conan doyle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary, academic
Quick answer
What does “conan doyle” mean?
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), the Scottish-born British writer and physician, creator of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), the Scottish-born British writer and physician, creator of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
Refers to the literary works, characters, and cultural legacy associated with Arthur Conan Doyle; often used metonymically for the Sherlock Holmes canon or the style of detective fiction he pioneered.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in reference to the author. The name is equally recognized. The spelling of related terms (e.g., 'colour' in UK editions vs. 'color' in US editions of his works) follows regional conventions.
Connotations
In the UK, stronger association with national literary heritage. In the US, often synonymous with classic detective fiction.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to cultural proximity, but the name is universally familiar in educated circles.
Grammar
How to Use “conan doyle” in a Sentence
[Author] Conan Doyle wrote [Work][Work] is by Conan Doylethe [Genre] of Conan DoyleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conan doyle” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It had a very Conan Doyle feel to it.
- That was a properly Conan Doyle plot twist.
American English
- It had a very Conan Doyle feel to it.
- That was a properly Conan Doyle plot twist.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might occur in publishing, entertainment (rights, adaptations).
Academic
Common in literary studies, history of detective fiction, Victorian literature courses.
Everyday
Used when discussing books, films, or TV shows about Sherlock Holmes.
Technical
Used in bibliographic references, literary cataloguing, adaptation studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conan doyle”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conan doyle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conan doyle”
- Misspelling as 'Conan Doyle' (missing space), 'Connan Doyle', or 'Conan-Doyle' (hyphen not standard). Confusing order: 'Doyle Conan'. Using 'Conan' alone to refer to the author (ambiguous with other uses).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'Conan Doyle' is the standard shortened form of his name. 'Arthur Conan Doyle' or 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle' are more formal.
No. 'Conan' was one of his given middle names. His surname was 'Doyle'. The compound 'Conan Doyle' is used as a quasi-surname for reference.
No, he wrote extensively in other genres, including historical novels, science fiction, plays, and non-fiction works on spiritualism and war.
The standard pronunciation is with a long 'o' (/ˈkəʊnən/ or /ˈkoʊnən/). Some regional or historical variations exist, but the long 'o' is accepted as correct.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), the Scottish-born British writer and physician, creator of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
Conan doyle is usually formal, literary, academic in register.
Conan doyle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊnən dɔɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊnən dɔɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a real Conan Doyle mystery”
- “in the best Conan Doyle tradition”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONAN writes CANons: remember the 'C' in Conan and the 'C' in Canon (his collected works).
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHOR AS SOURCE (e.g., 'a plot straight from Conan Doyle'), LEGACY AS MONUMENT (e.g., 'the towering figure of Conan Doyle').
Practice
Quiz
In which field was Conan Doyle professionally trained, besides writing?