Difference Between Appendix and Annexure

Appendix vs Annexure

Appendix and Annexure are two terms between which certain differences can be identified. These two words are often confused in terms of their meanings. They are two different words that convey two different meanings and connotations. An appendix is a section of additional information in a book. Mainly when we go through academic books, research projects, and papers, we find an appendix. This usually provides a lot of information to the reader. The nature of the information can differ from one document to the other. The overall intention of an appendix is to strengthen the arguments made by the writer. On the other hand, an annexure provides the reader with later additions. This is the main difference between an appendix and annexure. Through this article let us examine the concepts of appendix and annexure, while highlighting the differences.

What is Appendix?

An appendix is a section of additional information in a book. These additions are made towards the end of a thesis or a dissertation. An appendix should contain any matter that strengthens the purpose of the subject matter of the thesis as a whole. An appendix is a term used in the research field.

A researcher that works in the field of language, for example, writes a thesis based on the contribution of rhetoricians to the field of rhetoric, especially figures of speech. In such a case, the researcher would include appendix related to the subject matter, namely figures of speech. The appendix can be ‘the list of figures of speech dealt by various rhetoricians of the past’.

It is interesting to note that the word ‘appendix’ has its plural as ‘appendices’. An appendix strengthens the amount of research done by the researcher. He can show various appendices in support of his research findings too. Appendices bestow an advantage on the researcher. This highlights that the function of an appendix is mainly the provision of extra information that were not provided in the earlier chapters. By providing more information, the researcher has a greater possibility of sustaining his conclusions and findings. In the case of an annexure, it is quite different. Now let us move on to an understanding of an annexure.

What is Annexure?

An annexure is an addition to a document. It is a term used mostly in business models and ideas. This highlights a difference between an appendix and an annexure. While an annexure is can be seen in business models, an appendix is a term used in the research field. An annexure is added towards the end of a document indicating later additions to the document. There is no intention of the later addition in the case of an appendix. This is also an important difference between an appendix and an annexure. It is interesting to note that an annexure would also mean a separate or added building, especially for extra accommodation. The idea of ‘extra’ prevails in the addition of an ‘annexure’. This highlights an appendix and an annexure are not the same but two different words. Now let us summarize the difference in the following manner.

What is the Difference Between an Appendix and Annexure?

• An appendix is an addition made towards the end of a thesis or a dissertation whereas an annexure is an addition to a document used mostly in business models and ideas.
• An annexure is added towards the end of a document indicating later additions to the document whereas an Appendix does not have later additions.
• An Appendix provides further information that strengthens the arguments made by the researcher, but in an annexure this is not the case.

Image Courtesy:

1. An appendix to history… stone” Wellcome L0013729  [CC BY 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

2. “Urval av de bocker som har vunnit Nordiska radets litteraturpris under de 50 ar som priset funnits (3)” by Johannes Jansson [CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons