Confused Words: Theme, Subject & Topic

Hello there, eager learners! Today, we’re going to untangle the often mixed-up words: “theme“, “subject“, and “topic“. These words may seem to have the same meaning, but when we look closer, there are some interesting differences. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Theme

A “theme” (IPA: /θiːm/) generally refers to the main idea or underlying message that runs throughout a work, like a book, movie, or song.

Examples:

1. The theme of the story is love conquers all. (The main idea of the story is about the power of love)
2. Betrayal is a common theme in his novels. (Betrayal is a main idea in his novels)
3. The theme of the party is “Under the Sea”. (The central idea for the party’s decorations and costumes is “Under the Sea”)
4. The movie’s theme is the struggle for survival. (The underlying message of the movie is the struggle for survival)
5. That song has a theme of self-empowerment. (The main message of the song is self-empowerment)

Subject

The term “subject” (IPA: /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/) typically denotes what something is about in a very broad sense. It can refer to the main topic of conversation, study, or artistic work.

Examples:

1. The subject of the painting is a woman. (The painting is broadly about a woman)
2. Our main subject in today’s meeting is the upcoming project. (The main topic of conversation in the meeting is the upcoming project)
3. His favorite subject in school is history. (His favorite area of study in school is history)
4. The subject of the book is World War II. (The book broadly talks about World War II)
5. The documentary’s subject is climate change. (The documentary broadly discusses climate change)

Topic

A “topic” (IPA: /ˈtɒpɪk/) is a specific issue or point of discussion in a conversation, piece of writing, or study.

Examples:

1. The topic of the essay is “Effects of Global Warming”. (The specific issue to be discussed in the essay is the effects of global warming)
2. Our main topic for today’s lesson is fractions. (The specific point of study for today’s lesson is fractions)
3. The topic of their discussion was recent political events. (Their discussion was specifically about recent political events)
4. She chose a challenging topic for her thesis. (She chose a specific issue for her thesis)
5. The topic of the lecture is “Renaissance Art”. (The specific point of discussion in the lecture is Renaissance Art)

Conclusion

To wrap it all up, a “theme” is the main idea or message in a piece of work, a “subject” is what something is broadly about, and a “topic” is a specific issue or point of discussion. Remember to use each word in its appropriate context and you’ll master these in no time!