Article vs Artificial Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on article vs artificial. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
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Noun: a piece of writing, an item, or a clause.
“She read an article about sleep.”
Adjective: made by people, not natural.
“The cake had artificial flavoring.”
Not a word. A common misspelling.
Correct spelling: “article.”
Not a word. A common misspelling.
Correct spelling: “artificial.”
People mix up article vs artificial because both start with “arti-” and both are common in everyday writing. They also share a Latin root, which adds to the overlap. The difference is grammar and meaning, and the right spelling is easy once you see the pattern.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article | A piece of writing in a newspaper, magazine, or website | Noun | I read an article about sleep. |
| Article | An individual item or object; a clause in a document; a grammatical word (a, an, the) | Noun | She packed one article of clothing. |
| Artificial | Made by people rather than occurring naturally; not genuine | Adjective | The cake had artificial flavoring. |
| Artical / Artifical | Misspellings of article and artificial | Not words | Avoid in writing. |
What does article mean?
Article is a noun with several meanings, and the most common one is a piece of writing in a newspaper, magazine, or online. It comes from the Latin word articulus, meaning a small joint or part.
That “small part” idea explains its other uses. An article can also be a single item (“an article of clothing”), a numbered clause in a legal document (“Article 5 of the contract”), or a grammar word. In English, the articles are “a,” “an,” and “the.”
Example: “The magazine published a long article about coral reefs.”
What does artificial mean?
Artificial is an adjective that means made or produced by people rather than occurring naturally. It can also mean fake or insincere, as in “an artificial smile.” It comes from the Latin artificialis, linked to ars, meaning art or skill.
You see it in everyday phrases like “artificial flavor,” “artificial turf,” and “artificial intelligence,” where it describes things people built or manufactured.
Example: “The park installed artificial grass on the playing field.”
Article vs artificial: what is the key difference?
The key difference is part of speech: article is a noun, and artificial is an adjective. Article names a thing, while artificial describes one.
A quick test: try putting “an” or “the” before the word. “An article” works because it is a noun. “An artificial” does not work on its own because it needs a noun after it: “an artificial flower.”
You can also try “very.” “Very artificial” sounds natural, while “very article” does not.
Is “artical” a word?
No, “artical” is not a word; the correct spelling is “article.” The mistake comes from writing the ending as “-cal,” as in “medical” or “typical,” instead of “-cle.”
A good trick is to remember that article ends like “icicle,” “vehicle,” and “particle,” all with “-cle.” Spellcheck will usually flag “artical,” but a quick check is worth it in headlines and emails.
Is it “artifical” or “artificial”?
The correct spelling is “artificial,” with “ci” in the middle: a-r-t-i-f-i-c-i-a-l. “Artifical” leaves out an “i” and is a very common typo.
Break it into chunks to get it right: ar-ti-fi-cial. The ending is the same as “official” and “superficial.”
How can you remember which one to use?
Ask whether you are naming a thing or describing it. The memory tricks below make the choice quick.
Common mistakes
- ✗ I read an interesting artical about space.
✓ I read an interesting article about space. - ✗ The flowers on the table are article.
✓ The flowers on the table are artificial. - ✗ She packed one artificial of clothing.
✓ She packed one article of clothing. - ✗ The lab studies artifical intelligence.
✓ The lab studies artificial intelligence. - ✗ Artificial 5 of the contract covers payment.
✓ Article 5 of the contract covers payment.
Memory tricks
- Article ends like “icicle.” Both finish with “-cle.”
- Artificial ends like “official.” Both finish with “-cial.”
- Thing or description? If it names a thing you can read or count, use article. If it describes something man-made, use artificial.
Frequently asked questions
Is “artical” a word?
No. “Artical” is a misspelling. The correct spelling is article.
Is “artifical” spelled correctly?
No. The correct spelling is artificial, with “ci” before the final “al.”
What does article mean?
Article is a noun that can mean a piece of writing, an individual item, a clause in a document, or a grammar word like “a,” “an,” or “the.”
Is artificial a noun or an adjective?
Artificial is an adjective. It describes something made by people rather than occurring naturally, as in “artificial flavor.”
Can article and artificial be used interchangeably?
No. Article is a noun and artificial is an adjective, so they play different roles in a sentence and mean different things.
Conclusion
When it comes to article vs artificial, use article for a piece of writing, an item, or a clause, and use artificial to describe something made by people. Share this with someone who mixes these up.