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Biography Sentence Starters

Biography sentence starters are a great way to begin writing a biography or autobiography. They can provide structure, direction, and inspiration for your story. These sentence starters can help you craft an engaging narrative and bring life to your story. They can also help you focus on key elements of a biography, such as a person’s accomplishments, struggles, and relationships. Once you start writing, you can use these sentence starters to create a powerful story that captures your subject’s life experience.

What is a Biography?

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life, typically including their experiences, relationships, and accomplishments. It is written by a biographer, usually in the form of a book or essay. Biographies provide readers with a glimpse into the life of an individual, from their childhood experiences to their successes and failures. They offer insight into the motivations and passions of the subject, and can even provide a glimpse into the future of the individual. Biographies are often used to inspire readers, as well as to provide a comprehensive understanding of a person’s life. Whether one is reading a biography of a famous celebrity, a great leader, or a relative, biographies offer an opportunity to gain insight into the human experience.

Benefits of Writing a Biography

Writing a biography is an excellent way to share someone’s life story with the world. It can help to capture the essence of someone’s life and showcase their achievements, struggles, and impact on society. In addition to creating a lasting legacy, there are a number of other benefits of writing a biography.

Biographies can provide an opportunity to learn from the past. They can help introduce readers to people they may not have otherwise known about, and share the lessons learned from their experiences. Biographies can also help to inform and shape future generations by allowing readers to gain insight into how others have solved problems or navigated difficult times.

Moreover, biographies can help foster empathy and understanding. By reading about someone’s life, readers can gain perspective on their own experiences and gain insight into the perspectives and feelings of others.

Finally, biographies can be an excellent source of inspiration. Reading about someone’s accomplishments can be motivating and can help provide readers with the courage to pursue their own ambitions.

Writing a biography can be a great way to honor someone’s life and to spark meaningful conversations. By considering the benefits outlined above, authors can create compelling biographies that will have a lasting impact.

Identifying Your Audience

Having a clear understanding of your target audience is essential when crafting a biography. Knowing who you are trying to reach with your story can help you to determine the tone and language of your piece. Consider the age, gender, and interests of the readers that you want to reach and tailor your writing to them. Additionally, you may want to consider the geographical locations of your readers and vary the way you refer to certain places to better capture their attention. Keeping in mind the type of readers you are aiming to engage with can help you to create a more effective and engaging biography.

Types of Biographies

Biographies come in many different types, each with its own unique purpose. Whether you are looking to write a short personal profile or a full-length academic biography, there are some common elements and sentence starters that can help you get started. Knowing the different types of biographies will help you structure your story and make the writing process easier.

Autobiographies tell the life story of the person who wrote it. They provide a first-person account of the writer’s life, from childhood to adulthood. Autobiographies often include anecdotes, personal reflections, and insights into the person’s life. To start, consider using a sentence like, “My life has been shaped by my experiences and the people I have encountered.”

Biographies focus on the life of a particular person. They can be written about famous people such as politicians, artists, or scientists, or about everyday people in your community. To capture the person’s essence, consider using a sentence like, “John Smith was a man of many talents and passions.”

Collective biographies are written about a group of people, such as a family or a business. They provide an overview of the group’s history and accomplishments, as well as individual stories and profiles. To introduce the group of people, try a sentence like, “The Johnson family has been an integral part of the local community for generations.”

Finally, hagiographies, or saints’ lives, are biographies written about holy figures. These provide an in-depth look into the person’s life and the impact they had on the world. To begin, try a sentence like, “Saint Mary was a woman of immense faith and determination.”

No matter which type of biography you are writing, understanding the various types and sentence starters can help you craft a compelling story. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to create a captivating biography that you can be proud of.

Tips for Writing a Biography

Writing a biography can be a daunting task, but with a few simple tips, you can get started on your masterpiece. Before you begin, consider collecting meaningful quotes, stories, and anecdotes from the person you’re writing about. This will help you craft a more detailed and accurate portrait of the subject. Additionally, you should outline the main points of the biography and divide the work into sections. This will make the process of writing much easier.

When writing the biography, make sure to use active verbs and detailed descriptions. Additionally, you should consider the audience of the biography and use language they will understand. Additionally, be sure to incorporate relevant facts about the subject’s life, such as their education, profession, and accomplishments.

Finally, remember to proofread your work. With a few simple steps, you can craft an accurate, engaging, and informative biography. Start by gathering quotes, stories, and anecdotes, then outline the main points of the biography and divide the work into sections. Make sure to use active verbs and detailed descriptions, and consider the audience of the biography. Incorporate relevant facts about the subject’s life, and proofread your work. By following these tips, you’ll be able to write a compelling biography that captures the life of the subject.

Examples of Biography Sentence Starters

Biography sentence starters are a great way to get started on writing a biography. Whether you are writing a biography for a school project or for a professional purpose, these sentence starters can provide you with a good foundation to develop the story of someone’s life. From childhood to adulthood, these sentence starters can help you capture the story of any individual.

When it comes to writing a biography, it is important to make sure that the sentences you use are creative and informative. Using sentence starters can help you craft a compelling story of someone’s life, from their early days to their later achievements. Below are some examples of sentence starters that can help you get started on writing a biography about someone.

For childhood: “From a young age, [Name] was always interested in…”

For education: “[Name] went on to attend [Name of School] to further their studies in…”

For accomplishments: “Throughout their life, [Name] achieved many successes, including…”

For later years: “In their later years, [Name] was admired for their…”

By using these biography sentence starters, you can craft a compelling story of someone’s life. They can serve as the foundation for the narrative, helping to provide structure and focus to your writing. Once you have outlined the facts, you can then add further details to develop the story. Remember that the goal of writing a biography is to capture the personality of the individual, so be sure to include details that will bring the story to life.

FAQs About the Biography Sentence Starters

Q1: How can I use biography sentence starters to write my biography? A1: Biography sentence starters can be a great help when writing a biography. They provide ideas and starting points for writing your story, whether it is about yourself or someone else.

Q2: What kind of information should I include in my biography? A2: The information you include in your biography should depend on the type of biography you are writing. Generally, biographies include information about the person’s life, accomplishments, and legacy.

Q3: What are some examples of biography sentence starters? A3: Examples of biography sentence starters include: “Born on [date], [person] was a [adjective] [profession].”, “[Person] was known for [accomplishment].”, “[Person] made a lasting contribution to [field/cause].”, “[Person] left a legacy of [legacy].”, etc.

Biography sentence starters are a great tool for those who are new to writing biographies. They provide an easy way to get started, and to help focus the writing process. They can also be used to help create structure and provide guidance for the overall writing. By using these sentence starters, writers can begin crafting an engaging and informative biography that will capture the essence of the subject.

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What Is a Biography? Definition & 25+ Examples

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of history’s most influential figures?

Imagine a chance to delve into the intricate tapestry of their lives, unraveling the threads that have woven together the very essence of their character, and unearthing the pivotal moments that shaped their destinies.

Welcome to the enthralling world of biographies, where you are invited to embark on a captivating journey into the lives of the extraordinary. Prepare to be captivated by the compelling tales of human resilience, ingenuity, and ambition that lie at the heart of each biography.

Table of Contents

Defining Biography

A biography is a detailed account of a person’s life, written by someone other than the subject. The term “biography” is derived from two Greek words: “bio,” which means life, and “graphy,” which signifies writing. Thus, a biography is the written history of someone’s life, offering an in-depth look at their experiences, achievements, and challenges.

Biographies typically focus on the life of notable individuals, such as historical figures or celebrities, and provide a comprehensive view of their personal and professional journey.

Biographers, the authors of these works, aim to offer an accurate, well-researched portrayal of their subjects by studying various sources and conducting interviews if possible. This thorough research and attention to detail ensure that the resulting narrative is both informative and engaging.

Biographies are a subgenre of non-fiction literature, as they chronicle the lives of real people. However, not all life stories fall under the category of biography.

Autobiographies and memoirs, for instance, focus on the author’s own experiences and are written from a first-person perspective. While autobiographies aim to present an overarching narrative of the author’s life, memoirs tend to focus on specific incidents or periods.

When crafting a biography, it is essential for the biographer to maintain a neutral tone, avoiding any judgment or personal bias. This objectivity allows readers to form their opinions based on the presented facts, gaining a broader understanding of the subject.

Elements of a Biography

A well-crafted biography contains several key elements that provide a comprehensive picture of the subject’s life. These elements help readers gain a deeper understanding of the subject while fostering an emotional connection. Below are some essential aspects of a biography:

Personal and Family Background

The personal and family background section of a biography provides an essential foundation for understanding the subject’s journey and the factors that shaped their life. By exploring the subject’s early years, readers gain insight into the environment and experiences that influenced their character, values, and aspirations.

This section typically begins with an overview of the subject’s birthplace, family origins, and cultural heritage. It delves into the family dynamics, including descriptions of the subject’s parents, siblings, and extended family, shedding light on the relationships that played a crucial role in their development.

The personal and family background section also addresses significant life events, challenges, and milestones that occurred during the subject’s upbringing. These formative experiences may include pivotal moments, such as moving to a new city, attending a particular school, or encountering a mentor who had a lasting impact on their life.

Education and Career

The education and career section of a biography is crucial for understanding the intellectual and professional development of the subject. By tracing the subject’s academic journey and career progression, readers gain a clearer picture of the knowledge, skills, and experiences that shaped their path and contributed to their success.

This section begins by outlining the subject’s educational background, including the schools they attended, the degrees or qualifications they obtained, and any specialized training they received. It also highlights the subject’s academic achievements, such as scholarships, awards, or distinctions, and any influential mentors or teachers who played a significant role in their intellectual growth.

The education and career section also delves into the subject’s professional life, chronicling their work history, job titles, and key responsibilities. It explores the subject’s career trajectory, examining how they transitioned between roles or industries and the factors that influenced their choices.

Major Events and Turning Points

The major events and turning points section of a biography delves into the pivotal moments and experiences that significantly influenced the subject’s life, shaping their character, values, and destiny.

By exploring these transformative events, readers gain a deeper understanding of the forces and circumstances that drove the subject’s actions and choices, as well as the challenges and triumphs they faced along the way.

This section encompasses a wide range of events, which could include personal milestones, such as marriage, the birth of children, or the loss of a loved one.

These personal events often provide insights into the subject’s emotional landscape and reveal the support systems, relationships, and personal values that sustained them through difficult times or propelled them to greater heights.

Influences and Inspirations

The influences and inspirations section of a biography delves into the individuals, ideas, and events that had a profound impact on the subject’s beliefs, values, and aspirations.

By understanding the forces that shaped the subject’s worldview, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the motivations driving their actions and decisions, as well as the creative and intellectual foundations upon which their accomplishments were built.

This section often begins by identifying the key figures who played a significant role in the subject’s life, such as family members, mentors, peers, or historical figures they admired.

It explores the nature of these relationships and how they shaped the subject’s perspectives, values, and ambitions. These influential individuals can provide valuable insights into the subject’s personal growth and development, revealing the sources of inspiration and guidance that fueled their journey.

The influences and inspirations section also delves into the ideas and philosophies that resonated with the subject and shaped their worldview. This could include an exploration of the subject’s religious, political, or philosophical beliefs, as well as the books, theories, or artistic movements that inspired them.

This section examines the events, both personal and historical, that impacted the subject’s life and inspired their actions. These could include moments of personal transformation, such as a life-altering experience or an epiphany, or broader societal events, such as wars, social movements, or technological innovations.

Contributions and Impact

The contributions and impact section of a biography is pivotal in conveying the subject’s lasting significance, both in their chosen profession and beyond. By detailing their achievements, innovations, and legacies, this section helps readers grasp the extent of the subject’s influence and the ways in which their work has shaped the world around them.

This section begins by highlighting the subject’s key accomplishments within their profession, such as breakthroughs, discoveries, or innovative techniques they developed. It delves into the processes and challenges they faced along the way, providing valuable insights into their creativity, determination, and problem-solving abilities.

The contributions and impact section also explores the subject’s broader influence on society, culture, or the world at large. This could include their involvement in social or political movements, their philanthropic endeavors, or their role as a cultural icon.

In addition to discussing the subject’s immediate impact, this section also considers their lasting legacy, exploring how their work has continued to inspire and shape subsequent generations.

This could involve examining the subject’s influence on their successors, the institutions or organizations they helped establish, or the enduring relevance of their ideas and achievements in contemporary society.

Personal Traits and Characteristics

The personal traits and characteristics section of a biography brings the subject to life, offering readers an intimate glimpse into their personality, qualities, and views.

