Journaler

Journaler is a noun that refers to a person who keeps a journal or diary. In contemporary English usage, the term is uncommon; most people who write diaries are described as diarists, diary-keepers, or journal writers. Journaler can be formed by adding the agent suffix -er to journal, but its use is largely stylistic or historical rather than standard practice.

Origins and usage: The word follows a common pattern in English for forming agent nouns, but it is not widely attested in major dictionaries. When it appears, it is typically in descriptive or literary contexts rather than as a common job title or everyday label.

Distinctions and related terms: A diarist is someone who regularly records personal experiences, thoughts, and events in a diary. A journalist is a professional writer or reporter who covers news. A journaler may sometimes be used to describe someone who maintains a personal or professional log, but this meaning is rare and context-dependent. In therapeutic or mindfulness writing, people say they journal, but they do not typically label the writer as a journaler.

In use today: If clarity is required, avoid journaler and opt for diarist, diary keeper, or journal writer. The term is more a lexical curiosity than a standard designation.

See also: diarist; diary; journaling; journalist; logbook.