Word

manuscript

noun C1

/ˈmæn.jəˌskɹɪpt/

Meanings

noun

an original handwritten document, especially an old or historical one

noun

a complete draft of a book, article, or paper submitted for editing or publication

Definition

A manuscript is an original text written by hand or a document prepared for publication before it is printed.

A manuscript is a document that exists in its original form rather than as a finished, printed book. It may be handwritten, especially in historical contexts, or typed as a draft that an author submits to a publisher or journal. People also use the word for the complete draft of a novel, article, or academic paper before final production.

Examples

I finally sent my manuscript to the editor after rewriting the opening three times.
She discovered a damaged manuscript in the library’s special collections and requested high-resolution scans.
They spent the weekend polishing their manuscript to meet the journal’s formatting requirements.
He cited the manuscript as evidence that the poem circulated years earlier than the first printed edition.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse manuscript with script, but manuscript refers to the document itself, not the style of handwriting or a screenplay.