This section often begins by outlining the subject’s defining personality traits, such as their temperament, values, and passions. By exploring these attributes, readers gain insight into the subject’s character and the motivations driving their actions and decisions.

These qualities could include their perseverance, curiosity, empathy, or sense of humor, which may help explain their achievements, relationships, and outlook on life.

The personal traits and characteristics section also delves into the subject’s views and beliefs, offering a window into their thoughts and opinions on various topics. This could include their perspectives on politics, religion, culture, or social issues, providing readers with a clearer understanding of the context in which they operated and the factors that shaped their worldview.

Anecdotes and personal stories play a crucial role in illustrating the subject’s personality and characteristics, as they offer concrete examples of their behavior, actions, or interactions with others.

Quotes and first-hand accounts from the subject or those who knew them well can also be invaluable in portraying their personal traits and characteristics. These accounts offer unique insights into the subject’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences, allowing readers to see the world through their eyes and better understand their character.

Types of Biographies

Biographies come in various forms and styles, each presenting unique perspectives on the lives of individuals. Some of the most common types of biographies are discussed in the following sub-sections.

Historical Fiction Biography

Historical fiction biographies artfully weave together factual information with imaginative elements, creating a vibrant tapestry of the past. By staying true to the core of a historical figure’s life and accomplishments, these works offer a unique window into their world while granting authors the creative freedom to delve deeper into their emotions, relationships, and personal struggles.

Such biographies strike a delicate balance, ensuring that the essence of the individual remains intact while allowing for fictional embellishments to bring their story to life. This captivating blend of fact and fiction serves to humanize these iconic figures, making their experiences more relatable and engaging for readers who embark on a journey through the pages of history.

Here are several examples of notable historical fiction biographies:

• “Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel (2009)
• “The Paris Wife” by Paula McLain (2011)
• “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Tracy Chevalier (1999)
• “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Philippa Gregory (2001)
• “Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan (2007)

Academic Biography

Academic biographies stand as meticulously researched and carefully crafted scholarly works, dedicated to presenting an accurate and comprehensive account of a subject’s life.

Authored by experts or researchers well-versed in their field, these biographies adhere to rigorous standards of accuracy, sourcing, and objectivity. They delve into the intricacies of a person’s life, achievements, and impact, scrutinizing every aspect with scholarly precision.

Intended for an educated audience, academic biographies serve as valuable resources for those seeking a deeper understanding of the subject’s contributions and influence. By placing the individual within the broader context of their time, these works illuminate the complex web of factors that shaped their lives and legacies.

While academic biographies may not always carry the same narrative flair as their fictional counterparts, their commitment to factual integrity and thorough analysis make them indispensable resources for scholars, students, and enthusiasts alike

Here are several examples of notable academic biographies:

• “Einstein: His Life and Universe” by Walter Isaacson (2007)
• “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson (2011)
• “John Adams” by David McCullough (2001)
• “Alexander the Great” by Robin Lane Fox (1973)
• “Marie Curie: A Life” by Susan Quinn (1995)

Authorized Biographies

Authorized biographies offer a unique perspective on the lives of their subjects, as they are written with the explicit consent and, often, active participation of the individual in question.

This collaboration between the biographer and the subject can lead to a more accurate, detailed, and intimate portrayal of the person’s life, as the author is granted access to a wealth of personal information, documents, and anecdotes that might otherwise be inaccessible.

When working on an authorized biography, the biographer is typically given permission to access personal documents, such as letters, diaries, and photographs, which can provide invaluable insights into the subject’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

This primary source material allows the biographer to construct a narrative that is grounded in fact and captures the essence of the individual’s life and personality.

Here are several examples of notable authorized biographies:

• “Mandela: The Authorized Biography” by Anthony Sampson (1999)
• “Marilyn Monroe: The Biography” by Donald Spoto (1993)
• “Joni Mitchell: In Her Own Words” by Malka Marom (2014)
• “The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life” by Alice Schroeder (2008)
• “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik (2015)

Fictionalized Academic Biography

Fictionalized academic biographies merge the best of both worlds, combining the rigorous research and scholarly integrity of academic biographies with the engaging storytelling of historical fiction.

Authors of these works expertly navigate the delicate balance between maintaining factual accuracy and venturing into the realm of imagination.

This approach allows them to explore the subject’s personal life, relationships, and the broader historical context in a compelling manner, while ensuring the narrative remains firmly rooted in well-researched facts.

Here are several examples of notable fictionalized academic biographies:

• “The Women” by T.C. Boyle (2009)
• “Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald” by Therese Anne Fowler (2013)
• “The Marriage of Opposites” by Alice Hoffman (2015)
• “Vanessa and Her Sister” by Priya Parmar (2014)
• “The Last Days of Night” by Graham Moore (2016)

Prophetic Biography

Prophetic biographies delve into the rich and profound narratives of religious figures or prophets, meticulously weaving together insights from sacred texts, religious traditions, and historical accounts.

By providing a comprehensive portrayal of the individual’s life, teachings, and impact on society, these biographies serve as an invaluable resource for understanding the pivotal role these figures played in shaping the course of religious history and the lives of the faithful.

Here are several examples of notable prophetic biographies:

• “Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources” by Martin Lings (1983)
• “The Life of Moses” by F.B. Meyer (1893)
• “The Life of the Buddha: According to the Pali Canon” by Bhikkhu Ñāṇamoli (1972)
• “The Quest of the Historical Jesus” by Albert Schweitzer (1906)
• “The Lives of the Saints” by Alban Butler (1756)

Biography Development Process

A biography is a comprehensive written account of an individual’s life, and the development process involves several essential components to ensure the biography’s accuracy and readability.

A biographer’s primary responsibility is to conduct extensive research in order to gather a comprehensive array of facts about the subject. This meticulous process involves reviewing various documents and sources that shed light on the individual’s life and experiences, as well as the historical context in which they lived.

Key documents, such as birth and death certificates, provide essential information about the subject’s origins and family background. Personal correspondence, letters, and diaries offer invaluable insights into the subject’s thoughts, emotions, relationships, and experiences. News articles, on the other hand, can reveal public perceptions of the subject, as well as their impact on society and culture.

Archives often serve as treasure troves of information for biographers, as they contain a wealth of primary sources that can help illuminate the subject’s life and times. These archives may include collections of personal papers, photographs, audio recordings, and other materials that offer first-hand accounts of the individual’s experiences or shed light on their accomplishments and impact.

Consulting relevant books and articles is another crucial aspect of a biographer’s research process, as these secondary sources provide context, analysis, and interpretation of the subject’s life and work.

By delving into the existing scholarship and engaging with the works of other researchers, biographers can solidify their understanding of the individual and the historical circumstances in which they lived.

Interviewing people who knew the subject personally is a vital component of a biographer’s research process, as it allows them to access unique insights, personal stories, and firsthand accounts of the individual’s life.

Friends, family members, co-workers, and colleagues can all offer valuable perspectives on the subject’s character, relationships, achievements, and challenges, thereby enriching the biographer’s understanding of their life and experiences.

While subjective anecdotes offer a more intimate glimpse into the subject’s personality and personal life, it is essential for biographers to balance these accounts with factual research.

By corroborating and contextualizing personal stories with objective information gleaned from primary and secondary sources, biographers can ensure that their portrayal of the individual’s life remains accurate and well-rounded.

This process of balancing subjective anecdotes with factual research also allows biographers to present a more nuanced and comprehensive view of their subject. By weaving together personal stories with historical context, biographers can create a richer and more engaging narrative that captures the complexity and multifaceted nature of the individual’s life.

In addition, by considering various perspectives and sources of information, biographers can address potential biases or discrepancies in their account, resulting in a more reliable and credible portrayal of the subject.

This careful attention to detail and commitment to accuracy not only enhances the quality of the biography but also helps establish trust between the biographer and their readers.

Chronological Narration

Organizing a biography in a chronological manner is a highly effective approach, as it allows readers to follow the subject’s life events in a logical and coherent sequence.

By presenting the information in a linear fashion, the biographer enables readers to trace the subject’s journey from their early years to their later accomplishments, making it easier to understand the context and progression of their life.

To effectively arrange a chronological narrative, the biographer should begin by highlighting significant milestones and accomplishments in the subject’s life. These key events serve as anchor points in the story, helping to structure the narrative and maintain the reader’s interest.

By focusing on these pivotal moments, the biographer can illustrate the subject’s growth, development, and achievements over time, providing a clear and engaging overview of their life’s trajectory.

Contextualization

Contextualizing the subject within their historical and cultural framework is a crucial aspect of biographical writing, as it enables readers to gain a deeper understanding of the individual’s life, choices, and significance.

Embedding the subject within their historical context involves examining the political, social, and economic landscape of the time. This includes exploring major events, trends, and issues that affected the subject’s life and decisions, such as wars, social movements, technological advancements, or cultural shifts.

Additionally, considering the subject’s cultural context is essential for understanding their beliefs, values, and creative expression. This involves examining the artistic, intellectual, and philosophical currents of the time, which may have influenced the subject’s work, ideas, or relationships.

Moreover, contextualizing the subject within their historical and cultural framework can help to humanize them, revealing the complexities, contradictions, and struggles that are often inherent in the human experience.

This approach offers readers a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the subject, allowing them to see the person as a product of their time and circumstances, rather than as an isolated figure.

Famous Biographies and Biographers

The life of samuel johnson, ll.d. by james boswell (1791).

“The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.” is a biography of the English writer and literary critic Samuel Johnson, written by his friend and contemporary James Boswell. Published in 1791, it is often considered one of the greatest biographies in the English language and a pioneering work in the development of modern biography as a literary genre.

Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a prominent figure in 18th-century English literature, known for his wide-ranging knowledge, wit, and moral authority. He is best remembered for his dictionary, “A Dictionary of the English Language,” published in 1755, which became the standard English dictionary for over a century. He was also a prolific essayist, poet, and critic.

James Boswell (1740-1795) was a Scottish lawyer, diarist, and author who became friends with Johnson in 1763. Over the course of their friendship, Boswell made detailed notes of their conversations and observations, which he later used as the basis for his biography.

“The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.” is a comprehensive and vivid portrait of Johnson’s life, character, and work. Boswell covers Johnson’s early years, education, and struggles with poverty and illness, as well as his rise to prominence as a writer and his involvement in the vibrant literary circles of 18th-century London.

The biography also delves into Johnson’s friendships and relationships, including his long association with Hester Thrale, a prominent society hostess, and writer.

What sets Boswell’s biography apart is his skill in capturing Johnson’s personality, wit, and conversation. By presenting Johnson’s thoughts and opinions on a wide range of topics, as well as anecdotes and reminiscences from those who knew him, Boswell creates a vivid and engaging portrait of his subject.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010)

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is a non-fiction book written by Rebecca Skloot, published in 2010. The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or consent during a biopsy in 1951. These cells, known as HeLa cells, became the first immortal human cell line, reproducing indefinitely under laboratory conditions.

HeLa cells have been used extensively in medical research, contributing to significant scientific breakthroughs, such as the development of the polio vaccine, gene mapping, and cancer research.

Henrietta Lacks was a young mother of five when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer at the age of 31. She received treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where a sample of her cancerous tissue was taken without her knowledge. Henrietta passed away in 1951, but her cells continued to live on, revolutionizing medical research.

Rebecca Skloot spent more than a decade researching Henrietta Lacks’ life and the scientific history of HeLa cells. Skloot also interviewed Lacks’ surviving family members, who were unaware of Henrietta’s contribution to science until the 1970s.

The book explores the ethical issues surrounding the use of human tissue in research, the question of consent, and the lack of compensation for the Lacks family.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (2004)

“Alexander Hamilton” is a comprehensive biography of the American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, written by historian and biographer Ron Chernow. Published in 2004, the book provides an in-depth look into Hamilton’s life, from his humble beginnings in the West Indies to his significant contributions as a statesman, economist, and influential figure in early American history.

Chernow’s biography delves into Hamilton’s early life as an orphan in the Caribbean, his immigration to the American colonies, and his education. It also explores his involvement in the American Revolutionary War, where he served as an aide to General George Washington and later as an artillery officer.

The book details Hamilton’s role in the development of the United States Constitution and his work as the first Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington, where he was instrumental in establishing the nation’s financial system.

“Alexander Hamilton” also examines Hamilton’s personal life, including his relationships, marriage, and infamous extramarital affair, as well as his longstanding political rivalries with figures such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Aaron Burr. The biography concludes with the story of Hamilton’s tragic death in a duel with Burr in 1804.

It received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the George Washington Book Prize. The biography also inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to create the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton,” which premiered in 2015 and went on to achieve widespread popularity and numerous accolades, further solidifying Alexander Hamilton’s place in popular culture and history.

