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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Difference between Society and Association
Hello,
I am Italian and I don't understand the difference between Society and Association. In Italian there is a remarkable difference, because "Societa'" mainly means "Company", while "Associazione" is "Association".
But what about English (and American)?
I understand that they are very similar, even though I feel there is a difference. I imagine that there is a little legal difference also.
To my surprise, I found on Google that "Association" is used much more than "Society", 140M vs 71M, that is 2 times more used! This difference becomes striking if you consider that the word "society" has a second main meaning also: it also means "group of people" that is different from other groups due to social or cultural reasons or whatever. Instead, the word "association" mainly means... "association", with no other important meanings. So the real difference 140M vs 71M may become even 140M vs 50M or so, if this is taken into account.
However, I also figure "Society" and "Association" in another way, that is somewhat the opposite of what I just wrote. I imagine (but I am not sure) that "Society" is considered more as a "Club", while "Association" has a more "socialist" meaning (I am not able to explain my feeling better than this).
Coming to culture and science, both should have the same meaning, but I see that usually there are more Associations than Societies. However I see exceptions, for example there many, many more "Historical Societies" than "Historical Associations"! I am not able to understand why.
If I should give a name to a society or association (provided that there are not remarkable legal differences that force me to use one of the two words), I would prefer "Society" because it is shorter and it sounds much better (to me). But I understand (due to Google results) that usually people prefer "Association".
Finally I don't understand how important is the article "The" in this case (this is a problem that I also see in other matters: for example I would say "New York Times", rather than "The New York Times"). So, imagine I should create a Society/Association called "Mickey Mouse Society" or "Brooklyn Bridge Society". Of course I would get the Internet domains "mickeymousesociety.org" and
"brooklynbridgesociety.org" (and possibly dot com also). So, would it be important that I get the domains with the article "the" also? I mean: "themickeymousesociety.org" and "thebrooklynbridgesociety.org". Or would they be useless?
Consider the Brooklyn Bridge only:
to protect the name of my association should I get 8 domains? Actually
2 x 2 x 2 makes 8: I should get 2 because of Society/Association, 2because of org/com, and finally I should repeat each of them 2 times, without/with the article "the".
Thanks for any explanation or comment.
Giancarlo
Italy
I am Italian and I don't understand the difference between Society and Association. In Italian there is a remarkable difference, because "Societa'" mainly means "Company", while "Associazione" is "Association".
But what about English (and American)?
I understand that they are very similar, even though I feel there is a difference. I imagine that there is a little legal difference also.
To my surprise, I found on Google that "Association" is used much more than "Society", 140M vs 71M, that is 2 times more used! This difference becomes striking if you consider that the word "society" has a second main meaning also: it also means "group of people" that is different from other groups due to social or cultural reasons or whatever. Instead, the word "association" mainly means... "association", with no other important meanings. So the real difference 140M vs 71M may become even 140M vs 50M or so, if this is taken into account.
However, I also figure "Society" and "Association" in another way, that is somewhat the opposite of what I just wrote. I imagine (but I am not sure) that "Society" is considered more as a "Club", while "Association" has a more "socialist" meaning (I am not able to explain my feeling better than this).
Coming to culture and science, both should have the same meaning, but I see that usually there are more Associations than Societies. However I see exceptions, for example there many, many more "Historical Societies" than "Historical Associations"! I am not able to understand why.
If I should give a name to a society or association (provided that there are not remarkable legal differences that force me to use one of the two words), I would prefer "Society" because it is shorter and it sounds much better (to me). But I understand (due to Google results) that usually people prefer "Association".
Finally I don't understand how important is the article "The" in this case (this is a problem that I also see in other matters: for example I would say "New York Times", rather than "The New York Times"). So, imagine I should create a Society/Association called "Mickey Mouse Society" or "Brooklyn Bridge Society". Of course I would get the Internet domains "mickeymousesociety.org" and
"brooklynbridgesociety.org" (and possibly dot com also). So, would it be important that I get the domains with the article "the" also? I mean: "themickeymousesociety.org" and "thebrooklynbridgesociety.org". Or would they be useless?
Consider the Brooklyn Bridge only:
to protect the name of my association should I get 8 domains? Actually
2 x 2 x 2 makes 8: I should get 2 because of Society/Association, 2because of org/com, and finally I should repeat each of them 2 times, without/with the article "the".
Thanks for any explanation or comment.
Giancarlo
Italy
Top answer
While waiting for responses (if there will be any) about "Society" and "Association", I would ask how these 2 words relate to other common words with similar meaning (even though I believe that "Society" and "Association" are closer to each other than to other words): Club Committee Commission Council Corporation (must it be a company? ). I also imagine that there may be minor differences between the UK and the USA.
