What does bylining mean?
Bylining is the practice of identifying the person responsible for an article, story, interview, or other contribution by attaching that person's name to it. The resulting name or credit is called a byline. Bylining is especially common in journalism, magazines, book publishing, and other fields where readers need to know who created or contributed to a work. A publication may allow contributors to remain anonymous, require a staff writer to receive a byline, or use different bylining practices for articles, columns, and collaborative features. The word can refer to the process itself, as in “the bylining of the report,” or to its result in phrases such as “byline the interview with her.” Bylining is not necessarily used for works that do not have a single clear author, and its application can depend on a publication's editorial policy. The term is useful because it distinguishes both the act of assigning authorship and the credit line that tells readers whom to hold responsible.
nounBylining is the practice or act of identifying the author or contributor to an article, story, or other work by attaching their name to it.
- The practice or act of identifying the author or contributor to a work by attaching their name to it.
"The editor explained that bylining the interview would make the journalist responsible for its accuracy."
"The magazine requires permission before bylining photographs submitted by freelance contributors."
"Her bylining the article in her own name increased its credibility with readers."
The regular plural is “bylinings,” although singular use is more common in editorial discussion.
"The editions used different bylinings for the same collaborative article."
A byline is the name that points readers to the author; bylining is the act of putting it there.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does bylining come from?
The compound byline was formed in 19th-century English from “by” and “line,” with “line” referring to printed text and the whole word denoting a line identifying a writer. The noun bylining developed from byline to name the act or practice of supplying such a credit. The “by” element belongs to the same Old English root found in words such as bypass, byway, bystander, and byword.
How bylining is actually used
A chiefly journalistic and publishing term. It usually denotes the act or practice of supplying a byline; the resulting name or credit line is generally called a “byline.”