motive behind the subject’s actions

Now, have a look at a couple of examples of an autobiography.

The “Story of My Life” by Helen Keller is a famous example of an autobiography.

Here is another example of an autobiography for you to understand the key traits in a better manner:

What Is A Biography?

A biography is the story of a person’s life written by someone else. Usually, people write biographies about famous personalities and characters.

Since the writer is telling the story of a certain particular individual, that’s why biographies include a third-person perspective.

Like an autobiography, biographies also cover the entire subject’s life. So, it is important to include details about birthplace, education, childhood, relationships, etc.

Key Traits Of A Biography

• Written in the third person point of view
• Follows chronological order
• More formal than autobiographies
• Cover the subject’s entire life
• Requires more research and fact-checking to ensure all the details are correct

Now, have a look at a couple of examples of a biography.

“His Excellency: George Washington” by Joseph J. Ellis and “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson are some of the most notable examples of a biography.

Look at an example to help you understand better:

Key Difference Between Biography vs Autobiography

Look at the most significant differences between autobiography and biography in the following table:

What Are The Similarities Between Biography And Autobiography?

Mentioned are some of the most common characteristics:

• Non-fiction: Both are factual accounts of a real person's life.
• Timeline: They follow a chronological order of events in the subject's life.
• Purpose: Aim to inform and inspire readers by sharing life stories and achievements.
• Focus/Subject: Centered on a specific individual, highlighting their experiences, challenges, and impact.

Autobiography vs. Biography Examples

Here is a detailed example of each to get a better understanding of the concepts:

How Are These Writings Different From A Memoir? 

A memoir is similar to an autobiography as it is also the story of a person’s life written by that individual himself or herself.

The main difference between autobiography and memoir is that a memoir focuses on reflecting and establishing an emotional connection.

Writing a memoir not only presents the facts but also provides a personal and memorable story about the major happenings in their life. Whereas a biography provides full contextual information that reads like a novel but is non-fiction in nature.

“The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank is a famous example of a historic memoir. 

Autobiography vs. Biography vs. Memoir: Comparison Chart

Want to know more about autobiography vs. biography vs. memoir meaning and the key differences and similarities?

Here is a comparison chart for your help:

Major Benefits Of Writing An Autobiography, Biography, & Memoir

Have a look at the primary advantages of writing these types of texts.

• Preserving History: Captures personal or historical events for future generations.
• Inspiring Others: Shares valuable life lessons and experiences that motivate readers.
• Self-Reflection: For autobiographies and memoirs, writing encourages self-discovery and understanding.
• Building Empathy: Offers readers a deeper connection to the lives and perspectives of others.

All in all,

Hopefully, the above guide helps you understand the difference between an autobiography, a biography, and a memoir. For a successful autobiography, you need to tell your story in a way to make your readers feel in your place.

Writing a persuasive and compelling piece of non-fiction is not an easy task. You need to plan your time, read books for inspiration, and search for information about various writing styles and formats.

If this seems like an intimidating task to you, then just hire expert writers.

Can I pay to do my essay? Yes, you can! Our writers at MyPerfectWords.com will handle it, delivering a top-quality essay. Plus, our essay editing service will refine your essay to make sure it's error-free.

So, what are you waiting for? Get the help you need today by placing your order.