amanuensis
One who transcribes
An amanuensis is a person employed to write from dictation or to copy manuscripts.
The role was once essential in legal, literary, and scholarly work before typewriters and recording devices.
Milton dictated Paradise Lost to amanuenses after going blind.
The word now appears mostly in historical contexts or as a literary flourish for any writing assistant: She served as his amanuensis, transcribing his rambling thoughts into coherent prose.
Document duplicator by hand
- transcriberOne who records speech
- secretaryAdministrative office aide
- scrivenerProfessional penman for hire
- penmanSkilled handwriting practitioner
calligrapher · notary · clerk · quill · inkwell · parchment · vellum · scroll
One who keyboards
- stenographerPerson recording spoken words
- transcriptionistOne who converts audio to text
- clerkOffice record-keeper
- receptionistVisitor-greeting office worker
administrative · clerical · office · correspondence · filing · memorandum · minutes · reports
Uncredited hired author
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- biographerOne who writes lives
- memoiristAuthor of personal recollections
- editorOne who revises text
autobiography · memoir · letters · correspondence · composition · drafting · narrative · epistle
Supporting staff member
- helperOne who aids another
- right-handOpposite of left
- deputyAuthorized substitute or assistant
- attendantOne who assists others
subordinate · factotum · servant · support · collaborator · facilitator · understudy · auxiliary
copyist
Document duplicator by hand
- transcriberOne who records speech
- secretaryAdministrative office aide
- scrivenerProfessional penman for hire
penman · calligrapher · notary · clerk · quill · inkwell · parchment · vellum · scroll · codex
typist
One who keyboards
- stenographerPerson recording spoken words
- transcriptionistOne who converts audio to text
- clerkOffice record-keeper
receptionist · administrative · clerical · office · correspondence · filing · memorandum · minutes · reports · documentation
ghostwriter
Uncredited hired author
- collaboratorOne who works jointly
- biographerOne who writes lives
- memoiristAuthor of personal recollections
editor · autobiography · memoir · letters · correspondence · composition · drafting · narrative · epistle · chronicle
aide
Supporting staff member
- helperOne who aids another
- right-handOpposite of left
- deputyAuthorized substitute or assistant
attendant · subordinate · factotum · servant · support · collaborator · facilitator · understudy · auxiliary · companion
manual, manuscript, emancipate, emancipation, manually, manuscripts