Today’s word family is author — and the complex words that grow from it, like authorize and authoritative, and authoritarian.
These words are connected by one core idea:
An author creates something (usually writing).From that idea, we also get:authority (power / the right to decide), andauthorize (to give official permission).
Let’s begin with a quick check.
🔹 Quick Check
Do you understand these sentences?
- The author wrote three novels.
- She authored a short article for the school website.
- Only the teacher has the authority to change the rules.
- My parents authorized the school trip.
- His voice sounded authoritative.
- The new rules felt authoritarian.
If any of these feel unclear, don’t worry — we’ll learn them step by step.
1⃣ Author — the Writer / Creator (Noun + Verb)
Author (noun)
An author is a person who writes a book or creates a text.
Examples:
- The author of this story is very famous.
- I want to meet the author one day.
Author (verb)
To author something means to write or create it (more formal than “write”).
Examples:
- She authored a report about animals.
- He authored a new set of classroom rules.
Common collocations:
- the author of…
- a famous author
- author a book / report / article
(formal)
2⃣ Authoritative — Sounding Confident and Official (Adjective)
Authoritative means sounding like someone who knows the facts and has the right to lead.It can describe a voice, tone, book, or source.
Examples:
- Her voice was calm and authoritative.
- This is an authoritative guide to the city.
- The teacher gave an authoritative answer.
Common collocations:
- an authoritative voice / tone
- an authoritative source
- an authoritative guide / book
- sound authoritative
Quick note: authoritative is usually positive (clear, confident, reliable).
3⃣ Authority — Power / Right to Decide (Noun)
Authority means the power or right to make decisions, or the people who have that power.
Examples:
- The teacher has the authority to stop the game.
- The local authorities closed the road.
(authorities = officials)
Common collocations:
- have authority
- the authority to do something
- in authority
(in charge) - local authorities
(officials)
4⃣ Authorize / Authorise — Give Official Permission (Verb)
Authorize (US spelling) / authorise (UK spelling) means to give official permission.
Examples:
- My mum authorized the trip form.
- The school authorized a new club.
- You are not authorized to enter this room.
Useful word chunks:
- authorize someone to do something
- The manager authorized her to sign the paper.
- be authorized to do something
- Only staff are authorized to use this key.
5⃣ Authoritarian — Very Strict; Demanding Obedience (Adjective)
Authoritarian describes a person, rule, or system that is very strict and expects people to obey without questions.It is usually negative.
Examples:
- The coach was authoritarian and never listened.
- The rules felt authoritarian.
Common collocations:
- an authoritarian leader
- an authoritarian style
- authoritarian rules
- an authoritarian government
(older/advanced topic, but common)
Quick note:
- authoritative
= confident, reliable (often positive) - authoritarian
= controlling, too strict (often negative)
6⃣ “Other” Useful Family Words (Keep It Simple)
- authorization / authorisation (noun)
— official permission - You need authorization to use this photo.
- authorized / unauthorised (adjective)
— officially allowed / not allowed - This is an authorized copy.
- That was an unauthorized download.
- co-author (noun/verb)
— write with another person - They co-authored the book.
7⃣ Word Link (Simple Summary)
Let’s connect everything:
- author→
the person who creates/writes something - authoritative→
sounding confident, official, reliable - authority→
the power to decide - authorize→
to give official permission - authorization→
the permission itself (noun) - authoritarian→too strict / controlling
, demands obedience
Key idea: Context tells you whether you’re talking about a creator, confidence, power, permission, or strict control.
✨ Challenge Time (Context + Meaning)
- “His tone was authoritative, so everyone got quiet.”
What does authoritative suggest about the way he spoke? - “The new rules felt authoritarian.”
What does authoritarian suggest about the rules? Why might people dislike them? - “Only the local authorities can close the road.”
Who are the authorities here? Why do they have that power? - “You are not authorized to share this video.”
What does authorized mean here? What rule does this sentence suggest? - “She authored a short story for the class magazine.”
Does authored mean wrote or read? What clue helps you? - “The club needs authorization before it can use the school logo.”
What is authorization—a person, a feeling, or official permission? How do you know?