Notable Biographies in Different Fields

Science and technology.

Biographies in the field of science and technology offer fascinating insights into the lives and minds of extraordinary individuals who have made significant advancements in their respective fields.

These biographies often provide an in-depth look at the personal and professional lives of scientists, inventors, engineers, and other innovators, highlighting their discoveries, inventions, and contributions to human knowledge and progress.

Arts and Literature

Biographies of artists, actors, and writers often provide captivating and inspiring accounts of the lives of these creative individuals. By examining their personal and professional journeys, these biographies allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of the inspirations, motivations, and challenges that have shaped their subjects’ artistic achievements.

These biographies often delve into the early lives of their subjects, exploring formative experiences that may have influenced their creative paths. They also examine the artistic processes and the development of the subjects’ distinctive styles, providing valuable insights into their creative methodologies, influences, and inspirations.

Sports and Athletics

Biographies of athletes provide riveting accounts of the lives and careers of remarkable individuals who have achieved greatness in the world of sports. These stories often serve as powerful sources of inspiration, showcasing the dedication, perseverance, and triumphs of athletes who have overcome obstacles and pushed the boundaries of human potential.

These biographies delve into the formative experiences of their subjects, exploring how early influences, innate talent, and personal motivations led them to pursue athletic excellence. They also provide insights into the rigorous training regimens, discipline, and sacrifices that athletes make to achieve their goals, highlighting the incredible determination and work ethic that underpin their success.

Additionally, biographies of athletes often touch on the personal challenges and setbacks these individuals have faced, such as injuries, controversies, or personal struggles.

Historical Figures

Biographies of historical figures offer a unique window into the lives, personalities, and experiences of individuals who have left lasting impacts on the world. By delving into the stories of these influential people, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the political, social, and cultural contexts that shaped their actions and decisions, as well as the lasting legacies they left behind.

These biographies often provide richly detailed accounts of their subjects’ lives, including their upbringing, education, relationships, and personal struggles. By exploring the complex facets of these individuals, biographies help to humanize historical figures, providing a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of their motivations, beliefs, and actions.

In addition to personal narratives, biographies of historical figures often weave together broader historical contexts and events. This allows readers to gain valuable insights into the social, political, and cultural forces that influenced their subjects’ lives and decisions.

Writing a Compelling Biography

A captivating biography requires more than just a simple retelling of a person’s life events. It delves into their personal experiences, relationships, and accomplishments, while maintaining an objective and authentic approach.

Being Objective and Authentic

An essential aspect of a well-written biography is its objectivity. The narrative should portray the real person, depicting their experiences and beliefs accurately.

While it can be tempting to embellish facts or minimize flaws, striving for authenticity is crucial in presenting a credible account. This involves thorough research and verification of facts, even when they contradict the author’s initial assumptions.

Authenticity also extends to the respectful portrayal of a subject’s relationships and exploration of their inner world, while avoiding speculation or gossip.

Balancing Personal and Public Life

When writing a biography, one must strike a balance between the subject’s personal and public life. This includes weaving together stories from their childhood, personal relationships, and major life events that may have shaped their character. The integration of both personal and public aspects contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of their vita.

However, careful consideration must be given to privacy concerns, and it is important to determine which aspects of the individual’s life are appropriate to disclose. Ultimately, the reader should gain insight into the person’s journey without feeling intrusive.

Creating Engaging Storylines

Just as in a novel, a great biography should feature engaging storylines that keep readers interested. This can be achieved by organizing the narrative around important events, challenges, and accomplishments that are relevant and compelling. To maintain a smooth flow, strategically transitioning between these key moments helps maintain reader interest.

The use of different perspectives, anecdotes, and historical context can also enhance the storyline. Paint vivid pictures of the settings, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the subject’s world. Furthermore, showcasing the subject’s resilience, growth, and impact, can contribute to a powerful and memorable biography.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can biographies be fictional or purely factual.

Biographies usually aim to present an accurate and factual representation of someone’s life. However, some authors might take creative liberties and incorporate fictionalized elements for dramatic or storytelling purposes.

It is crucial for readers to be aware of the author’s intentions and approach when reading such biographical works.

Can biographies be biased?

Biographies, like any form of writing, can be subject to biases depending on the author’s perspective, beliefs, or intentions.

It is essential for readers to critically evaluate biographies by considering factors such as the author’s credentials, potential biases, and the sources used in the research process.

By comparing multiple biographies on the same subject or cross-referencing with other sources, readers can develop a more comprehensive and balanced understanding of the individual’s life and achievements.

Are biographies always based on famous or historical figures?

While biographies often focus on famous or historical figures, they can also be written about lesser-known individuals with compelling stories or unique experiences.

These “everyday” biographies can provide valuable insights into the lives of ordinary people and the challenges they face, offering a broader understanding of the human experience and fostering empathy and connection among readers.

Are there any ethical considerations when writing a biography?

Yes, ethical considerations play a significant role in writing biographies.

Biographers must respect the privacy and dignity of their subjects, particularly when dealing with sensitive or personal information. They should also strive for accuracy and fairness, avoiding sensationalism or misrepresentation of facts.

Additionally, biographers should acknowledge and address any potential biases or conflicts of interest that may affect their portrayal of the subject.

Biographies offer us unparalleled access to the lives and legacies of remarkable individuals, spanning diverse genres and approaches.

From historical fiction to academic rigor, prophetic accounts to fictionalized narratives, biographies captivate our imagination and enrich our understanding of the human experience. These literary gems remind us that behind every great achievement lies a story of struggle, triumph, and unwavering determination.

So, let us continue to explore these remarkable journeys, as we delve deeper into the pages of history and the hearts of those who have shaped our world.

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How To Use “Biographies” In A Sentence: Breaking Down Usage

Biographies are powerful tools that allow us to delve into the lives of remarkable individuals and gain valuable insights from their experiences. They provide a window into history, culture, and the human condition, offering a treasure trove of knowledge waiting to be explored. But how can we effectively incorporate biographies into our writing? In this article, we will explore the art of using biographies in a sentence and discover the myriad ways they can enrich our language.

When it comes to using biographies in a sentence, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind. It is essential to select biographies that are relevant to the topic at hand. By choosing biographies that align with the subject matter, we can ensure that our sentences are both informative and engaging. Additionally, it is crucial to use biographies as supporting evidence or examples rather than relying solely on them to convey information. By integrating biographical details strategically, we can enhance the credibility and persuasiveness of our writing.

Now that we understand the importance of using biographies effectively, let’s delve into the various ways in which we can incorporate them into our sentences. From providing historical context to offering personal anecdotes, biographies offer a wealth of opportunities to add depth and richness to our writing. So, let’s explore these techniques in detail and uncover the true power of biographies in sentence construction.

Definition Of Biographies

A biography is a written account or narrative of a person’s life, highlighting important events, achievements, and experiences. It provides a comprehensive portrayal of an individual’s journey, encompassing their personal background, professional endeavors, and significant contributions to society. Biographies serve as a means to preserve and share the stories of notable individuals, allowing readers to gain insights into their lives, motivations, and impact.

Biographies can take various forms, including books, articles, essays, or even digital media presentations. They are typically written by authors who have extensively researched their subject, drawing information from interviews, personal diaries, letters, and other primary and secondary sources. Through the art of storytelling, biographies offer readers a glimpse into the lives of remarkable individuals, inspiring and informing them in the process.

Historical Evolution

The practice of documenting the lives of noteworthy individuals dates back centuries, with early examples found in ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In these early biographical accounts, the focus was often on rulers, conquerors, and influential figures. However, the concept of biographies as we know them today has evolved significantly over time.

During the Renaissance period, biographies began to encompass a wider range of subjects, including artists, scientists, and philosophers. The emergence of the printing press in the 15th century further facilitated the dissemination of biographical works, making them more accessible to a broader audience.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, biographies gained prominence as a literary genre. Notable authors such as James Boswell, who wrote the celebrated biography of Samuel Johnson, and Thomas Carlyle, known for his work on the life of Frederick the Great, contributed to the development of biographical writing as a distinct discipline.

Different Meanings In Different Contexts

While the fundamental definition of a biography remains consistent across contexts, there are variations in how the term is used in different fields. In addition to the traditional literary form, the term “biography” is also employed in other domains, each with its own nuances:

• Historical Biography: In the field of history, biographies are crucial for understanding the lives of influential individuals and their impact on specific periods or events. Historians rely on biographical research to gain insights into the motivations, actions, and ideologies of key figures, helping to shape our understanding of the past.
• Psychological Biography: Psychologists and researchers may use biographical information to study the development of personality traits, behaviors, and psychological patterns. By examining the life stories of individuals, psychologists can explore the interplay between nature and nurture, shedding light on the factors that shape human behavior.
• Corporate Biography: In the business world, biographies are often used to chronicle the lives of influential entrepreneurs, CEOs, or industry leaders. Corporate biographies provide insights into the strategies, challenges, and successes of these individuals, offering valuable lessons and inspiration for aspiring business professionals.

These are just a few examples of how the concept of biographies extends beyond its traditional literary form, adapting to different disciplines and purposes. Regardless of the context, biographies continue to serve as a powerful medium for capturing the essence of individuals and their impact on the world.

How To Properly Use Biographies In A Sentence

When it comes to incorporating biographies into our sentences, it is essential to adhere to certain grammatical rules. By understanding these rules, we can effectively convey information about individuals and their life stories. Let’s delve into the guidelines for using biographies in a sentence:

Grammatical Rules Surrounding Biographies

In order to use biographies in a sentence correctly, it is crucial to consider the following grammatical rules:

• Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure that the subject and verb in your sentence agree in number. For example, if you are referring to a singular biography, the verb should be in the singular form. Conversely, if you are discussing multiple biographies, the verb should be plural.
• Pronoun Consistency: If you introduce a biography using a pronoun, make sure to maintain consistency throughout the sentence. Avoid switching between different pronouns, as it can cause confusion for the reader.
• Proper Punctuation: Use appropriate punctuation marks, such as commas and quotation marks, when incorporating biographies into your sentence. These punctuation marks help to distinguish the biography from the rest of the sentence and ensure clarity.
• Parallel Structure: When listing multiple biographies in a sentence, maintain parallel structure to create a smooth and balanced flow. This means using the same grammatical form for each biography mentioned.

Different Parts Of Speech For Biographies

While the term “biography” primarily functions as a noun, it can also be used as a verb or an adjective in certain contexts. Let’s explore the different parts of speech that “biography” can take:

By recognizing the different parts of speech that “biography” can assume, we can select the appropriate form to convey our intended meaning in a sentence.

Examples Of Using Biographies In A Sentence

When it comes to incorporating the term “biographies” into a sentence, the possibilities are quite diverse. By utilizing a combination of simple and complex sentences, we can effectively showcase the versatility of this word. Furthermore, it is essential to consider the various contexts and nuances that may arise due to the multiple meanings associated with “biographies.” Let’s explore some illustrative examples below:

• Alexander is an avid reader of biographies, delving into the lives of influential historical figures.
• During the book club meeting, Sarah recommended several biographies that shed light on the lesser-known achievements of remarkable individuals.
• As a historian, Dr. Johnson dedicated her research to writing biographies of influential women in the Renaissance period.
• The library’s collection of biographies offers a comprehensive insight into the lives of famous artists, scientists, and political leaders.
• John’s passion for biographies stems from his desire to understand the motivations and struggles of extraordinary individuals.

These example sentences aptly demonstrate the usage of “biographies” in various contexts. Whether it is exploring the lives of historical figures, uncovering lesser-known achievements, or delving into the motivations of remarkable individuals, biographies serve as a valuable source of inspiration and knowledge.

Edge Cases Or Things To Consider

When it comes to using biographies in a sentence, there are a few edge cases and considerations that one must keep in mind. By being aware of common mistakes people make and understanding the potential cultural or regional differences, you can effectively utilize biographies in your writing. Let’s delve into these aspects:

Common Mistakes People Make When Using Biographies

While biographies can add depth and credibility to your writing, it is important to use them correctly to avoid common mistakes that can undermine your message. Here are a few pitfalls to steer clear of:

• Using biographies as mere filler: One mistake people often make is using biographies as a way to fill space or meet a word count requirement. However, biographies should be purposeful and relevant to the topic at hand. They should provide valuable information or insights that contribute to the overall narrative.
• Overusing biographies: Another error is relying too heavily on biographies, resulting in an imbalance between the author’s voice and the voices of those being quoted. While it is important to support your arguments with credible sources, it is equally crucial to maintain your own voice and analysis throughout the writing.
• Failure to verify sources: A critical mistake is not fact-checking or verifying the accuracy of the biographies used. It is essential to ensure that the information presented in the biographies is reliable and trustworthy. Cross-referencing multiple sources can help establish credibility and prevent the dissemination of false or misleading information.
• Using outdated or irrelevant biographies: Using biographies that are outdated or not directly related to the topic can weaken the impact of your writing. It is important to select biographies that are recent, relevant, and align with the subject matter. This ensures that the information provided remains current and supports your arguments effectively.
• Failure to attribute biographies: Neglecting to properly attribute the biographies used is a common oversight. It is crucial to provide proper citations or references to acknowledge the original sources. This not only gives credit to the authors but also allows readers to explore the biographies further if they desire.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure that the biographies you incorporate into your writing enhance its quality and credibility.

