amanuensis

USAGE SUMMARY

"amanuensis" is a correct word in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person who is employed to write or transcribe for another person. For example: "The professor hired an amanuensis to transcribe his lectures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

ADAM SISMAN'S most recent book was a skilful account of a literary friendship between Dr Johnson, the great 18th-century raconteur, essayist, dictionary-maker and poet, and his faithful amanuensis and biographer, James Boswell.

The Economist

He resided with Caroline Graves and her daughter, Carrie, who became his amanuensis, while he housed Martha Rudd and their three children nearby.

The Economist

ReprintsOn the other hand, didn't Goethe encourage Johann Peter Eckermann, the tireless amanuensis he met in 1823 whom he knew was recording his words for posterity?

The Economist

Holmes's London was made up of two empires, "a good one associated with England and personified by two English types, the brilliant amateur detective and his dogged amanuensis; and an evil one associated with criminality, often of non-European origin".

The Economist

His close friend and amanuensis, James Boswell, chronicled his own frequent encounters with whores and musings on polygamy with little show of guilt.

The Economist

He wedded Elizabeth Minshull in 1663, who, along with the daughters from his first marriage, assisted him with his personal needs, read from books at his request, and served as an amanuensis to record verses that he dictated.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For a short time Hurston was an amanuensis to novelist Fannie Hurst.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some scholars have also associated Luke with the Pastoral Letters and the Letter to the Hebrews, either as author or as amanuensis, because of linguistic and other similarities with the Gospel and the Acts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Born at Heathcote Hill, the maternal De Lancey manor, Susan was the daughter of James Fenimore Cooper, whom she served as devoted companion and amanuensis until his death in 1851.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Coleridge published a periodical, The Friend, from June 1809 to March 1810 and ceased only when Sara Hutchinson, who had been acting as amanuensis, found the strain of the relationship too much for her and retired to her brother's farm in Wales.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even after he was stricken blind and paralyzed in his early 60s, Delius continued to compose, working with an amanuensis, Eric Fenby.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "amanuensis", ensure the context clearly indicates someone taking dictation or copying manuscripts, especially in historical or literary discussions.

Common error

Avoid using "amanuensis" when a more general term like "secretary" or "assistant" would suffice. The term specifically refers to someone who takes dictation or copies manuscripts, not general administrative tasks.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "amanuensis" is that of a noun, referring to a person employed to write or transcribe for another. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in describing historical figures' assistants and literary collaborations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "amanuensis" is a grammatically correct noun referring to someone employed to write or transcribe for another, as confirmed by Ludwig. It frequently appears in news and media, as well as encyclopedias, indicating a formal or scientific register. While alternatives like "secretary" or "scribe" exist, "amanuensis" specifies the task of dictation or manuscript copying. Use this term when precision is needed in describing such roles, particularly in historical or literary contexts. Ludwig's examples showcase a broad range of applications, solidifying its place in formal English vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

transcriptionist

Emphasizes the act of converting speech into text.

secretary

Focuses on administrative tasks rather than just writing or transcription.

stenographer

Highlights the skill of writing in shorthand, often in legal or official contexts.

scribe

Implies historical context or religious settings, mainly focused on copying manuscripts.

copyist

Simple act of making copies of documents.

clerk

Refers to a general office worker who may or may not be involved in transcription.

ghostwriter

Writes on behalf of someone else, who then takes credit.

editorial assistant

Provides support in editing and preparing documents.

personal assistant

Wider range of support activities, including writing tasks.

research assistant

Helps with research, sometimes involving writing reports.

FAQs

How to use "amanuensis" in a sentence?

You can use "amanuensis" to describe someone who takes dictation or copies manuscripts, as in "The blind author hired an amanuensis to transcribe his new novel".

What is the difference between "amanuensis" and "secretary"?

"Amanuensis" specifically refers to someone who takes dictation or copies manuscripts, while a "secretary" performs a broader range of administrative tasks.

What can I say instead of "amanuensis"?

Depending on the context, you could use "scribe", "transcriptionist", or "stenographer".

Is "amanuensis" an outdated term?

While not as commonly used in modern contexts, "amanuensis" is still appropriate when describing the specific role of someone taking dictation or copying manuscripts, particularly in historical or literary settings.