As a language expert with a focus on English grammar and usage, I'm here to provide a comprehensive answer to your question about whether "author" is a proper noun.
First and foremost, it's important to understand the distinction between common nouns and proper nouns. Common nouns are general terms that can refer to any member of a group or category, such as "book," "dog," or "city." They do not have a specific identity and are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or are part of a title.
On the other hand, proper nouns are unique identifiers for specific individuals, places, or things. They are characterized by two main features: they name a particular item that is typically one-of-a-kind, and they are always capitalized, regardless of their position in a sentence. For example, "New York" is a proper noun because it refers to a specific city, and "William Shakespeare" is a proper noun because it refers to a specific person.
Now, let's address the term in question: "author." In its most basic sense, "author" is a common noun. It refers to a person who writes a book, article, or any other written work. It is a general term that can apply to any writer, not just one specific writer. Therefore, it does not meet the criteria for a proper noun, as it does not name a specific item and is not capitalized when used in a general sense.
However, there are instances where "author" can be part of a proper noun. For example, if you are referring to a specific author by their full name, such as "Charles Dickens" or "Jane Austen," then the name of the author is a proper noun. In this case, "author" is not the noun being capitalized; rather, it is the full name of the individual that is treated as a proper noun.
It's also worth noting that in certain contexts, "author" can be used in a way that implies a specific identity, even though it is still a common noun. For example, if you are discussing a particular writer's work and refer to them as "the author of 'Pride and Prejudice,'" you are using "author" in a way that points to a specific individual (Jane Austen). However, in this instance, "author" remains a common noun, and it is the title of the work or the name of the person that is capitalized, not the word "author."
In summary, "author" is generally a common noun because it refers to a category of people (those who write) rather than a specific individual. It does not have the two distinctive features of a proper noun: naming a specific item and being capitalized at all times. However, "author" can be part of a proper noun when it is used in conjunction with a specific name or title, but it is the name or title that is capitalized, not the word "author" itself.

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Nouns name people, places, and things. Every noun can further be classified as common or proper. A proper noun has two distinctive features: 1) it will name a specific [usually a one-of-a-kind] item, and 2) it will begin with a capital letter no matter where it occurs in a sentence.read more >>