Cultural Or Regional Differences

While the use of biographies in a sentence may seem straightforward, it is important to consider potential cultural or regional differences that can influence their effectiveness. Here are a few aspects to keep in mind:

• Language nuances: Different cultures and regions may have unique language nuances that affect the interpretation and impact of biographies. Certain phrases or idioms may not translate well or may carry different connotations across cultures. It is crucial to be mindful of these nuances to ensure your message is accurately conveyed.
• Relevance and familiarity: Biographies that are widely known and respected in one culture or region may not hold the same level of significance in another. Consider the target audience and their familiarity with the biographies you plan to use. Adapting and selecting biographies that resonate with the specific cultural or regional context can enhance the overall effectiveness of your writing.
• Cultural sensitivities: It is essential to be sensitive to cultural norms and values when incorporating biographies. Certain topics or individuals may be revered or controversial in specific cultures or regions. Conducting thorough research and understanding the cultural sensitivities surrounding the biographies you use can prevent unintended misunderstandings or offense.
• Historical context: Historical events and figures can vary in significance and interpretation across different cultures and regions. When using biographies that pertain to historical contexts, it is important to provide sufficient background information and context to ensure the readers can fully comprehend and appreciate the relevance of the biographies within the given cultural or regional framework.

Considering these cultural or regional differences allows you to tailor your use of biographies appropriately, ensuring that your writing resonates

Synonyms Or Alternates To Use

When it comes to discussing biographies, there are several synonyms or alternate words that can be used to convey a similar meaning. Each of these alternatives carries its own nuances and contexts where it might be preferred over another. Let’s explore four such synonyms:

1. Life Stories

Life stories can be used as an alternate term for biographies. While it encompasses the same idea of narrating someone’s life, it tends to have a more personal and intimate connotation. The term “life stories” often emphasizes the individual’s experiences, emotions, and personal growth throughout their journey. It is commonly used in informal settings or when discussing biographies that delve deeply into the subject’s personal life.

Memoirs are another synonym for biographies, but they differ in their approach and perspective. Unlike biographies, which are typically written by someone else about another person’s life, memoirs are autobiographical accounts written by the subject themselves. Memoirs often focus on specific periods, events, or themes in the author’s life, offering a more subjective and personal reflection. This term is commonly used when referring to autobiographical works.

3. Life Histories

Life histories can be used interchangeably with biographies, but they often emphasize a more comprehensive and detailed account of an individual’s life. This term is commonly used in academic or scientific contexts, where a thorough examination of a person’s background, experiences, and impact is required. Life histories often involve extensive research and analysis, making them suitable for scholarly purposes.

4. Personal Narratives

Personal narratives can serve as an alternative to biographies when the focus is on capturing an individual’s unique perspective and personal experiences. This term highlights the subjective nature of the storytelling, emphasizing the individual’s voice and their own interpretation of events. Personal narratives are often used in creative writing or when the emphasis is on the emotional and introspective aspects of a person’s life.

While these synonyms can be used interchangeably with biographies, understanding their subtle differences in meaning and usage allows writers to choose the most appropriate term based on the desired tone, context, and purpose of their writing.

Related Phrases Or Idioms

When it comes to incorporating biographies into our everyday language, there are several intriguing phrases and idioms that have emerged over time. These expressions not only add color and depth to our conversations, but also provide a unique way to reference biographies. Let’s explore a few of these idiomatic gems:

1. “Read Someone Like A Book”

This well-known idiom suggests that someone’s true intentions or character can be easily understood or deciphered, just like reading a book. In the context of biographies, this phrase implies that one can gain deep insights into a person’s life story by studying their biography.

Example sentence: “After reading Einstein’s biography, I felt like I could read him like a book and understand the genius behind his theories.”

2. “Write One’s Own Story”

This phrase emphasizes the idea of taking control of one’s own life and shaping it according to personal desires and ambitions. It draws a parallel to the act of writing a biography, where the subject has the power to narrate their own life experiences.

Example sentence: “Despite facing numerous obstacles, she decided to write her own story and create a successful career on her own terms.”

3. “Chapter Of One’s Life”

This expression refers to a specific period or significant event in someone’s life, similar to a chapter in a book. By using this phrase, we can highlight the importance or impact of a particular phase in someone’s biography.

Example sentence: “Getting married and starting a family was a crucial chapter in her life, as documented in her biography.”

4. “Turn Over A New Leaf”

This idiom suggests making a fresh start or changing one’s behavior for the better. In the context of biographies, it alludes to a significant transformation or pivotal moment in a person’s life, as described in their life story.

Example sentence: “After overcoming his addiction, he turned over a new leaf and dedicated himself to helping others facing similar struggles, just like the inspiring individuals in his favorite biographies.”

5. “Leave A Lasting Legacy”

This phrase emphasizes the idea of creating a meaningful impact or contribution that will be remembered long after one’s lifetime. In the realm of biographies, it refers to the enduring influence or significance of a person’s life story.

Example sentence: “Through his remarkable achievements, he left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire generations, as detailed in his biography.”

These phrases and idioms serve as powerful linguistic tools to incorporate biographies into our conversations, enabling us to convey complex ideas and emotions with eloquence and nuance. By embracing these idiomatic expressions, we can enrich our language and deepen our understanding of the multifaceted nature of biographies.

Biographies are powerful tools in the English language that allow us to convey information about individuals in a concise and impactful manner. By understanding how to use biographies correctly, we can enhance our writing and communication skills.

Throughout history, biographies have played a significant role in documenting the lives of influential figures, providing insights into their achievements, struggles, and contributions to society. When used appropriately, biographies can add depth and credibility to our writing, enabling us to engage our readers and convey information effectively.

It is crucial to recognize that using biographies in a sentence requires attention to grammar, syntax, and context. By incorporating biographies into our writing, we can paint a vivid picture of an individual’s life, creating a more engaging and informative narrative.

Summing Up The Importance Of Using Biographies Correctly

In conclusion, mastering the art of using biographies in a sentence is essential for anyone seeking to improve their writing skills. Biographies provide a wealth of information about individuals, allowing us to showcase their achievements, character traits, and historical significance. By using biographies correctly, we can add depth, credibility, and interest to our writing, ultimately captivating our readers and conveying our ideas more effectively.

Encouraging Readers To Practice Using Biographies In Their Own Sentences

Now that we have explored the significance of using biographies, it is time to put our knowledge into practice. I encourage you, dear readers, to incorporate biographies into your own writing. Whether you are crafting an academic essay, a persuasive argument, or a captivating story, biographies can enrich your sentences and make your writing more compelling.

Remember to pay attention to the details – the correct use of grammar, punctuation, and syntax – to ensure that your biographies seamlessly integrate into your sentences. Practice makes perfect, so challenge yourself to experiment with different sentence structures and styles. By honing your skills in using biographies, you will elevate your writing to new heights and captivate your audience.

So, go forth and embrace the power of biographies in your writing. Let them breathe life into your sentences, infuse your words with meaning, and transport your readers into the realms of history, literature, and human experience. Happy writing!

Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.

Definition of Biography

Common examples of biographical subjects.

As a literary device, biography is important because it allows readers to learn about someone’s story and history. This can be enlightening, inspiring, and meaningful in creating connections. Here are some common examples of biographical subjects:

Famous Examples of Biographical Works

Difference between biography, autobiography, and memoir, examples of biography in literature, example 1:  savage beauty: the life of edna st. vincent millay  (nancy milford).

One of the first things Vincent explained to Norma was that there was a certain freedom of language in the Village that mustn’t shock her. It wasn’t vulgar. ‘So we sat darning socks on Waverly Place and practiced the use of profanity as we stitched. Needle in, . Needle out, piss. Needle in, . Needle out, c. Until we were easy with the words.’

This passage reflects the way in which Milford is able to characterize St. Vincent Millay as a person interacting with her sister. Even avid readers of a writer’s work are often unaware of the artist’s private and personal natures, separate from their literature and art. Milford reflects the balance required on the part of a literary biographer of telling the writer’s life story without undermining or interfering with the meaning and understanding of the literature produced by the writer. Though biographical information can provide some influence and context for a writer’s literary subjects, style, and choices , there is a distinction between the fictional world created by a writer and the writer’s “real” world. However, a literary biographer can illuminate the writer’s story so that the reader of both the biography and the biographical subject’s literature finds greater meaning and significance.

Example 2:  The Invisible Woman: The Story of Nelly Ternan and Charles Dickens  (Claire Tomalin)

The season of domestic goodwill and festivity must have posed a problem to all good Victorian family men with more than one family to take care of, particularly when there were two lots of children to receive the demonstrations of paternal love.

Example 3:  Virginia Woolf  (Hermione Lee)

‘A self that goes on changing is a self that goes on living’: so too with the biography of that self. And just as lives don’t stay still, so life-writing can’t be fixed and finalised. Our ideas are shifting about what can be said, our knowledge of human character is changing. The biographer has to pioneer, going ‘ahead of the rest of us, like the miner’s canary, testing the atmosphere , detecting falsity, unreality, and the presence of obsolete conventions’. So, ‘There are some stories which have to be retold by each generation’. She is talking about the story of Shelley, but she could be talking about her own life-story.

In this passage, Lee is able to demonstrate what her biographical subject, Virginia Woolf, felt about biography and a person telling their own or another person’s story. Literary biographies of well-known writers can be especially difficult to navigate in that both the author and biographical subject are writers, but completely separate and different people. As referenced in this passage by Lee, Woolf was aware of the subtleties and fluidity present in a person’s life which can be difficult to judiciously and effectively relay to a reader on the part of a biographer. In addition, Woolf offers insight into the fact that biographers must make choices in terms of what information is presented to the reader and the context in which it is offered, making them a “miner’s canary” as to how history will view and remember the biographical subject.

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How to write a strong one-line biography (with examples!)

As a blogger or content marketer, you’re spreading your content across the internet to build your name as a thought leader and to drive traffic back to your (or your client’s) website.

One of the best ways to do this is via a strong biography, where sites will often allow you to also link back to somewhere. But you need to get their interest to learn more, so you need a strong one-line biography as most sites will only allow a short biography.

Here’s how you write a strong one-line biography for your blog author page:

Write in 3rd person

Highlight your role/profession.

• Keep it short

Include a call to action

Biographies should be written in third person. Instead of “I am a serial entrepreneur…” you should write “John is a serial entrepreneur…”

Some publications may have different guidelines, in which case you should follow them, but as a general guideline always write your bio in 3rd person.

Your bio should tell readers who you are and what you do, so be sure to highlight your role or profession.

“John is a serial entrepreneur and digital marketing veteran who…”

This gives people more information about you, why you are qualified to be talking about the topic you are bylined on, and helps them decide if they want to click your link to learn more.

Don’t be afraid to brag a little bit! In our world of fake humility, finding someone who is willing to state what they’ve done can be refreshing and encourage them to click to learn more about you.

Don’t overdo it though. A quick interesting fact is usually more than enough to get them interested.

For example:

“John is a serial entrepreneur and digital marketing leader who via his company Credo has generated over a quarter billion dollars in leads for agencies since 2015.”

The lead value number is a brag, but it’s also true and lets people know that John knows what he’s doing.

Have some fun!

In today’s social media world, people want to connect with the person behind the account.

So don’t be afraid to use emojis or a bit of humor.

This advice does not carry over to a professional website like LinkedIn where people are more professional and you should present your best face to the world.

Keep it short, but readable

If you’re required to keep your biography to just one sentence, you have just 15 to 20 words on average to get your point across. You need to be succinct and make every word count.

As such, remove superlatives and flowery language that could make it harder to read. This is not the place to be cute or show off – it’s the place to communicate effectively.

Include a backlink/hyperlink

Most websites where you publish will allow you to link back to a site of your choice from your biography. Don’t be spammy and try to link back to multiple places – link to a place where people can find out more about you or your company easily.

