Nonfiction

Nonfiction is a category of literature and media that presents information about real people, events, objects, or ideas. Unlike fiction, nonfiction is grounded in factual accuracy or verifiable evidence. Its aims include informing, explaining, documenting, persuading, or instructing. Nonfiction can take many forms, from straightforward reporting to reflective analysis, and may combine factual content with narrative or argumentative techniques.

Major genres include biography and autobiography, essays, journalism, history, science writing, travel writing, and reference works such as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Other forms include memoir, documentary film, and instructional materials. Creative nonfiction uses literary techniques to convey factual material, without sacrificing truth. There are subfields like scholarly monographs, field notes, and case studies. Nonfiction may be produced as books, articles, reports, or digital content.

Key characteristics include reliance on evidence, verifiable sources, and careful sourcing or citations. Objectivity and bias are discussed in nonfiction; authors may present multiple viewpoints. Ethical considerations involve accuracy, fair representation, and permission for sources. Authors often engage in research, interviews, or data analysis. The presentation may be chronological, thematic, or argumentative, and editors or fact-checkers typically review work.

History: Nonfiction has ancient roots in historical, philosophical, and scientific writings, with significant development through print and journalism. It shapes public knowledge and education, offering a record of reality as a basis for understanding the world.