author
author — noun
1. the person who has written a particular book, article, play, or similar piece of
the person who has written a particular book, article, play, or similar piece of text — for example, J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series.
Nikolai met his favourite author at a small bookshop in Taipei.
favourite author of [name]
The author of this cookbook was once a chef in a French restaurant.
the author of + [book noun]
Three young authors from Kyoto met to share drafts of their first novels.
Omar asked the author to sign his copy of the new mystery novel.
Clara has been a successful children's book author for over twenty years.
- writer
broader; covers anyone who writes, including journalists and scriptwriters
- novelist
narrower; only someone who writes novels
- playwright
narrower; only someone who writes plays
- reader
the audience side of the relationship
文法句型
author of [book / article / play]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' + the specific work. Distinguish from 'writer', which is broader and can include journalists, scriptwriters, and people who write but have not necessarily published a book.
常見錯誤
2. the person who first thought of something such as a plan, idea, policy, or movem
the person who first thought of something such as a plan, idea, policy, or movement, and is therefore responsible for it existing.
Senator Park is widely seen as the author of the new tax reform.
the author of + [plan / policy]
Wen is the author of our company's recycling programme.
Historians now name Professor Bell as the true author of the 1989 student movement.
Angry citizens called General Ortega the author of their country's defeat.
- originator
neutral; emphasises being first
- creator
broader; can include physical objects, art, or systems
- architect
more vivid; suggests careful planning of something complex
文法句型
author of [plan / idea / movement]
用法筆記
Frequently used in journalism and formal writing, often with abstract objects (plan, policy, scheme, downfall). Distinguish from sense 1, which is restricted to people who write texts; this sense is about creating ideas or events, not pages.
常見錯誤
author — verb
1. to be the writer of a substantial text such as a novel, scholarly article, or re
to be the writer of a substantial text such as a novel, scholarly article, or research paper, usually with a view to publication.
Dr. Sven authored three medical papers before she turned thirty.
transitive: author + [paper]
Nia has authored five novels, all set in small fishing towns.
perfect tense with quantity: has authored five [works]
The report was authored by a team of climate scientists in Norway.
Priya authored a widely cited study on childhood nutrition in rural India.
文法句型
author + [book / article / report]
用法筆記
More formal than 'write', and usually used for substantial works such as books, papers, or reports — not for short or casual texts like emails or notes. Frequently appears in passive form, especially in academic and journalistic writing.
常見錯誤
2. to plan and bring into being something abstract such as a policy, agreement, or
to plan and bring into being something abstract such as a policy, agreement, or social change.
Mayor Liu authored a bold plan to plant trees along every main road.
author + [plan / scheme]
The peace agreement was authored by diplomats from five different countries.
passive: be authored by + [people]
A small group of students authored the new reforms to the school dress code.
The officials who authored such hardship finally faced public anger last spring.
文法句型
author + [plan / change / agreement]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense takes abstract objects like plans, agreements, or reforms — not texts. Most natural in formal news, history, or political writing; in everyday speech, prefer 'create', 'design', or 'set up'.