Co-author

A Co-author is an individual who collaborates with one or more other people to write a piece of work, such as a book, article, report, screenplay, or software code. They share responsibility for the content and contribute to the research, writing, editing, and overall development of the final product. The order of co-authors can vary, sometimes reflecting the extent of their contribution or following a predetermined agreement. Co-authorship often implies a shared intellectual effort and a collective ownership of the resulting work, including the associated rights and responsibilities, although these can also be outlined in a legal document to outline roles and responsibilities.

Co-author meaning with examples

• Dr. Ramirez and her colleague, Dr. Chen, co-authored a groundbreaking scientific paper on the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. They spent months conducting research, analyzing data, and writing the manuscript. Both names appear on the final publication, acknowledging their equal contributions to the research, writing process, and the presentation of the paper in a suitable format.
• The novelist, Sarah, decided to Co-author her next thriller with her husband, Mark. They collaborated closely, exchanging ideas, revising each other’s drafts, and ensuring the plot and characters were both compelling and the story had a satisfying end. Their co-authorship allowed them to combine their unique writing styles to create a dynamic final product.
• After years of developing the software, the lead developer, along with a team of junior developers, decided to Co-author the program's documentation. The team collaborated, refining the documentation so that it became more understandable for end users. The result of their co-authorship was an excellent product.
• Two successful screenwriters, John and David, decided to Co-author the script for a major Hollywood film. They worked side by side, discussing every scene, every character, and refining the dialogue, eventually creating a script they were proud of. Their names were included in the credits of the film.