linguistics - The practice of identifying authors from their writings


Is there an English word for the practice of analysing texts to determine their authors?


For example, comparing three texts A, B and C and realising that the choice of words, grammar and style of writing between A and B is so similar that they're likely of the same author, while C is clearly by a different author.



Answer



Yes, you're looking for Stylometry:



Stylometry is the application of the study of linguistic style, usually to written language.


Stylometry is often used to attribute authorship to anonymous or disputed documents. It has legal as well as academic and literary applications, ranging from the question of the authorship of Shakespeare's works to forensic linguistics.



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