A pen name, or “nom de plume”, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author’s name more distinctive, to disguise their gender, to distance themselves from certain works, to protect themselves from retribution, or for any of a number of reasons related to the marketing or aesthetic presentation of the work.
Other related questions:
Why does writers use pen name?
There can be a number of reasons why a writer might use a pen name. Sometimes it is simply a matter of preference – the writer may feel more comfortable writing under a different name than their own. In other cases, it may be necessary in order to avoid confusion with another writer who has a similar name. Additionally, a pen name can be used to make it easier for a writer to switch between genres or to appeal to different audiences.
What is pen name called in English?
A pen name is a pseudonym used by an author instead of their real name.
Why did Jane Austen use a pen name?
There are a few possible reasons why Jane Austen may have used a pen name. One reason could be that, at the time, it was more common for women to use pen names than their real names when publishing their work. This was likely because women were not taken as seriously as men when it came to writing, and so using a pen name may have helped Austen’s work to be taken more seriously. Additionally, Austen may have used a pen name to avoid any personal embarrassment that could come from her work being published.