Finally, include a call to action (CTA) if you have enough space and can work it in. At minimum, make sure you follow the above advice and include a hyperlink back to your main website where people can learn more about you or your business.

Some examples

Here are some examples of great bios.

Dan Martell (Instagram)

Dan Martell is a coach to software founders, an entrepreneur with 3 business exits, an award-winning angel investor, and a proud dad and husband.

How do we know this? Because he says so in his Instagram bio. Short and effective.

Kimberly Bryant

Kimberly Bryant is the founder of Black Girls Code , a company that “build[s] pathways for young women of color to embrace the current tech marketplace as builders and creators by introducing them to skills in computer programming and technology.” Here is her Twitter biography, which clearly states what she does and gives insight into who she is.

Chris Ducker

Chris Ducker is a UK-based entrepreneur who “helps midlife leaders and entrepreneurs build future proof businesses around their expertise” with his Youpreneur coaching program.

Pat Flynn is a serial entrepreneur, dad, and husband who also has a physical product and a Pokemon card side hustle with over 100,000 YouTube subscribers. Here’s his Instagram profile:

Rand Fishkin

Rand is also a serial entrepreneur and currently the CEO of Sparktoro, an audience insight software tool. He’s formerly the cofounder and CEO of Moz, an SEO software suite. His LinkedIn bio says succinctly what he does, and also adds a bit of personality to let you know what he believes.

John Doherty

John is the founder and CEO of Credo and EditorNinja. (Hi, I’m John writing this!). His bio tells you what he cares about (his family and Colorado), what he does and the various projects he works on as well as his accomplishments.

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How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!)

Compelling biographies help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding. Discover the steps to write one that captivates your audience!

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Have you ever been captivated by someone’s life story? From the ancient tales of great conquerors to the modern accounts of influential figures, biographies have enchanted readers and viewers for centuries. 

The stories of real people’s lives not only entertain and educate but also provide a unique window into the human experience. In fact, according to research 1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8796048/ , human stories like biographies can help us better connect with others while fostering empathy and understanding.

In this article, let’s dive into how to write a compelling biography, from the research phase to delivery.

What Are the Key Elements of a Biography?

The key elements of a well-written biography bring characters to life. They include thorough research, relevant interviews, clear structure, captivating prose, compelling themes, and a balance between objectivity and empathy. 

• Thorough research: Helps create an accurate portrayal of your subject
• Relevant interviews: Insights help provide a deeper understanding of your subject
• Clear structure: Helps you outline your ideas for a compelling narrative
• Captivating prose: Provides descriptive language to paint a picture of your subject
• Compelling themes: Showcases the motivations and desires behind your subject
• A balance between objectivity and empathy: Keeps biases in check and allows your subject to shine for who they are

As you develop your biography, remember that these stories hold an enduring appeal because they offer people an opportunity to explore the depths of the human psyche, unravel extraordinary accomplishments, and discover the vulnerabilities and triumphs of individuals who have left their mark on the world. 

Here are the topics a biography typically covers:

• Early life and background : Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences.
• Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life.
• Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity.
• Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions.
• Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Ready to start crafting your biography? Find greater success with this helpful goal-setting resource!

How To Set Better Goals Using Science

Do you set the same goals over and over again? If you’re not achieving your goals – it’s not your fault! Let me show you the science-based goal-setting framework to help you achieve your biggest goals.

Let’s look at the six key elements of a well-written biography more closely and the steps you can follow to develop your own.

How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps Using Key Elements

Choose your presentation format.

Presenting your biography can take on various forms, the most traditional being written form. The basis for this article assumes you’re writing a conventional biography; however, this foundation can also help you create a multimedia presentation or website as well. 

Consider these various formats to present your biography:

• Traditional Written Biographies: This classic approach provides a comprehensive account of a person’s life through the written word. Traditional biographies can be published in print or ebooks , allowing readers to engage deeply with the subject’s story.
• Multimedia Presentations: In the digital age, multimedia presentations offer a dynamic way to present biographies. Incorporate audio, video, photographs, and interactive elements to enhance the audience’s experience.
• Online Platforms: Online platforms, such as blogs or dedicated biography websites, provide accessible avenues for sharing biographies. They allow for easy updates, reader engagement, and the incorporation of multimedia elements. 

Choose your subject and conduct research

To create a vivid and accurate portrayal of a person’s life, conduct extensive research. Dive into archives, read letters, examine diaries, explore photographs, and immerse yourself in the historical and cultural context surrounding your subject. This will help you unearth the small details that breathe life into your biography. 

Whether you’re writing a biography about a historical figure, contemporary icon, or everyday individual, you’ll want to consider the different factors to focus on. Here are some examples of three types of individuals and the kind of research that will be most helpful.

• Historical Figures: When writing about historical figures, immerse yourself in their era. Understand the social, political, and cultural forces that shaped their lives. I recommend visiting your local library and connecting with a research librarian for support. Otherwise, other tools for historical research include Google Scholar. Analyze primary sources and multiple perspectives to present a well-rounded account.
• Contemporary Icons: Biographies of modern icons offer a chance to delve into their ongoing impact. Conduct interviews or gather insights from their close associates to understand their present-day influence. Stay current with the latest developments, and be prepared to update your work as the subject’s story unfolds.
• Everyday Individuals: Biographies need not be reserved for the famous. Every day individuals possess stories that can be just as compelling. Uncover the extraordinary within the ordinary, highlighting the struggles, triumphs, and personal growth of individuals who might otherwise remain unsung.
• Yourself! Want to write a biography on yourself? Autobiographies are a great way to explore who you are. Get ready to do some serious self-reflection with the steps below.

Pro Tip: Compile your research digitally using helpful cloud filings systems like Google Drive , OneDrive , or Dropbox . Organize your files by category, including information about their youth, family, achievements, and life lessons. You may also choose to write down research references or collect paper clippings on note cards, categorizing your physical files of research along the way.

Develop compelling themes and motifs 

Identify overarching themes or motifs that emerge from the subject’s life. These could be resilience, ambition, love, or societal change. Weave these elements into the narrative, highlighting their significance and impact on the person’s journey. Here are some examples:

• Overcoming Adversity: These biographies feature perseverance, resilience, and determination. Examples include Helen Keller, Nelson Mandela, and Malala Yousafzai.
• Pursuit of Excellence: These biographies highlight people who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals. Examples include Steve Jobs, Serena Williams, and Michael Jordan.
• Quest for Knowledge: These biographies focus on the curiosity that led to significant contributions to our world. Examples include Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Charles Darwin.
• Personal Transformation: These biographies explore a change in beliefs, values, or priorities. Examples include Malcolm X, Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou.
• Legacy and Impact: These biographies examine a body of work that made a lasting contribution to society. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Mahatma Gandhi.

Conduct relevant interviews 

Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person’s character and experiences.

When conducting interviews for a biography, consider the following tips to ensure a productive and insightful conversation:

• Familiarize yourself with the interviewee’s background and accomplishments.
• Develop a list of well-thought-out questions that cover key aspects of their lives and experiences, including questions about your subject’s youth, family, achievements, and life transitions or struggles.
• Begin the interview by establishing a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to put the interviewee at ease.
• Show genuine interest in their story and listen actively to their responses.
• Ask open-ended questions encouraging detailed and reflective responses.
• Avoid yes/no questions and ask for their insights, memories, and personal perspectives.
• Some topics you might consider for your questions include early life, achievements, challenges, motivations, values, relationships, lessons learned, and advice.
• Pay close attention to the interviewee’s answers, body language, and tone of voice.
• Ask follow-up questions to clarify or delve deeper into specific topics.
• Show empathy and understanding, creating a safe space for the interviewee to share personal or sensitive information.
• Remain flexible during the interview, allowing the conversation to flow naturally.
• Be prepared to deviate from your prepared questions if unexpected but relevant topics arise.
• Respect the interviewee’s boundaries and be mindful of any topics they may not wish to discuss.
• Take thorough and organized notes during the interview to capture important details.
• Consider recording the interview (with permission) to ensure accurate quotes and references.
• Ask for permission to follow up with additional questions or for clarification.
• Doing a biography on yourself? Ask yourself deep questions to harvest new stories and anecdotes.

Remember, the goal of the interview is to gather valuable information and personal perspectives that will contribute to the authenticity and depth of your biography. Approach the interview process with sensitivity, respect, and genuine curiosity about the interviewee’s life and experiences.

Develop a clear structure

Outline your biography, ensuring a logical and engaging narrative flow. Consider the chronological order, significant milestones, and turning points in the subject’s life. Organize your gathered information to capture the essence of their journey while maintaining a compelling rhythm throughout. 

A good outline for a biography can vary depending on the specific subject and the desired structure of the narrative. However, here’s a general outline that can serve as a starting point:

A. Introduction

a) Hook or engaging opening to capture the reader’s attention

b) Background information (birthplace, date, family, etc.)

c) A brief overview of the subject’s significance or why they are worth exploring

B. Early Life and Background

a) Childhood and upbringing

b) Influences, such as family, education, or cultural factors

c) Formative experiences or events that shaped the subject’s character or interests

C. Major Achievements and Milestones

a) A chronological exploration of the subject’s notable accomplishments, contributions, or milestones

b) Focus on key moments or achievements that highlight their impact or significance.

c) Provide context and details to paint a vivid picture of their achievements

D. Challenges and Obstacles

a) Discussion of the challenges, setbacks, or adversities the subject encountered

b) How they overcame obstacles or grew through difficult experiences

c) Insights into their resilience, determination, or problem-solving abilities

E. Personal Life and Relationships

a) Exploration of the subject’s relationships, such as family, friends, or romantic partners

b) Insights into their personal joys, struggles, or transformative experiences

c) How their personal life intersected with their professional or public achievements

F. Legacy and Impact

a) Examination of the subject’s lasting influence, contributions, or impact on society

b) Discuss how their work or actions continue to resonate or shape the world today

c) Reflection on their legacy and the lessons we can learn from their life story

G. Conclusion

a) Summarize the key aspects of the subject’s life and their significance

b) Provide a final reflection or insight on their overall journey or impact

c) Leave the reader with a lasting impression or call to action

Pro Tip: Looking for help drafting an outline to get you started? Use free tools like ChatGPT to jumpstart your outline by putting in a prompt request like, “Write an outline for a biography about X, including any relevant details on the subject that should be included.”

Craft captivating prose

Employ descriptive language to transport readers into the subject’s world. Paint vivid portraits of their physical appearance, mannerisms, and surroundings. Use sensory details to evoke emotions and create a strong connection between the reader and the subject. 

Here are some examples:

• “She was a force of nature, with a fierce determination and an unwavering commitment to justice.” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg)
• “His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through you, and his voice had a commanding presence that demanded attention.” (Winston Churchill)
• “She moved with a grace and elegance that belied her inner strength and resilience.” (Audrey Hepburn)
• “His rugged features and piercing gaze made him a natural leading man, but it was his depth and vulnerability that set him apart.” (Marlon Brando)
• “She had a contagious energy and a magnetic personality that drew people to her like a moth to a flame.” (Princess Diana)
• “His quiet intensity and unwavering dedication to his craft made him one of the greatest artists of his time.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

Action Step: While writing descriptive prose takes some practice, it’s an art you can master with little creative writing skills. To help you write descriptive prose, practice closing your eyes and imagining your subject. 

• What expression is on their face? 
• How are they dressed? 
• What does their body language express? 
• How do they smell? 
• How do they make you feel? 
• How do they make others feel? 
• What’s in their surroundings? 
• What are they doing with their hands? 
• What do you imagine they’re thinking about? 

With questions like these, you’ll start to use descriptive language to bring your subject to life.

Build a balance of objectivity and empathy

Strive for an objective portrayal while infusing empathy and understanding into your writing. Remain aware of biases and preconceived notions, giving your subject the space to shine in their unique light. 

To check yourself, filter your writing and interviewing with these tips:

• Verify Information: Cross-reference information from various sources to ensure accuracy. Use tools like Fact Check Explorer to fact-check claims, dates, and events to avoid errors or inaccuracies that could skew the narrative. 
• Multiple Perspectives: Seek out different viewpoints on the subject. This includes interviewing or reaching out to people with significant interactions or relationships with the subject. Incorporating diverse perspectives can counterbalance biases and provide a broader understanding.
• Empathetic Listening: During interviews or conversations, practice active listening and empathize with the interviewee’s experiences and emotions. This allows you to understand the subject’s perspective and incorporate their insights and feelings into the narrative.
• Contextualize Emotions: When sharing the subject’s emotional experiences or personal struggles, provide sufficient context and background. This helps readers understand the motivations and circumstances behind their actions and allows for empathetic understanding without veering into excessive sentimentality.
• Credible Interpretation: While interpreting the subject’s thoughts, motives, or intentions, be clear about what is factual and what is speculative. Clearly distinguish between evidence-based information and your interpretations to maintain objectivity.
• Respect Boundaries: Be mindful of the subject’s privacy and any requests they may have regarding sensitive or personal information. Respecting their boundaries shows empathy and allows for a respectful portrayal while maintaining the necessary level of objectivity.
• Acknowledge Limitations: Recognize that achieving complete objectivity in a biography is challenging. Biases can inadvertently seep into the narrative. However, by being aware of your biases and consciously presenting a fair and balanced account, you can mitigate their influence.

