Autobiography and memoir: two terms that seem to be constantly confused and used interchangeably. While the confusion between the two is definitely understandable, there are a few differences that can help you identify whether it is a memoir you are writing, or if it is actually an autobiography. Autobiography : An autobiography is generally a personal narrative that tells the story of the author’s life. An autobiography:[ul][li content=' Is usually written chronologically '] [li content=' Details the author’s entire life (up until present day) '] [li content=' Focuses mainly on presenting facts and history '] [li content=' Is more formal and informational '] [li content=' Is a collection of facts '] [li content=' Can be written in either first or third person '] [ul_close] Memoir : Like an autobiography, a memoir is also a personal narrative about the author’s life. A memoir, however, generally focuses on a specific window of time within the author’s life. A memoir: [ul][li content=' Can be written chronologically, but frequently hops around through different periods of time '] [li content=' Is less formal and more conversational '] [li content=' Is written more from the perspective of the author, and less from a factual perspective'] [li content=' Is a collection of memories (with facts intertwined) '] [li content=' Is written in first person '] [ul_close]