Which definition best explains the word author?

• A. The creator of something
• B. The person who writes a document
• C. The person responsible for an action
• D. A person who signs for others

Answer: (B)

An author is the person who writes a document. This definition focuses on the act of creating written content, which is exactly what we mean when we talk about the author of a book, article, or essay. While “creator” can refer to making anything at all, it’s too broad for a text. The idea of being “responsible for an action” is about accountability, not writing, and a person who signs for others is a signer or proxy, not the writer. For written works, the author is the one who writes, origins, and is credited with the text. For example, the author of a novel is the person who wrote it.