Respect truth, privacy, and sensitivity

Remember, writing biographies carries ethical responsibilities. It’s important to maintain accuracy through credible research and gain consent while being sensitive to controversial or difficult topics. Here are some considerations:

• Accuracy: Maintain a commitment to truth and accuracy. Verify facts and corroborate information from multiple sources to ensure the reliability of your narrative. Cite your sources and be transparent about any uncertainties or gaps in knowledge.
• Privacy and Consent: Respect the privacy of living individuals mentioned in your biography. Seek consent when sharing personal details or sensitive information. Balance the subject’s right to privacy with the importance of honesty and transparency.
• Sensitivity: Approach sensitive or controversial topics with care and empathy. Consider the potential impact of your words on the subject’s loved ones or affected communities—present differing perspectives without sensationalism or bias.

Writing a Biography FAQs

The length of a biography can vary greatly, depending on the subject and the depth of exploration. Some biographies span a few hundred pages, while others extend to multiple volumes. Focus on capturing the subject’s life’s essence rather than strictly adhering to a predetermined length.

Some common mistakes to avoid when writing a biography include the following: Lack of thorough research or reliance on a single source. Inaccurate or misleading information. Excessive personal bias or projection onto the subject. Neglecting to verify facts or failing to cite sources. Poor organization or a disjointed narrative flow. Neglecting to balance objectivity with empathy. Overloading the biography with irrelevant details or digressions. Failing to respect privacy or ethical considerations.

While chronological order is commonly used in biographies, it is not required. Some biographers employ a thematic approach or explore specific periods or events in the subject’s life. Experiment with different structures to find the most engaging way to tell your subject’s story.

The purpose of writing a biography is to capture and share an individual’s life story. Biographies provide insights into a person’s experiences, achievements, and challenges, offering readers inspiration, knowledge, and understanding. They preserve the legacy of individuals, contribute to historical records, and celebrate the diversity of human lives.

When choosing a subject for your biography, consider someone who inspires you, interests you, or has significantly impacted society. It could be a historical figure, a contemporary icon, or even an everyday individual with a remarkable story. Choose a subject with sufficient available information, access to primary sources or interviews, and a narrative that resonates with you and potential readers.

Key elements to include in a biography are: Early life and background: Provide context about the subject’s upbringing, family, and cultural influences. Achievements and milestones: Highlight notable accomplishments, contributions, and significant events throughout their life. Challenges and struggles: Explore the obstacles they faced, the lessons learned, and how they overcame adversity. Personal characteristics: Describe their personality traits, values, beliefs, and motivations that shaped their actions and decisions. Impact and legacy: Discuss the lasting influence and contributions of the subject, both during their lifetime and beyond.

Including personal anecdotes can add depth and humanize the subject of your biography. However, be selective and ensure that the stories are relevant, contribute to understanding the person’s character or experiences, and align with the overall narrative. Balancing personal anecdotes with factual information is critical to maintaining accuracy and credibility.

Conducting research for a biography involves exploring a variety of sources. Start with primary sources such as personal papers, letters, journals, and interviews with the subject or people who knew them. Secondary sources such as books, articles, and academic papers provide additional context and perspectives. Online databases, archives, libraries, and museums are valuable resources for finding relevant information.

Consult a wide range of sources to ensure a comprehensive and accurate biography. Primary sources, such as personal documents, letters, diaries, and interviews, offer firsthand accounts and unique insights. Secondary sources provide broader context and analysis, including books, articles, scholarly works, and historical records. Remember to evaluate the credibility and reliability of your sources critically.

Organize the information in your biography logically and engagingly. Consider using a chronological structure, starting with the subject’s early life and progressing through significant events and milestones. Alternatively, adopt a thematic approach, grouping related information based on themes or significant aspects of their life. Use clear headings, subheadings, and transitions to guide readers through the narrative flow.

Writing Biographies Key Takeaways

In summary, take note of these ideas and tips before you start writing your biography:

• Biographies hold enduring appeal, offering a glimpse into the human experience across time.
• Thorough research, interviews, and captivating prose are essential for crafting compelling biographies.
• Ethical considerations, such as accuracy, privacy, and sensitivity, are crucial when writing about real people’s lives.
• Choose subjects that genuinely inspire and resonate with you.
• Immerse yourself in the subject’s world to understand their motivations and challenges.
• Develop strong research skills and utilize a wide range of sources.
• Craft a compelling narrative that engages readers from the very first page.
• Seek feedback from trusted sources to refine your writing and storytelling abilities.
• Continuously explore new biographies to broaden your understanding of different styles and approaches.
• Embrace the unique voice and perspective you bring to the storytelling process.

Writing a biography book? Check out this helpful article, How to Write a Book: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing !

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A Definitive Guide To Writing a Biography

• March 1, 2022
• 12 Comments

Writing a biography is a chronological account of a person’s life, written by another person. Sometimes, the description only includes significant events in your life; while others include everything from childhood to death. Although there is no absolute standard regarding the length of a biography writing , most are at least several thousand words. It is a great choice if you have little to no experience with creating content, but are interested in trying it out. 

The best way to write a biography begins with finding some interesting facts about yourself that you can share. The best biographies have real facts that have inspired stories attached to them. 

Introduction to a Biography Writing: How is it different from an Autobiography?

A biography writing , or simply a bio, is a detailed description of a person’s life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person’s experience of these life events.  

Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae (résumé), a biography presents a subject’s life story, highlighting various aspects of his or her life, including intimate details of experience, and may include an analysis of the subject’s personality. 

• Biographical works are usually non-fiction, but fiction can also portray a person’s life. One in-depth form of biographical coverage is called legacy writing.  
• From literature to film, works in diverse media form the genre known as biography.  
• An authorized biography is written with the permission, cooperation, and at times, participation of a subject or a subject’s heirs.  
• Whereas an autobiography is written by the person themselves, sometimes with the assistance of a collaborator or ghostwriter. 

Formulate your Thesis Statement:

A thesis statement is a sentence that makes an assertion about a topic and predicts how the topic will be developed.  

• It does not simply announce a topic: it says something about the topic.  
• The thesis statement is usually just one sentence long, but it might be longer—even a whole paragraph—usually, if you’re writing a large content like a Biography .   
• A good thesis statement makes a debatable point, meaning a point someone might disagree with and argue against.  
• It also serves as a guide to remind the writer of what he/she should write about and consult when lost regarding the content’s focus. 

Construct a Strong Timeline of the Person’s Life:

There are lots of ways to develop a perfect timeline. Either you can do it trying a simple method, or you can improvise it even better by adding some essence to it.  

If you decide to go for a simple arena, here’s how you can do it: 

Include the dates of all events in the person’s life put together descriptions of each. 

• Birth 
• Childhood 
• Education 
• Career highlights 
• Personal life 
• Death 

For cultivating the best results, improvise your points with these:

• Give the reader an idea of what your subject is like as a person. Does he/she enjoy socializing with other people? What are his/her likes and dislikes? 
• What are the major events that happened in his/her life? (This could be related to their family, personal life, career, etc.) 
• Create a timeline of the person’s life. This will help you organize your thoughts and decide what information should go into your biography writing . 
• Give examples of how the subject’s past experiences have shaped him or her into the person they are today.
• Try to include quotes from your subject throughout the biography writing.   

Choose your method of writing the Biography:

There are different methods of writing a biography –  

• One is to write in chronological order. This method has been used since the days of Herodotus and Plutarch . In this type of biography, you would start with the person’s birth and write about his life in order from that point on.
• A second way to write a biography is to focus on a person’s key accomplishments in an order that emphasizes their importance, even if the events didn’t happen that way in real life.  
• Other biographies can be written from a psychological perspective, which focuses on internal motivation, or a historical perspective that uses background events as an important part of the story.  
• A final way to write a biography is to focus on one specific event or aspect of someone’s life. 

Writing the First Draft of Biography:  

To write your first draft, you will need to: 

• Avoid editing as you go. Writing is a process, and it’s hard to get it right the first time. When you edit as you go, you slow yourself down. Worse yet, you might stop altogether because you’re never happy with what you’ve written.  
• To get a first draft done quickly, focus on quantity over quality. Write fast and edit later. 
• Consider talking out loud instead of writing. It’s easier to use your natural voice when spoken words are not transcribed verbatim.  
• Write in bursts with short breaks in between. Sitting down for an hour or more is difficult for many people, but if you take frequent breaks. Every 25 minutes–you’ll be able to write for longer periods of time without feeling drained or exhausted from the activity.  

Conclude with Impact:  

Now that you’ve made your case, it’s time to wrap it up with a conclusion that seals the deal. This final section can be anywhere from three sentences to three paragraphs, but it should wrap up the biography writing nicely and leave a lasting impression on your readers. 

A great way to do this is to include one or two quotes from people who were impacted by the person you are writing about. You could also end with a memorable quote from the person or some type of legacy statement that highlights their most notable achievements. 

Writ e a biography has more to do with being able to get into the right mindset of your subject than writing skills. However, the key thing is being honest. In other words, it’s not about trying to become someone you’re not (even if that also means being a bit creative). Lastly, write like you speak and let the words flow. 

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Send your query, 12 thoughts on “a definitive guide to writing a biography”.

Very nice blog. Now I can start writing a biography of my personal life after reading this blog. Thanks 👍 for sharing this blog.

Thanks for sharing this blog. I have just started my career in Biography writing and I know this blog will help me a lot and one day I will become professional biography writer.

The blog is really amazing but I have a question that can anyone write their own biography?

I have a question that I want to ask after reading this blog, are biographies similar to memoirs?

The information given in this blog is really amazing 👌👌👌. Thanks for sharing this blog.

Wow, so can I get a biography written for myself? What kind of help can I get if I wanna make a short movie of my life? Is that possible?

My friend wants to get a help in writing a biography for his father. I’m sure this blog will help him a lot.

Very amazing blog and nicely written. The most engaging part of this blog is that we can start a biography without any doubt because most of people get confused from where should they start to write a biography.

Thankyou so much for this blog. I’m a student and i had to write a biography of few scientist but i didn’t know how to start. It really helped me a lot.

I appreciate your work that how easily you have explained it. It would definitely have help everyone in writing a biography, how to start and the way of writing.

I’ve taken away so many valuable tips from your post. Your tips are fantastic!

