Use pen name for an author's publishing pseudonym. It is interchangeable with pseudonym and nom de plume in most contexts; pen name is the most plainly English form. Do not hyphenate.
Use pen name for an author's publishing pseudonym. It is interchangeable with pseudonym and nom de plume in most contexts; pen name is the most plainly English form. Do not hyphenate.
Do not hyphenate (pen-name is non-standard). Pen name applies specifically to writers; for performers use stage name, for online contexts use username or handle. All are types of pseudonym.
A compound of pen (writing instrument, from Latin penna, 'feather, quill') and name. The term is the English equivalent of French nom de plume (literally 'name of the pen') and became established in the 19th century as writers increasingly adopted publishing identities separate from their legal names.
What is a pen name?
A pen name is a fictitious name that an author publishes under instead of their real legal name. It is also called a pseudonym or, from French, a nom de plume. Authors adopt pen names for many reasons: privacy, to avoid gender bias, to separate different genres of writing, or simply for a more marketable name.
What is the difference between a pen name and a pseudonym?
A pseudonym is any assumed name used instead of one's real name. A pen name (or nom de plume) is specifically a pseudonym used by a writer for their published works. Stage names (for performers) and usernames (online) are other types of pseudonyms.
Why do authors use pen names?
Common reasons include: protecting privacy, avoiding gender or racial bias (many women and minorities historically used neutral or male pen names to be published), separating distinct genres of writing so readers are not confused, writing in a different language, or simply choosing a more memorable name.
What are some famous pen names?
Well-known examples include: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair), George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), J.K. Rowling writing crime fiction as Robert Galbraith, and Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman.
Is a pen name legal?
Yes. Authors may legally publish under any name they choose. However, contracts, bank accounts, and copyright registrations usually require the legal name, often with the pen name noted alongside it. The copyright in the work belongs to the real author regardless of the name on the cover.