“Fictional” describes something invented or imagined, such as a made-up character or story, while “nonfictional” describes something factual and real. The two are opposites, and the part that trips people up is usually not the meaning but the form: “fiction” and “nonfiction” are nouns, “fictional” and “nonfictional” are adjectives, and “nonfiction” is often used in everyday writing where “nonfictional” would also be correct. Choosing the right form in the right spot is exactly the kind of detail TypoGuard helps you catch while you type.
Fiction vs. Fictional: Noun or Adjective?
“Fiction” is a noun for invented stories as a category, such as novels and short stories. “Fictional” is the adjective describing something that belongs to or comes from fiction, like a fictional detective or a fictional town.
“He reads a lot of fiction.”
“She wrote about a fictional island.”
Nonfiction vs. Nonfictional
The same pattern applies: “nonfiction” is the noun and “nonfictional” is the adjective. In practice, “nonfiction” also works as a modifier, and “a nonfiction book” is a much more common phrase than “a nonfictional book.” Both are correct, but “nonfictional” tends to sound a little more formal.
Hyphen or No Hyphen?
American dictionaries and style guides generally write “nonfiction” and “nonfictional” as one word, while British English commonly uses the hyphenated “non-fiction.” As with many US and UK differences, neither is wrong. The real mistake is mixing both styles in the same document.
Fictional vs. Fictitious
These two look alike, but they are not interchangeable. “Fictional” relates to fiction as a creative form, such as characters, plots, and settings in stories. “Fictitious” usually means made up in order to deceive, or simply not genuine, and it turns up in practical contexts.
“Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective.”
“He signed the form under a fictitious name.”
Learning More About Nonfiction Writing
If you want to see how nonfiction is treated as a genre in its own right, the Library of Congress offers a research guide to non-fiction writing that is a useful starting point for writers and students.
Examples in Context
Correct: “The novel is set in a fictional town called Maplewood.”
Correct: “She prefers nonfiction to fiction.”
Correct: “This is a nonfictional account of the moon landing.”
Awkward: “It’s a fictitious novel about a detective.”
Incorrect: “He reads a lot of fictional.” (a noun is needed here: “fiction”)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “nonfictional” a real word? Yes, it is a standard adjective, although “nonfiction” is more common when describing a book, article, or genre.
Is it “non-fiction” or “nonfiction”? Both appear in print. “Nonfiction” is the usual American spelling and “non-fiction” is common in British English. Pick one and stay consistent.
Is a movie “based on a true story” fictional? It depends. Such films usually blend real events with invented dialogue or scenes, so they sit somewhere between the two. A documentary is nonfiction, while a drama inspired by real events is generally treated as fiction.
Small Word Forms, Easy Mistakes
Mistakes like “he reads a lot of fictional” are hard to spot because every word is spelled correctly. A grammar checker Chrome extension like TypoGuard’s free grammar checker catches part-of-speech slips like this in real time, something a basic spellchecker will never flag.
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