Thankyou so much for the feedback, it means so much to us and we aspire to bring you more of them. Read more on ( link )

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Biography in a Sentence  🔊

Definition of Biography

a person’s life story as told by another person

Examples of Biography in a sentence

It took me years to shape the president’s life story into an engaging biography.  🔊

Since the actress never asked you to write about her rise to stardom, your book isn’t an authorized biography.  🔊

The popular author will recount the singer’s upbringing in a biography.  🔊

In order for the writer to pen my biography, he’ll need to ask me numerous questions about my life.  🔊

Using my grandmother’s diaries, I was able to mesh her stories into a biography.  🔊

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Definition of biography noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• Boswell’s biography of Johnson
• a biography by Antonia Fraser
• The book gives potted biographies of all the major painters.
• blockbuster
• unauthorized
• biography by
• biography of

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Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

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The political is preceded by a fine chapter on his cricketing career. Although soberly written, this of the dictator bristles with moral indignation. As in his of Macarthur, the Aborigines are incidental, minor problems for his hero to overcome. The next chapter in Zorn's musical is also one of the most surprising. It combines numerous illustrations with a , an artistic appreciation and a complete catalogue of his works. The author, like so many writers of popular , is guilty of being fashionably irreverent toward her subject. A booklet containing the of Mr. Nayanar, poems on Nayanar and photographic vignettes from his life, is also supplied along with it. But as is revealed in a startling new , he fathered illegitimate children and had numerous affairs. Tolstoy set out to write a personal memoir of O'Brian, but it turned into a full . Yet we are still waiting for a compact, scholarly of his entire life in a single volume. 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He wrote a worthy of Red Smith and edited a book of columns by Smith. I think I may write a non-linear starting from now and going in both directions at once. This might suggest the difficulty of writing the of someone who spent so much of his life recreating his life in fiction. I can't help but feel that if you could write a of Pepys with only side references to the diary it'd work a lot better. When I went on to write the of Charles, true to his character, he gave me complete freedom of access to friends and documents. She once toyed with writing a of Margaret Thatcher, the first time she's ever been interested in writing about a living person. Responding to criticism that his attacks on Elton and Madonna in his new are unfair, he has decided to set the record straight. Drummund, who was also a biographer for Billy Graham, wrote an excellent on Finney which deals with this. He was also responsible for publishing Dorothy Wordsworth's diaries and wrote a ground-breaking of her. Her of Nietzsche is a double hagiography, comic and almost sad in its reflection of her own will to power. This is what is said to have prompted Asan to write a of Achutha Menon, drawing on his close relationship with him. In The Name is not a Pilger but an account of Pilger's television work with which the journalist himself co-operated. If there is a slippage between fiction and in this text then how does this apply to the image? Volume 2 of Roy Foster's magisterial of W. B. Yeats opens in 1915, when Yeats was in his fiftieth year and at a crossroads in his life. One of the essays deals with the interesting question why is a genre that has been rarely well practised even in modern India. Over half a century she published more than 20 novels, alongside works of poetry, criticism and . By taking on these sympathetic forms, literary can supply parallel narratives to those of novels. Literary theory has recently held to be a literary construct, rather than a factual enterprise. Ireland, in short, has no monopoly on the use of memoir, fiction, or autobiography as a political tool. Yet men dominate in this field also, even in fiction, poetry, literary . Who has ever said such connections are not the stuff of literary ? Greenblatt instead wants to write, and most consumers of literary want to read, a story extraordinary and uplifting. He is the sort of phenomenon literary in its present form can only flatten. There is now a considerable body of theoretical and discursive work on as an artistic form. It also has, for the first time, little essays on subjects such as , short stories, detective fiction and so on. It is closer to literary Criticism, than but without ever being boring. To that end, Harlan concludes that Up From Slavery was more a work of fiction than . As a work of literary and analysis American Sympathy is compelling. Some knowledge of Shapiro's is open to any reader in the dedication. There is also a text and a complete discography included to complete the bonus features. Less gripping are those swaths of the book that are essentially a of Salk, who simply wasn't a colorful character. The comments I earlier made concerning the of the subject ladder are equally apposite to the present circumstances. In his strange digressive and allusive of Christ he presents him as the incarnation of the overwhelming mystery of God. First, Wood reviews the extant literature in order to present a short . For each name, dates of birth and death are given, followed by a potted of 20-30 words. It takes a bold writer to attempt a of one of the most recognized and cited of Restoration Englishmen. His daughter Margaret is writing a book about her unusual childhood and a by Paul Alexander is seeping unannounced into bookstores. A would bore her, she says, preferring to fill in the gaps left by earlier writers and to give them a fresh, contemporary perspective. Her professional career spanned literary and theatrical criticism, broadcasting for the BBC, fiction, and an uncompleted memoir. There is a complete for virtually every artist, and each section is preceded by an introductory essay. Next to this , Phillips describes his own therapeutic dialogue with an anonymous patient. The trailer actually undersells the film, while the storyboards and make for intriguing viewing. The major events of Woodman's have clearly marked her artistic growth. With an affectionate and admiring smile on his own face, he has written an unaffected of an unaffected great man. Indeed, at times I wasn't sure if I was reading a or a hagiography. Find out more about this multi-talented creationist by reading her on our site. For all his undeniable artistic significance, the feels too close to the bone to be in good taste. Despite the crises unfolding around him, he has continued a whirlwind tour to promote his , a 900-page doorstopper. This might be recorded on their tombstone as an epitaph or in an obituary, commemoration portrait, or in some cases a . I always thought that you had to finish your career and be in the happy twilight of retirement before releasing a compilation or . To help him play Trevor with conviction, Ferns invented a fictional for the troubled man. Ross McMullin's short works, like Watson himself, both unostentatiously and effectively to achieve results. This is noted by the author's listed at the bottom of the article in small print. He has become steadily more aware of the usefulness of that unprivileged . While going through such varied sources, it is a great joy when one finds an autobiography or a or an unpublished piece of writing. But one thing about now, as opposed to then, has been the rise of graphic novels, and comics and autobiography. It makes one wonder how much of the speech is true and how much is false, based on Stalin's tendency toward revisionism of his revolutionary . He produced the feature-length documentary, Bill Cunningham New York, and is at work on a of Sam Wagstaff. He is producing a feature-length documentary on Bill Cunningham of the Times, and working on a of Sam Wagstaff. Sandrart's story of Caravaggio's death is easily interpreted as an apologue rather than as because there is so little ground to confuse moral and factual truths. Mr. Ziegler's is an elegant, sympathetic, and extremely readable , which really does breathe the breath of roistering life back into the vanished knight of letters. Longtime press baron and Murdoch frenemy Conrad Black on what Michael Wolff got wrong in his new of the media titan. Possibly only Professor Peter Groenewegen, the author of a magisterial of the English economist Alfred Marshall, could surpass him in this. Larkin had his diaries destroyed, Hardy burnt all his personal papers, then got his second wife to put her name to the he had actually written himself. A new of famed British author Somerset Maugham explores his complicated love life and defends his literary genius. A double of Rommel and Montgomery, foes in North Africa in World War II, splendidly brings both military men to life. Equal parts , sociology text, and mash note, it is the most complete account yet of his influence on pop music and a fervent memoir of fandom. This is the of a great Canadian scientist, whose discoveries were all the more extraordinary because he was largely self-educated in science. The also includes the memoirs of people she taught dance to in the 1960s, but does not mention anything about the circumstances of her death. Her book is a mesh of and a wider history of the geisha. Unfortunately, J. Michael Lennon tries something in the same vein in the last quarter of his sprawling . At Slate, tanner Colby does the experiment with Woodward's of John Belushi. Schmid first learned the art of mezzotinting in the Czech Republic, she notes in her , and developed this skill in Slovakia, where she was a Fulbright fellow. The intellectual of the curator has to be on shaky ground. After it was published in January, some said it read more like a love letter to the general than a . There's already more than one shamelessly indiscreet . Other special features include a brief of profiler Pat Brown, as well as cast bios that seem directly lifted from the Season One release. If we want to read , however, we will decide which one to read on the basis of the specific biographee not on the basis of the genre itself. It is not easy to write a about a person who is known to be reticent and the problem gets compounded when the attempt is not authorised. Lee said it wasn't his decision to sack Bell and if anything is written otherwise in the , which is due out in the autumn, he will take legal action. The result is a written wholly in the spirit of its subject. Much of the debate swung around definitions of and memoir. The contains several misspellings and occasional factual errors. In moving towards you must have felt that journalism was insufficiently rewarded to provide a living and also that its bittiness was in itself too limiting? A new captures the unflinching life of war photographer Tim Hetherington. A new by A. Scott Berg makes the case for Woodrow Wilson as an unrecognized great American president. Though he is often celebrated as the American father of Protestant liberalism, Horace Bushnell's and writing defy the categories of theological typology. Ironically, it is only possible to write a cultural of this horse, insofar as it is possible, because of his multiply commodified status. She's probably already boning up on the of Nelson Mandela. A shocking new reveals a brutal truth behind the fiction of v.s. Naipaul. The packaging features comprehensive sleeve notes and from US music writer Rich Kienzle and exclusive photographs from throughout Cash's career. But none of this comes close to making up for what is a standard made-for-television eviscerated by massive, inexcusable bowdlerization. Going even further, there are two 1930s movie newsreels that were filmed with the actual Grey Owl, a text , and a screen of web links to Grey Owl sites. From a season spent embedded with the New York Jets to a of a self-mythologizing Pinkerton detective. No of Jack Nicholson could long skirt the issue of his prodigious appetites. Thompson's nearly 50 published pieces include essays, book and film reviews, short stories, a novelization, and a young-adult of the writer Charles Chesnutt. But only a political could illuminate the personal, human dimension of Khrushchev's decision to follow the risky path of de-Stalinization. A straight would have been a more obvious project to undertake. The author of this new, third of the poet notes that Cummings signed his name in capitals in his personal correspondence, dealings with publishers and his diaries. A jumbled curiosity of a film, Charlie isn't sure whether it wants to be a hard-boiled gangster thriller, a thoughtful , or a legal drama. Vasari's confirms that Leonardo began to draw the cartoon in the Sala del Papa of the monumental Dominican building complex of Santa Maria Novella. Composing a Borgesian alternative for those forfeited years would make for the perfect parlour game if parlours, like Scottish writers of genius, still survived. And if you're a longtime fan, the helps explain the inner workings of the band and offers factoids you can use to, ahem, impress your friends. Most of his cabinet colleagues spoke to him before he left to offer sympathy, including many whom he criticised in remarks made public in the ill-starred . Well, even if you happen to be fixated on one life in particular, be it Einstein or Frank Sinatra, you can find a coffee-table book with a pictorial of your hero. In fact, according to a recent of Jackson, Churchill actually fagged for two England captains, having earlier served Archie MacLaren as well. This highly condensed allows little room for analysis. Consociates are mutually involved in one another's . There are and filmography profiles for Nicholas Lyndhurst and Clive Francis, and a short history of the MI5 counter-intelligence service. Brenda Maddox, who had written a of Thatcher to accompany the programme, credits Dennis Thatcher with liberating his wife from her repressive background. Regarding his and psychology, four years ago Kelly converted to the Baha'i religion, a pacifist faith that strongly condemns suicide. It is a work of and criticism with the drama and sweep of a historical novel. Adolf Eichmann is not an obvious candidate for a full-length , and before his capture in 1960 and trial the following year no one would have thought of writing one. Turning in a 500 word , written painstakingly in the past tense, I sighed as my class was assigned another essay, this time in the future tense, due the next day. Linda Lear is author of the definitive of Rachel Carson. Lying somewhere between an academic treatise, a of an eco-activist, and a guidebook for Green campaigners, it is a truly remarkable book. Such information is catalogued in his website's , a curious document that, through its endearing use of Eeyoreish negatives, gives you a flavour of the man. The one major error I have detected in Perkins' is the confident assertion that she would not have tried to expurgate every unflattering reference. There are no music examples, but, as in Professor Todd's , a number of plates that illustrate Mendelssohn's talent as a draughtsman and water-colourist. On the debit side, a number of discrepancies detract from an otherwise riveting . In some ways, this should be applauded for its total absence of the prurient interest so common to most of its peers. On the downside, this dependency on and history means that sometimes the tales do not stand in their own right. Sylvia Plath and the Theatre of Mourning continues this tense push-pull struggle with throughout its pages. It is neither a full-scale nor a comprehensive history of the Korean War. The artist was drawn to Ludwig's life after seeing a on the eccentric king's behaviour. This massive describes the rise to power of the last great English churchman to preside over the King's government. With regard to literary genre, Mark's gospel is a , similar to other lives of famous people written in the ancient Greco-Roman world. Both deeper and wider than a , the book documents and vivifies events that still affect us today. Neil McKenna's 2003 , The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde, offers an exploration of Wilde's sexuality. William Roper's of More was one of the first biographies in Modern English. Tilley is the author of a of the Australian performer Leigh Bowery titled Leigh Bowery, The Life and Times of an Icon. An early of Sidney was written by his friend and schoolfellow, Fulke Greville. He is also the subject of perhaps the most famous in English literature, namely The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell. His early