der Autor
author
A person who writes and publishes literary, academic, or journalistic texts.
EXAMPLE
Der Autor liest morgen aus seinem neuen Roman vor.
The author is reading from his new novel tomorrow.
der Autor
author
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Meanings
der Autor
author
The originator or intellectual creator of something, for example a plan, idea, or concept.
EXAMPLE
Wer ist der Autor dieses umstrittenen Reformvorschlags?
Who is the author of this controversial reform proposal?
Usage tips
Word family
'Autor' (author) belongs to a word family built around the idea of an 'originator' or 'creator'. Related words are 'autorisieren' (to authorize/approve something) and 'Autorität' (authority, influence, prestige).
EXAMPLE
Als Autor des Berichts hat er die alleinige Autorität über den Inhalt.
As the author of the report, he has sole authority over the content.
Typical collocations
In a literary context, 'Autor' (author) is often combined with adjectives such as 'bekannt' (well-known), 'berühmt' (famous), or 'unbekannt' (unknown). Compounds such as 'Bestsellerautor' (bestselling author) or 'Kinderbuchautor' (children's book author) are also very common.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist eine bekannte Autorin von Kriminalromanen.
She is a well-known author of crime novels.
Context clue
You can recognize this figurative meaning when 'Autor' (author) does not refer to a book or text, but to abstract things such as a plan, an idea, a concept, or a draft law.
EXAMPLE
Die Autoren der Studie warnen vor den Konsequenzen.
The authors of the study warn of the consequences.
Compare with
Autor vs Schriftsteller
writer
Both words can refer to a person who has written a published text. „Der Autor“ is the broader term and also fits academic or journalistic texts, while „der Schriftsteller“ specifically refers to literary writing such as novels or poems. For literary works, both words are possible.
Autor
Der Autor des wissenschaftlichen Berichts stellte seine Ergebnisse vor.
The author of the academic report presented his findings.
Schriftsteller
Der Schriftsteller stellte seinen neuen Roman bei einer Lesung vor.
The writer presented his new novel at a reading.
In real life
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