Use literary before nouns such as novel, text, award, critic, tradition, magazine, agent, and history. It points to the world of books and writing, not just anything written down.
Use literary before nouns such as novel, text, award, critic, tradition, magazine, agent, and history. It points to the world of books and writing, not just anything written down.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The literary meaning of the sentence is clear. | The literal meaning of the sentence is clear. |
| She won a literal prize for her novel. | She won a literary prize for her novel. |
| The article studies literal history. | The article studies literary history. |
| He works as a literal agent. | He works as a literary agent. |
Use literary for prose, language, descriptions, dialogue, or style that feels artistic or highly written. It can be praise, but it can also suggest that the writing feels too polished or artificial for the situation.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The report is literary because it is correct. | The report is well written because it is correct. |
| Her email was too literature. | Her email was too literary. |
| The dialogue sounds literature. | The dialogue sounds literary. |
| He used literary to explain the rule. | He used literary language to explain the rule. |
Use literary for a person, family, circle, city, or culture with a strong connection to books, writers, and reading. For a person, well-read is often clearer if the point is simply that they have read a lot.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She is literary in three languages. | She is literate in three languages. |
| My father is a very literal person. | My father is a very literary person. |
| The town is literacy and full of writers. | The town is literary and full of writers. |
| He is literary, so he can read. | He is literate, so he can read. |
Literary is the right word for literature, writers, book culture, and artistic written style. Do not use it for exact meaning, where literal is needed, or for the basic ability to read, where literate is needed.
Literary meaning often means the wrong thing when literal meaning is intended. Literary belongs with books, literature, and bookish style, while literal means exact and literate means able to read and write.
First recorded in English in the early seventeenth century. It is formed from literature and -ary, with roots going back through French and Latin to littera, meaning letter of the alphabet, writing, or written record. The word developed from writing and learning toward its modern connection with literature, books, authors, and bookish style.
What does literary mean?
Literary means related to literature, books, writers, or a style that sounds artistic, bookish, or highly written.
Is literary the same as literal?
No. Literary relates to literature or bookish style. Literal means exact, factual, or not figurative.
What is a literary work?
A literary work is a written creative work such as a novel, poem, play, short story, or essay valued as literature.
What does literary style mean?
Literary style means a style of writing that feels artistic, polished, formal, or connected with literature.
What is a literary agent?
A literary agent represents writers and helps sell their books or manuscripts to publishers.
Can literary describe a person?
Yes. A literary person is interested in books, writing, authors, and literature. If the meaning is only able to read, use literate.
What are synonyms for literary?
Depending on the sense, synonyms include bookish, authorial, textual, poetic, well-read, learned, and scholarly.