Author vs Writer Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on author vs writer. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
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Anyone who writes, published or not.
“She is a freelance writer.”
The originator of a published work.
“The author of three novels.”
Writes a work while someone else is credited as the author.
A writer, but not the credited author.
One of two or more people credited as authors of the same work.
Common in research papers.
Readers, students and aspiring writers often stop to ask author vs writer because both words describe a person who writes, and people use them loosely. There is a useful difference in emphasis, though, and it matters on book covers, in bios and in job titles. This guide explains the difference between an author and a writer, covers ghostwriters and coauthors, and helps you decide which word to use for yourself or for someone else.
| Feature | Writer | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | A person who writes | The originator of a written work, usually a published one |
| Published? | Not required | Usually implied |
| Credit | May or may not be credited | The name credited on the work |
| Breadth | The broader term | A narrower, more specific term |
| Typical examples | Journalist, blogger, screenwriter, ghostwriter | Novelist, book author, paper author |
| Everyday use | “She’s a writer.” | “She’s the author of three books.” |
What is a writer?
A writer is a person who writes. The word is broad: it covers anyone who puts words on a page or screen, whether or not the work is published, paid for or even read.
- A journalist writes news stories.
- A blogger writes posts for a website.
- A screenwriter writes scripts, and a copywriter writes ads.
- A hobbyist who keeps a private journal is also a writer.
A writer does not need to originate the ideas. A ghostwriter, for example, may write something based on someone else’s story.
What is an author?
An author is the person who originates a written work, and the word is most often used for someone with a published work, such as a book, an article or a scientific paper. The word comes from the Latin auctor, which means an originator or creator.
- She is the author of three novels.
- The authors of the study published their results.
- He is the author of a new theory.
“Author” can also describe the creator of something that is not a written work, as in “the author of the plan,” which shows how closely the word is tied to the idea of origin.
Is every writer an author?
No. Every author is a writer, but not every writer is an author. A person who writes unpublished stories, drafts or private notes is a writer, while the title of author usually points to a published work that carries their name.
The reverse can also be true in an unusual way. Someone can be an author without personally typing every word, for example by commissioning a work and putting their name on it.
What about ghostwriters?
A ghostwriter writes a work while another person is credited as the author. The ghostwriter is a writer, and the credited person is the author. One simple way to put it: the author is the person whose name goes on the work, and the writer is the person who does the writing.
On one project, a professional could be only the writer, as a ghostwriter. On another, they could be both the writer and the author of their own book.
What is a coauthor?
A coauthor is one of two or more people credited as authors of the same work. The term is well established in academic and scientific publishing, where the listed authors can include collaborators who contributed to the research even if they did not write much of the text.
Is “author” a verb?
Yes, as in “to author a report,” and it has become common in business and technical writing. Some usage guides discourage it, preferring “write” for everyday uses, and a classic usage panel once found “he has authored a dozen books” unacceptable to most of its members. Both “write” and “author” are understood, but “write” is the safer choice for letters, drafts and unpublished work.
Author vs writer: which word should you use?
Choose by what you want to say. Use writer for the activity or profession of writing, or when the work is unpublished or the credit is unclear. Use author when you mean the credited creator of a published work.
Compare these pairs:
- She works as a freelance writer for magazines. (The profession.)
- She is the author of a bestselling cookbook. (Credited creator of a book.)
- The memoir’s ghostwriter worked closely with its author. (Writer and author are different people.)
Common mix-ups about authors and writers
- ✗ I’m not a writer because I haven’t published anything.
✓ Anyone who writes is a writer, published or not. - ✗ The ghostwriter is the author of the memoir.
✓ The credited person is usually the author, and the ghostwriter is the writer. - ✗ Authors never actually write.
✓ Most authors write their own work, though some commission it. - ✗ Writer and author never overlap.
✓ In everyday speech, they often overlap. - ✗ He authored a love letter to his wife.
✓ He wrote a love letter to his wife.
How can you remember the difference?
Think of one word as the broad group and the other as a smaller circle inside it. Here are three memory tricks:
- The circle rule: All authors are writers, but not all writers are authors.
- The name-on-the-cover rule: The author is the name on the work.
- The origin rule: Author comes from the Latin word for originator, so think of the person the work starts with.
FAQ: Author vs Writer
What is the difference between an author and a writer?
A writer is anyone who writes, while an author is usually the originator of a published work, such as a book. All authors are writers, but not all writers are authors.
Can you be a writer without being an author?
Yes. Many writers work on unpublished pieces, articles, scripts or ghostwritten text without being the credited author of a book.
Who is the author if a ghostwriter wrote a book?
Usually the person credited on the book. The ghostwriter is the writer.
Is author a verb?
Yes, as in to author a report, but some style guides discourage it. Coauthor is widely accepted, especially in scholarly publishing.
Where does the word author come from?
It comes from the Latin auctor, meaning an originator or creator.
Conclusion
When you’re weighing author vs writer, remember that a writer is anyone who writes and an author is usually the credited originator of a published work. Every author is a writer, and many writers become authors. Call yourself whichever feels true, and share this with someone who loves books!