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Article vs Clause - What's the difference?

article | clause |

In grammar terms the difference between article and clause

is that article is a part of speech that indicates, specifies and limits a noun (a, an, or the in English). In some languages the article may appear as an ending (e.g. definite article in Swedish) or there may be none (e.g. Russian, Pashto) while clause is a verb along with its subject and their modifiers. If a clause provides a complete thought on its own, then it is an independent (superordinate) clause; otherwise, it is (subordinate) dependent.

In lang=en terms the difference between article and clause

is that article is a distinct part while clause is a separate part of a contract, a will or another legal document.

As nouns the difference between article and clause

is that article is a part or segment of something joined to other parts, or, in combination, forming a structured set while clause is a group of two or more words which include a subject and any necessary predicate (the predicate also includes a verb, conjunction, or a preposition) to begin the clause; however, this clause is not considered a sentence for colloquial purposes.

As verbs the difference between article and clause

is that article is to bind by articles of apprenticeship while clause is to amend (a bill of lading or similar document).

article

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A part or segment of something joined to other parts, or, in combination, forming a structured set.
  • * Paley
  • upon each article of human duty
  • * Habington
  • each article of time
  • * E. Darwin
  • the articles which compose the blood
  • A story, report, or opinion piece in a newspaper, magazine, journal, etc.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
  • , author=Lee A. Groat, volume=100, issue=2, page=128, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Gemstones , passage=Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are
  • A member of a group or class
  • An object.
  • * , chapter=12
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs, […], and all these articles  […] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.}}
  • (grammar) A part of speech that indicates, specifies and limits a noun (a'', ''an'', or ''the'' in English). In some languages the article''' may appear as an ending (e.g. definite ' article in Swedish) or there may be none (e.g. Russian, Pashto).
  • A section of a legal document, bylaws, etc.
  • (derogatory) A person.
  • * {{quote-news, 2001, August 4, Lynne Walker, Classical: Musical portrait of the artist as a young man, The Independent citation
  • , passage="You dateless article ," stormed his father, leaving Bennett to realise in his laconic way that he was, and probably always would be, a disappointment to Dad.}}
  • A wench. A prime article = A handsome girl.
  • (dated) Subject matter; concern.
  • * Addison
  • a very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding
  • * Daniel Defoe
  • This last article will hardly be believed.
  • (dated) A distinct part.
  • (obsolete) A precise point in time; a moment.
  • * Evelyn
  • This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.

    Derived terms

    * charticle * listicle * definite article * indefinite article

    Verb

    (articl)
  • To bind by articles of apprenticeship.
  • to article an apprentice to a mechanic
  • * 1876 , Sabine Baring-Gould, The Vicar of Morwenstow ,
  • When the boy left school at Liskeard, he was articled to a lawyer, Mr. Jacobson, at Plymouth, a wealthy man in good practice, first cousin to his mother; but this sort of profession did not at all approve itself to Robert's taste, and he only remained with Mr. Jacobson a few months.
  • (obsolete) To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles or accusations.
  • * 1665 , Samuel Pepys, Diary ,
  • At noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, where great discourse of Sir W. Pen, Sir W. Batten being, I perceive, quite out of love with him, thinking him too great and too high, and began to talk that the world do question his courage, upon which I told him plainly I have been told that he was articled against for it, and that Sir H. Vane was his great friend therein.
  • * Stat. 33 Geo. III
  • He shall be articled against in the high court of admiralty.
  • To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • If all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.

    Derived terms

    * articled clerk

    Anagrams

    * ----

    clause

    English

    (wikipedia clause)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (rfc-sense) (grammar, informal) A group of two or more words which include a subject and any necessary predicate (the predicate also includes a verb, conjunction, or a preposition) to begin the clause; however, this clause is not considered a sentence for colloquial purposes.
  • (grammar) A verb along with its subject and their modifiers. If a clause provides a complete thought on its own, then it is an independent (superordinate) clause; otherwise, it is (subordinate) dependent.
  • *
  • However, Coordination facts seem to undermine this hasty conclusion: thus, consider the following:
    (43)      [Your sister could go to College], but [would she get a degree''?]
    The second (italicised) conjunct is a Clause''' containing an inverted Auxiliary, ''would''. Given our earlier assumptions that inverted Auxiliaries are in C, and that C is a constituent of S-bar, it follows that the italicised '''Clause''' in (43) must be an S-bar. But our familiar constraint on Coordination tells us that only constituents belonging to ''the same Category'' can be conjoined. Since the second '''Clause''' in (43) is clearly an S-bar, then it follows that the first '
    Clause must also be an S-bar — one in which the C(omplementiser) position has been left empty.
  • (legal) A separate part of a contract, a will or another legal document.
  • Usage notes

    In When it got dark, they went back into the house'', “''When it got dark” is a dependent clause within the complete sentence. The independent clause "they went back into the house" could stand alone as a sentence, whereas the dependent clause could not.

    Derived terms

    (types of grammatical clauses) * adjective clause * adverbial clause * appositive clause * concessive clause * comment clause * comparative clause * coordinate clause * defining relative clause * dependent clause, subordinate clause * independent clause, main clause, superordinate clause * finite clause * if clause, conditional mood, conditional clause * nondefining relative clause * non-finite clause * noun clause, nominal clause * relative clause * restrictive clause * verbless clause (grammatical terms) * clause element * clause function * subclause (part of a legal document) * noncompete clause

    Verb

    (claus)
  • (shipping) To amend (a bill of lading or similar document).
  • *
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