Find English Teachers
Andres
What is the difference between bureau, entity and agency
I know that in one of the meanings of bureau, we can find agency, and that is why I am confused, thanks in advance.
Apr 26, 2018 10:16 PM
Answers · 3
2
Bureau and agency are basically synonyms for "office". Bureau is more common in the context of a government department. An agency usually has agents working in it, not surprisingly, like a real estate agency or a law enforcement agency. Entity is a more general word, it can apply to almost any organization in business, government, education, etc.
April 26, 2018
2
Example:
State Department: government agency
State Department Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs: government bureau under an agency
Entity: normally a singular person or office
Sometimes bureau can be used for things like FBI - which is independently run
April 26, 2018
What you're running into here is the overlap of usages and meanings of words. Just because words overlap does not mean they are freely interchangeable. All bureaus and agencies are entities but not all entities are bureaus or agencies. So when you use a word that has broad scope (multiple meanings) you need to make it clear what meaning you intend. That can be accomplished with complement or clause within the sentence itself or with context provided by surrounding sentences.
April 27, 2018
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Andres
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish
Learning Language
English, German, Japanese
Articles You May Also Like

Speak More Fluently with This Simple Technique
23 likes · 2 Comments

How to Read and Understand a Business Contract in English
19 likes · 3 Comments

6 Ways italki Can Help You Succeed in Your School Language Classes
14 likes · 8 Comments
More articles