Word of the Week: Pseudonym

Pseudonym (noun)

Pronunciation
sood-n-im

Definition
A fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity; pen name.


Example Sentence
Because women authors did not used to be well-respected, many such as Mary Ann Evans wrote under pseudonyms; hers was George Eliot.

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Almost everyone has read several books by Theodor Geisel, and quite a few youngsters would count him as their favorite author. However, almost no one calls him that, instead referring to him as Dr. Seuss. He picked up the pen name early in his writing career and wrote all of his children’s stories by the pseudonym.

Another famous pseudonym is that of Samuel Clemens, who went by Mark Twain. Clemens, who before becoming a writer had a brief career as steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, adapted the pseudonym from a term used in taking soundings. As boats went from the dock into the main channel, the leadsmen would call out “mark twain” if the water were at a safe enough depth to increase speed.

Actually, one of our own Olivet English professors claims to write books under a pseudonym. Since she won’t disclose what pseudonym she’s better known by, we naturally assume she’s a world-famous, best-selling author in disguise.