as-told-to: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “as-told-to” mean?
A narrative or biography written by a professional writer based on the spoken account of the subject.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A narrative or biography written by a professional writer based on the spoken account of the subject.
A literary or journalistic work where the credited author transcribes and structures the first-person story of another person, often a celebrity or notable figure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in publishing contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Neutral professional descriptor; sometimes carries a slight connotation of commercial or popular (vs. purely literary) publishing.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to publishing, media, and literary criticism.
Grammar
How to Use “as-told-to” in a Sentence
[as-told-to] + [noun (e.g., memoir, biography)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “as-told-to” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The footballer's as-told-to memoir topped the bestseller lists for weeks.
- She was commissioned to write an as-told-to biography of the wartime spy.
American English
- The celebrity's as-told-to memoir revealed shocking secrets.
- He got his start writing as-told-to stories for a sports magazine.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in publishing contracts and marketing materials to describe a book's authorship.
Academic
Used in literary studies or media studies to categorise a type of biographical writing.
Everyday
Rarely used in everyday conversation.
Technical
A technical term within the publishing industry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “as-told-to”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “as-told-to”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “as-told-to”
- Using it as a noun (e.g., 'He wrote an as-told-to') instead of an adjective.
- Confusing it with 'as per', which means 'according to'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar. 'As-told-to' often appears on the cover, crediting the subject 'as told to' the writer, while 'ghostwritten' implies the writer receives no public credit.
It is non-standard. It is primarily a compound adjective (e.g., an as-told-to memoir). Using it as a noun is a common mistake.
Almost exclusively in contexts related to publishing, book reviews, literary journalism, and media studies.
An autobiography (written by the subject themselves) or an authorised biography written by a historian/researcher based on documents and research, not solely the subject's narration.
A narrative or biography written by a professional writer based on the spoken account of the subject.
As-told-to is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
As-told-to: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæz ˈtəʊld tuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæz ˈtoʊld tuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a book cover: 'MY LIFE — as told to John Smith'. The story is told TO the writer BY the subject.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING IS TRANSCRIPTION (of another's voice).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'as-told-to' specifically describe?