soleauthored

Soleauthored refers to a work that is authored by a single person without any co-authors. The term can be used as an adjective, sole-authored, or as a noun, a sole author. In bibliographic records, a sole-authored work contrasts with coauthored or multi-authored works, where two or more individuals share authorship.

In practice, sole-authored works are more common in fields such as humanities and some social sciences, and are less common in disciplines with extensive collaboration networks like experimental sciences. The designation implies that the named author is responsible for all aspects of the work, including conception, data collection (where applicable), analysis, writing, and revisions.

The status of sole-authored works can influence academic evaluation. Some institutions view single-author publications as indicators of independence and intellectual leadership. However, heavy collaboration may not be reflected in authorship lists, and some contributions may be made in ways that are not captured by authorship, such as through supervision, mentorship, or editing, which are acknowledged differently.

Terminology can vary: synonyms include solo-authored, single-authored, or sole-author. Researchers should consult field-specific guidelines for what counts as authorship and how to report it in curricula vitae or publication lists. See also coauthorship and authorship ethics.