This Is The Way It Must Be Done!

I'm an author.

I'm published, too.

Oh! For those who don't know, "writer" Must be applied to those who have written but not yet published. If you read the first two sentences of this post again, you'll notice that I used "author", which, according to the received wisdom of those who tell us, with fervor, what we Must do, should have been "writer". If I'd used writer, then I could have Properly written the third sentence:

I'm a writer.

I'm published, too.

So, I'm also an author.

Let's see… The etymology of "author" says: "one who causes to grow" and "one who sets forth written statements".

O.K., "sets forth" could be construed to be publishing, but only if you need it to mean that so you can segregate "writers" and "authors".

If you look at the etymology of "writer", you'll find: "one who can write, clerk; one who produces books or literary compositions"

Hmmm… If we take "produces" as meaning publishing, we have writers who have published.

"Writer" also has this root meaning: "sign-painter"

Naturally, the English language is rather organic and tends to grow beyond certain meanings. Does this mean that using the term "author" for a person who has written something but not yet published is Wrong ?

There are many things that various people say Must be a certain way. And then, there are actually things that Must be a certain way.

If you don't want to be killed by a long fall to the pavement, you Must not walk over the edge of the roof.

But, Must we restrict the term "author" to those who have published?

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Tagged: author, authors, publish, publishing, writer, writers, writing