manuscript
MAN-yuh-skript
/ˈmænjuskrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
In modern publishing, it refers to an author's original unpublished work, even if it was typed on a computer.
The story behind the word. Before the printing press, every book was a 'manuscript'—literally 'hand-written'. Even after typing became standard, the term stuck for the author's original copy.
Word relationships
- document: Document is a broad term; manuscript specifically implies the original or handwritten version.
- draft: A draft is an early version; a manuscript is the completed version ready for production.
- publication: A publication is the final, printed product; a manuscript is the raw text.
Commonly confused with
- script: A script is specifically for performance (plays/movies); a manuscript is for reading (books/articles).
Collocations
- original manuscript
- handwritten manuscript
- submit a manuscript
- ancient manuscript
Example sentences
- "The author sent her final manuscript to the publisher after months of revisions." Literature
- "The museum recently acquired a rare medieval manuscript decorated with gold leaf." History
Memory hook
MANUal (by hand) + SCRIPT (writing). The hand-written original.
When not to use
Don't call a published book a 'manuscript' unless you are referring to its pre-publication state.
Fun facts
- The 'Voynich Manuscript' is a famous 15th-century book written in an unknown script that has never been decoded.
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