authorial we

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "authorial we" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the collective voice of the author and the audience in a text. For example, "In this study, we will explore the implications of climate change." Alternative expressions include "the royal we" and "editorial we."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He gives readers — especially the white people of his authorial "we" — a useful primer on the rise of the carceral state and its decimating impact on black and brown America.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When we identify a director's authorial style, we take it on trust – perhaps naively – that this is an expression of something at the absolute core of his or her being as a artist.

The Guardian - Film

What gives the book its tragic force is the reserve of authorial compassion we can sense in the gaps between each fragmentary episode and every terse, clipped sentence.

The Guardian - Books

It is a "small, perfect gem of a book", according to Jonathan Coe, who praised the novel's "tragic force" and the "reserve of authorial compassion we can sense in the gaps between each fragmentary episode and every terse, clipped sentence".

The Guardian - Books

But we couldn't talk about the book with any confidence of authorial intention if we didn't know who the author was".

The New York Times - Books

The "I" is the authorial voice and we have our relation, as readers, with that voice.

The Guardian - Books

But Keith understood it was the me decade, when the novel dispensed with realism, when plot and character gave way to authorial phrase-making, so we need not detain ­ourselves with what Lily or Scheherazade might have felt.

The Guardian - Books

We see them as a gladiatorial contest, or even a kind of bullfight - the reviewer in his suit of lights goading the poor authorial bull - and we feel as indignant at the author stopping the contest to protest the unfairness of the thing, as we would if the bull stopped the fight in order to write an indignant letter to a Spanish newspaper.

BBC

This is a key problem with "Night Film" — that it is driven less by the concerns of its characters than by a sense of authorial schematics, as if we were involved in an elaborate shadow play.

Los Angeles Times

Add in Burton's authorial visual stamp and what we've got is an extremely pleasing formula.

The Guardian - Film

First, the 10 goals we propose from our research are, inherently, a cluster of goals agreed upon by the authors (we have made authorial decisions around structuring the clusters of those goals, such as locating NCDs under an ageing goal, and maternal health under a gender goal).

Globalization and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "authorial we" to create a sense of shared understanding and collaboration between the writer and the reader, particularly in academic or persuasive writing. It can also serve as a technique to subtly guide the reader's perspective.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "authorial we", as it can sound presumptuous or condescending. Ensure the inclusion is genuinely representative of a shared perspective, and not just a way to assert the author's viewpoint.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "authorial we" functions as a noun phrase, identifying the collective voice or perspective of the author and the intended audience. According to Ludwig, its use is grammatically correct, but relatively rare.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Science

33.33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "authorial we" serves as a noun phrase intended to establish a connection between the author and the reader, fostering a sense of shared perspective. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct, although relatively rare in general usage. The phrase appears most frequently in news, media and scientific contexts. While it aims to be inclusive, it is crucial to use it judiciously to avoid sounding presumptuous. Alternative phrases, such as "inclusive authorial voice", offer ways to express a similar sentiment with greater precision. When using the phrase, make sure the inclusion truly represent the shared perspective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the authorial 'us'

Uses 'us' to subtly imply the author and audience are working together

inclusive authorial voice

Replaces "we" with a more explicit description of the author's intent to include the reader.

shared authorial viewpoint

Indicates a common outlook intended to be shared with the reader.

collective authorial perspective

Focuses on the shared viewpoint between the author and the intended audience.

the reader-inclusive author

Emphasizes the author's approach to including the reader's perspective.

the author's intended audience

Shifts focus from the authorial voice to the intended recipients of that voice.

our shared understanding as author and reader

Highlights the collaborative nature of meaning-making between writer and audience.

the authorial you and I

Directly addresses the joint roles of author and reader in the narrative.

the authorial team

Suggests the combined perspective of the author and reader in understanding the text.

the author and the audience

Directly names author and audience without the implied collective.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "authorial we" in writing?

The "authorial we" is appropriate when you want to create a sense of shared understanding or collaboration between the writer and the reader. It's commonly used in academic writing, persuasive essays, and opinion pieces to include the reader in the discussion. However, it's crucial to ensure that the inclusion is genuine and reflects a shared perspective.

What are some alternatives to using "authorial we"?

Alternatives to "authorial we" include phrases like "inclusive authorial voice", "collective authorial perspective", or specifying "the author and the audience" to avoid ambiguity or presumption.

Is "authorial we" considered formal or informal language?

The formality of "authorial we" depends on the context. It can be suitable for formal writing, such as academic papers or professional reports, when used judiciously to create a sense of shared understanding. However, in more informal contexts, it might sound overly formal or presumptuous.

How does "authorial we" differ from the "royal we"?

The "authorial we" includes the reader in the perspective, creating a sense of shared viewpoint or collaboration. The "royal we", on the other hand, is typically used by a single person (often someone in a position of authority) to refer to themselves, often implying a group or organization. Therefore, they serve different communicative purposes.