Meaning & use
aspiring author
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Meaning
nouncountable
A person who wants to become a published writer and is working toward that goal.
Grammar: Countable; use 'an aspiring author' for one person and 'aspiring authors' for more than one.
Patterns
- an aspiring author
- aspiring authors
She joined a writing group for aspiring authors.
As an aspiring author, he writes for two hours every morning before work.
The festival gives aspiring authors a chance to meet editors.
Word forms
| plural | aspiring authors |
|---|
Common combinations
- an aspiring author
- An aspiring author often faces many rejections before a first book deal.
- young aspiring author
- The library hosts a club for young aspiring authors.
- aspiring author community
- Online forums offer support to the aspiring author community.
Synonyms and how they differ
- aspiring writer
- Almost the same; 'writer' is broader and can include bloggers or journalists, while 'author' usually suggests books.
- would-be author
- More skeptical or slightly dismissive; it hints the person may not succeed.
Opposites
Word family
- aspire verb
- To have a strong desire to achieve something.
- aspiration noun
- A hope or ambition to do something.
- authorship noun
- The fact of having written a book or text.
Commonly confused: aspiring author or inspiring author?
aspiring author vs inspiring author
Different meaning: an inspiring author makes readers feel motivated, while an aspiring author hopes to become one.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'aspiring author' correctly?
Choose one answer.
An aspiring author is still working toward publication, so not having finished a novel fits. Option 1 contradicts the word by describing a successful published writer; option 2 uses 'author' where 'reporter' or 'writer' would fit; option 3 describes a reader, not someone with a writing goal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aspiring author”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.