Is 'magazine section' the same as a 'column'?

No. A 'section' is a broad, major division (e.g., 'Business', 'Lifestyle'). A 'column' is a regular, often opinion-based feature written by a specific columnist, which is usually *contained within* a section.

Can a newspaper have a 'magazine section'?

Yes, commonly. Many newspapers include a glossy, magazine-style supplement, especially on weekends (e.g., 'The New York Times Magazine'). This entire supplement can be referred to as 'the magazine section' of the newspaper.

Is the phrase used for online publications?

Yes, absolutely. Digital magazines and news websites organise content into sections (e.g., a dropdown menu with sections like 'News', 'Tech', 'Opinion'), which are still called sections.

What's the difference between a 'supplement' and a 'section'?

A 'supplement' is often a physically separate publication included with a newspaper/magazine. A 'section' is an integral, bound part of the main publication. However, a supplement itself will be divided into internal sections.

magazine section

UK/ˌmæɡ.əˈziːn ˈsɛk.ʃən/US/ˈmæɡ.ə.ziːn ˈsɛk.ʃən/

Formal to Neutral, Journalistic

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A distinct part or division of a printed or digital magazine, usually devoted to a specific topic, type of content, or department.

A major, recurring, and thematically unified segment within a periodical publication (magazine, newspaper, or online publication) with its own identity and heading. It can also refer metaphorically to a specific area in a larger store (like a newsagent's) where magazines are displayed.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Often signifies a regular, branded part of the magazine's structure (e.g., 'Letters', 'Features', 'Reviews') rather than a one-off article. Implies a sense of organization and departmentalization of content.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage is largely identical. UK publications may historically use terms like 'leader section' (for editorials), while US ones might say 'op-ed section'. The concept is universal.

Connotations

No significant difference in connotation.

Frequency

Equally common in both varieties in journalistic and publishing contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

browse the magazine sectionthe fashion magazine sectionthe weekly magazine sectiona special magazine section

medium

turn to the magazine sectionthe magazine's travel sectionfind in the magazine sectionthe back magazine section

weak

interesting magazine sectionentire magazine sectionpopular magazine sectionthick magazine section

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Verb] the magazine section: browse/read/flip through/consult the magazine section[Adjective] magazine section: weekly/travel/business/letters magazine sectionmagazine section [Prepositional Phrase]: a magazine section on food/the magazine section of the newspaper

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

departmentsegmentsupplement (if a separate part)

Neutral

magazine departmentmagazine segmentperiodical sectionfeature section

Weak

partdivisioncolumn (smaller, more regular)

Vocabulary

Antonyms

whole magazineentire issuefull publicationundivided content

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Not typically idiomatic. Used literally.”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Referring to advertising placement: 'Our ad will run in the business magazine section.'

Academic

Discussing media studies or publishing structure: 'The analysis focused on the letters to the editor magazine section.'

Everyday

Describing where to find something: 'The recipe is in the food magazine section.'

Technical

In publishing/design software: 'We need to paginate the lifestyle magazine section separately.'

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

Not applicable as a verb.

American English

Not applicable as a verb.

adverb

British English

Not applicable as an adverb.

American English

Not applicable as an adverb.

adjective

British English

Not applicable as an adjective. Use attributive noun: 'magazine-section editor'.

American English

Not applicable as an adjective. Use attributive noun: 'magazine-section layout'.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The children's magazine section has many pictures.
I like the sports magazine section.

She always reads the fashion magazine section first.
You can find the TV listings in the entertainment magazine section.

The magazine devotes a special section to climate change every quarter.
As a contributor, my work appears primarily in the culture and arts magazine section.

The editor decided to revamp the letters to the editor magazine section to foster more reader engagement.
His incisive critique was published in the op-ed section of the Sunday magazine supplement.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a MAGAZINE rack divided into SECTIONS: one for fashion, one for news, one for sports. A 'magazine section' is like one of those labelled compartments, but inside the magazine itself.

Conceptual Metaphor

A MAGAZINE IS A CONTAINER/BUILDING (its sections are rooms/departments within it).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid direct calque 'раздел журнала' for a one-off article; it refers to a regular thematic division.
Do not confuse with 'секция' as in a physical shelf unit; here it's a content category.
Not equivalent to 'рубрика' or 'колонка', which are often smaller and more specific.

Common Mistakes

Using it to refer to a single article (incorrect: *'I read a great magazine section about volcanoes.' Correct: 'I read a great article in the science magazine section.')
Confusing it with 'newsstand section' (a physical area of a shop).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

If you're looking for book reviews, you should check the dedicated literary of the monthly periodical.

Multiple Choice

What does the term 'magazine section' most specifically refer to in publishing?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. A 'section' is a broad, major division (e.g., 'Business', 'Lifestyle'). A 'column' is a regular, often opinion-based feature written by a specific columnist, which is usually *contained within* a section.
: Yes, commonly. Many newspapers include a glossy, magazine-style supplement, especially on weekends (e.g., 'The New York Times Magazine'). This entire supplement can be referred to as 'the magazine section' of the newspaper.
: Yes, absolutely. Digital magazines and news websites organise content into sections (e.g., a dropdown menu with sections like 'News', 'Tech', 'Opinion'), which are still called sections.
: A 'supplement' is often a physically separate publication included with a newspaper/magazine. A 'section' is an integral, bound part of the main publication. However, a supplement itself will be divided into internal sections.