- While waiting for responses (if there will be any) about "Society" and "Association", I would ask how these 2 words relate to other common words with similar meaning (even though I believe that "Society" and "Association" are closer to each other than to other words): Club Committee Commission Council Corporation (must it be a company?
- ).
- I also imagine that there may be minor differences between the UK and the USA.
- Thanks Giancarlo
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33 Answers
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While waiting for responses (if there will be any) about "Society" and "Association", I would ask how these 2 words relate to other common words
with similar meaning (even though I believe that "Society" and "Association" are closer to each other than to other words): Club
Committee
Commission
Council
Corporation (must it be a company? Or can a Association be a Corp.?). I also
with similar meaning (even though I believe that "Society" and "Association" are closer to each other than to other words): Club
Committee
Commission
Council
Corporation (must it be a company? Or can a Association be a Corp.?). I also
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[nq:1]While waiting for responses (if there will be any) about "Society" and "Association", I would ask how these 2 words ... though I believe that "Society" and "Association" are closer to each other than to other words): Club Committee Commission Council[/nq]
I think your question is both complex and unclear. I think you're asking not about the general usage of 'association' and 'society', b
I think your question is both complex and unclear. I think you're asking not about the general usage of 'association' and 'society', b
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[nq:1]Hello, I am Italian and I don't understand the difference between Society and Association. In Italian there is a remarkable ... very similar, even though I feel there is a difference. I imagine that there is a little legal difference also.[/nq]
Often the difference is just euphony.
When deciding whether to call their group a club, sociaty or association, people might pick the one tha
Often the difference is just euphony.
When deciding whether to call their group a club, sociaty or association, people might pick the one tha
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[nq:1]While waiting for responses (if there will be any) about "Society" and "Association", I would ask how these 2 words ... a Association be a Corp.?). I also imagine that there may be minor differences between the UK and the USA.[/nq]
In south Africa, before the reorganisation of local government about 5 years ago, people in KwaZulu Natal would refer to the city government as the "corporati
In south Africa, before the reorganisation of local government about 5 years ago, people in KwaZulu Natal would refer to the city government as the "corporati
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[nq:1]A few years before that we also had Close(d) Corporations. These were legal entities that could sue and be sued in their own name, but were sdmaller and easier to register than Companies.[/nq]
We have these in Lamerica too, and perhaps we invented them. "Close" is an abbreviation of "closely-held", so I believe that "****" has to be regarded as either an error or something that originate
We have these in Lamerica too, and perhaps we invented them. "Close" is an abbreviation of "closely-held", so I believe that "****" has to be regarded as either an error or something that originate
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[nq:1]A few years before that we also had Close(d) Corporations. These werelegal entities that could sue and be sued in their own name, but were sdmallerand easier to register than Companies.[/nq]
And, as far as I could determine, unnecessary unless you needed a tax dodge. Accountants and lawyers make good money from setting up CCs, but, if you wish to trade all you need is to be a sole trader
And, as far as I could determine, unnecessary unless you needed a tax dodge. Accountants and lawyers make good money from setting up CCs, but, if you wish to trade all you need is to be a sole trader
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[nq:2]While waiting for responses (if there will be any) about ... each other than to other words): Club Committee Commission Council[/nq]
[nq:1]I think your question is both complex and unclear. I think you're asking not about the general usage of 'association' and 'society', but their usage in names of organizations, a quite separate thing.[/nq]
I couldn't agree more. I started to
[nq:1]I think your question is both complex and unclear. I think you're asking not about the general usage of 'association' and 'society', but their usage in names of organizations, a quite separate thing.[/nq]
I couldn't agree more. I started to
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I found the following lurking on the web. I can't guarantee its accuracy, but it agrees with such facts as I'm confident of. The first three sections, in particular, may be of use.
http://www.scottishrugby.org/downloads/constitutions.pdf
Cheers - Ian
http://www.scottishrugby.org/downloads/constitutions.pdf
Cheers - Ian
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I think the advantage of a CC is limited liability.
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
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[nq:1]Hello, I am Italian and I don't understand the difference between Society and Association. In Italian there is a remarkable ... very similar, even though I feel there is a difference. I imagine that there is a little legal difference also.[/nq]
At least in American English, there is little difference between "Society" and "Association" in the name of an organization. "Society" is often u
At least in American English, there is little difference between "Society" and "Association" in the name of an organization. "Society" is often u
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