stylometry

American  

[stahy-lom-i-tree] / staɪˈlɒm ɪ tri /

noun

1. the analytic study of literary styles, especially as applied to questions of authorship.

   The claim that this is Defoe’s manuscript remains unsupported by anyone proficient in stylometry.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stylometric
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of stylometry

First recorded in 1945–50; stylo- ¹ ( def. ) + -metry ( def. )

Example Sentences

The FBI used a form of stylometry to show that Ted Kaczynski was the Unabomber.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 19, 2022

Instead of relying on expert opinion, the computer scientists used a mathematical approach known as stylometry.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 19, 2022

Examining an author's style based on their tendency to choose particular words is increasingly done with a process called "stylometry."

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2022

But stylometry isn't just useful in cases where a text's authorship is disputed, it can also be used to analyze stylistic similarity more generally.

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2022

In literature, stylometry is the study of an author’s writing style, and these days it leans heavily on computing and statistical analysis.

From New York Times • Jan. 26, 2013