works include the Life of Mr Richard Savage, the poems London and The Vanity of Human Wishes, and the play Irene. When it came to , Johnson disagreed with Plutarch's use of biography to praise and to teach morality. Johnson's thoughts on and on poetry coalesced in his understanding of what would make a good critic. These early writings coloured all subsequent and have become embedded in a body of Keats legend. Inspired by the 1997 Keats penned by Andrew Motion, it stars Ben Whishaw as Keats and Abbie Cornish as Fanny. Sir Timothy threatened to stop the allowance if any of the poet were published. Also in 1845, Percy Bysshe Shelley's cousin Thomas Medwin approached her claiming to have written a damaging of Percy Shelley. Soon after Percy Shelley's death, Mary Shelley determined to write his . Anthony Powell mentions in his review of that contains that in his view Belloc was thoroughly antisemitic, at all but a personal level. The situation was compounded as successive generations of the family expunged and sanitized the already opaque details of Austen's . In 1991, Michael Shelden, an American professor of literature, published a . Hermione Lee's 1996 Virginia Woolf provides a thorough and authoritative examination of Woolf's life and work. Wilson's was not the first to address the question of Lewis's relationship with Moore. Each interview begins with a short of the interviewee, including their major publications. Listings include a of each inductee and an explanation of his or her achievements in the accounting field. And no, there's no truth El Tigre's will be called Great Expectorations. In the of cancer, retinoblastoma is a lead character. The festival is taking in tartan noir, erotica, horror, and poetry with some music and film thrown in too. Thanks largely to the research of John Harley, knowledge of Byrd's has expanded in recent years. In Eisenhower Jean Edward Smith has produced what may well be the best one-volume on this figure. According to articles, reports and a , Turpin couldn't deal with the obscurity resulting from the loss of his crown. American seaman Haskell Wexler later won two Academy Awards, the latter for a of his shipmate Woody Guthrie. As her shouts, Ewa Mataya Laurance is one of the most visible superstars in the history of pocket billiards. Roberts ends this detailed with appendixes on Coxeter groups and diagrams as well as Fibonacci numbers and phyllotaxis. Peavy and Smith have collaborated on 10 books on women's history and . There has only been one , written by Paul Allen, and this primarily covers his career in the theatre. He also wrote his first book there, a of Giacomo Meyerbeer, an opera composer. Cleo McNelly Kearns notes in her that Eliot was deeply influenced by Indic traditions, notably the Upanishads. In 1984, he wrote his first book, a of the band Duran Duran, as well as Ghastly Beyond Belief, a book of quotations, with Kim Newman. Alan Llwyd's 2011 of Roberts used diaries and letters to shed fresh light on her private life and her relationship with Morris. But who needs one more perfectly excellent Mozart ? A newspaper review of a Conrad suggested that the book could have been subtitled Thirty Years of Debt, Gout, Depression and Angst. Aymer Vallance was commissioned to produce the first of Morris, published in 1897, after Morris' death, as per the latter's wishes. In 1973 Burton agreed to play Josip Broz Tito in a film , since he admired the Yugoslav leader. In his of his father, Francis Deng deals frankly and in detail with Deng Majok's prodigious uxoriousness. The cultural of urnfields and the long-term history of a mythical landscape. In Updike, literary critic Adam Begley offers the first full-length on a larger-than-life American writer. An experiment in , rather less successful than Symons' Corvine, on a par perhaps with Ackroyd's Dickensian direct address strategems. In his , Ploughman of the Moon, Service recalled that his second effort, The Ballads of a Cheechako, also caused the House some anxiety. Foran is the author most recently of the of Mordecai Richler, another iconic Montrealer. The 1988 by Melvyn Bragg provides a detailed description of the many health issues that plagued Burton throughout his life. He was stunned by the backlash from some of the sleazier revelations in Tom Bower's recent tell-all , Sweet Revenge. Science historian Daniel Lewis set out to write a of Robert Ridgway, the Smithsonian's first curator of birds. In The Puppetmaster, the life of Li Tien-lu the Taiwanese puppeteer is the subject of Hou's hybrid fictional and documentary film. This year's Costa book award shortlists in five categories, novel, first novel, poetry, and children's book, have been announced. In the of Helen Keller, for example, one chapter has definition boxes for Emanuel Swendenborg and the Braillewriter. Another stereotyped feature of the criminal was the portrayal of the biographee in the role of criminal-as-sinner. But Jim Steinmeyer's efficient though vexing new makes it clear why we all live today in Charles Fort's benightedly bizarre world. The locus classicus for this modern-sounding concept occurs in a contemporary by Wipo, a member of the royal chapel. Heinlein, In Dialogue With His Century, William Patterson has given us a scholarly doorstop that's smoothly readable. Happenstance opened the book for me to the of Margaret Leeson, listed only as Brothel-keeper. Her recent book provides us with a new paradigm for modern . The includes conjectures about the writer's earliest ambitions. Alfred commissioned Bishop Asser to write his , which inevitably emphasised Alfred's positive aspects. Gruffudd ap Cynan's was first written in Latin and intended for a wider audience outside Wales. However, Hibbert notes in his that the letter can be found among the Duke's papers, with nothing written on it. Rolt, in his of the Stephensons, describes the event in some detail. His was first written by Cardinal Boso in his extension to the Liber Pontificalis. Written by their daughter-in-law, this joint defly interlaces the personal and political to tell a human story behind the national struggle. David Harris Willson's 1956 continued much of this hostility. Evading Sir Timothy's ban on a , Mary Shelley often included in these editions her own annotations and reflections on her husband's life and work. It's about a young man who tries to distill the true of his dying father by looking for the kernels of truth in the many tall tales he has told. Hardy is a key character, played by Jeremy Irons, in the 2015 movie The Man Who Knew Infinity, based on the of Ramanujan with the same title. Rolt in his of Stephenson suggests that a faction on the Board continued to ask Stephenson for second opinions, and Rennie took umbrage at this. Writing his , Funny Peculiar, also had an influence. Very few knew the details of his early life until six years after his death, when John Forster published a on which Dickens had collaborated. The first version appeared in about 715 followed by a later revision in the 730s, the first written by a contemporary to appear in England. The Color of Law spares no detail in its intimate portrayal of a real-life hero of the courtroom, and is a worthy addition to college and public library shelves. In the Eighteenth Century Shakespeare's image was in the ascendant, beginning with Nicholas Rowe's in 1709, the primary source of the Stratfordian story. Hamid's own reflects these trifurcated notions of origin and questions the ease with which the native, the immigrant, or the cosmopolitan is defined. The History is a Renaissance , remarkable more for its literary skill and adherence to classical precepts than for its historical accuracy. As related in the book The Life and Times of Private Eye, Moss was the subject of a less than respectful cartoon in the magazine Private Eye. One of Orwell accused him of having had an authoritarian streak. The most obvious flaw of this is its relentless tendentiousness. The term hagiography may be used to refer to the of a saint or highly developed spiritual being in any of the world's spiritual traditions. In the chapter of Pisa three years later Bonaventure's Legenda maior was approved as the only of Francis and all previous biographies were ordered to be destroyed. Rick Dodgson had filled the gap by offering the first academic of the best-selling author and inspirational figure amongst psychedelic enthusiasts. The Victorian age witnessed a continuation of Milton's influence, George Eliot and Thomas Hardy being particularly inspired by Milton's poetry and . Though at least one of Virginia Woolf appeared in her lifetime, the first authoritative study of her life was published in 1972 by her nephew Quentin Bell. And I would gladly swap the BBC's mean-spirited drama for the far more even-handed approach in Barbara Stoney's excellent of Enid Blyton. A new musical by Wirral songwriter Dean Johnson, called Ice Picks And Violets, aims to shed some light on what might have happened in their last moments. But the Sunday Mirror can reveal Arrival Films has bought the rights for a six-figure sum from Lenny's widow Val and the ghostwriter of his , Pete Gerrard. The stage play Being Sellers premiered in Australia in 1998, three years after the release of the by Roger Lewis, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Huxley was commissioned by Walt Disney in 1945 to write a script based on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and the of the story's author, Lewis Carroll. Like his wonderful book on Cannonball Adderley, Walk Tall, this new of flutist Herbie Mann treats us to an album-by-album chronicle of the musician's life. Crawford published a of Elizabeth and Margaret's childhood years entitled The Little Princesses in 1950, much to the dismay of the royal family. The first full was published in 1848 by Richard Monckton Milnes. Capua, author of many Hollywood film star biographies and correspondent for an Italian film magazine, provides a of American film legend Janet Leigh. Several costumes and banners featured images of pigs following claims in a new that Mr Cameron took part in a bizarre initiation ceremony at Oxford. The proposals were first published in 1970 in a of de Valera. Barrow, in his on Robert the Bruce, accused Edward of ruthlessly exploiting the leaderless state of Scotland to obtain a feudal superiority over the kingdom. FitzGibbon's 1965 ignores Thomas's heavy drinking and skims over his death, giving just two pages in his detailed book to Thomas's demise. Chapter 2 summarizes Dominici's and his activities as a preacher, writer, diplomat, and pedagogue. This is Mr. Van Doren at his worst and hack at normal. Suzanne then slipped away to her new victim, whose must here be given. A handful of inset black-and-white photographs illustrate this respectful of a true believer. And if his were written from his childhood to his death, it would be not only an ensample, but confusion to the world. Judge Driscoll had generously left the law feature out of Wilson's which he had furnished to the twins. Readers may remember the first chapter of my of Watkin Tench about my work in tracing his family in Chester, England. Why does Boswell yet wear the crown of indivisible supremacy in ? This act, a bar-sinister in the of Gorges, sullies his escutcheon at the outset. Neil Clark, author of a brief of john deere, states that the diamond-shaped piece was cut out of a circular saw. With the opening installment of the first serial the Free Press published a photograph of the author over a stickful of . Mr. Bingley also, in his animal , says that eels are viviparous. Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250] go Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 Cambridge Dictionary +Plus Meaning of biography in English Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio This biography offers a few glimpses of his life before he became famous . Her biography revealed that she was not as rich as everyone thought . The biography was a bit of a rush job . The biography is an attempt to uncover the inner man. The biography is woven from the many accounts which exist of things she did. exercise book novelistically young adult biography | American Dictionary biographical Examples of biography Translations of biography. Get a quick, free translation! Word of the Day at the same time Worse than or worst of all? How to use the words ‘worse’ and ‘worst’ Learn more with +Plus Recent and Recommended {{#preferredDictionaries}} {{name}} {{/preferredDictionaries}} Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English English Learner’s Dictionary Essential British English Essential American English Grammar and thesaurus Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English Grammar Thesaurus Pronunciation British and American pronunciations with audio English Pronunciation English–Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Simplified)–English English–Chinese (Traditional) Chinese (Traditional)–English English–Dutch Dutch–English English–French French–English English–German German–English English–Indonesian Indonesian–English English–Italian Italian–English English–Japanese Japanese–English English–Norwegian Norwegian–English English–Polish Polish–English English–Portuguese Portuguese–English English–Spanish Spanish–English English–Swedish Swedish–English Dictionary +Plus Word Lists English    Noun Translations All translations To add biography to a word list please sign up or log in. Add biography to one of your lists below, or create a new one. {{message}} Something went wrong. There was a problem sending your report. More from M-W To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In Definition of biography Did you know. So You've Been Asked to Submit a Biography In a library, the word biography refers both to a kind of book and to a section where books of that kind are found. Each biography tells the story of a real person's life. A biography may be about someone who lived long ago, recently, or even someone who is still living, though in the last case it must necessarily be incomplete. The term autobiography refers to a biography written by the person it's about. Autobiographies are of course also necessarily incomplete. Sometimes biographies are significantly shorter than a book—something anyone who's been asked to submit a biography for, say, a conference or a community newsletter will be glad to know. Often the word in these contexts is shortened to bio , a term that can be both a synonym of biography and a term for what is actually a biographical sketch: a brief description of a person's life. These kinds of biographies—bios—vary, but many times they are only a few sentences long. Looking at bios that have been used in the same context can be a useful guide in determining what to put in your own. Examples of biography in a Sentence These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples. Word History Late Greek biographia , from Greek bi- + -graphia -graphy 1665, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Dictionary Entries Near biography biographize Cite this Entry “Biography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biography. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024. Kids Definition Kids definition of biography, more from merriam-webster on biography. Nglish: Translation of biography for Spanish Speakers Britannica English: Translation of biography for Arabic Speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about biography Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Can you solve 4 words at once? Word of the day. See Definitions and Examples » Get Word of the Day daily email! Popular in Grammar & Usage What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism', more commonly misspelled words, commonly misspelled words, how to use em dashes (—), en dashes (–) , and hyphens (-), absent letters that are heard anyway, popular in wordplay, the words of the week - june 7, 8 words for lesser-known musical instruments, 9 superb owl words, 10 words for lesser-known games and sports, etymologies for every day of the week, games & quizzes. Top1000 word Top5000 word Conjunction Sentence into pic Biography in a sentence 某某   2016-01-13 联网相关的政策 replay  (139+4) paisley  (58) exemption  (166+6) pencil case  (22) outside  (267+88) gone  (251+50) eggplant  (93+2) glowworm  (20) dynamo  (65+3) ounce  (154+4) inversion  (169) porcupine  (36) riddle  (84+6) theism  (26+1) suffix  (96+2) inflexion  (17) postposition  (17) stagnancy  (25) life cycle  (242+1) prayer  (188+7) 480 COMMENTS How To Use "Biography" In A Sentence: Exploring The Term 3. Failing to capitalize "biography" when referring to a specific work: When mentioning the title of a specific biography, it is important to capitalize the word "biography" as you would with any other title. Incorrect Example: "I recently read a biography of Leonardo da Vinci.". Biography Sentence Starters Biography sentence starters are a great way to begin writing a biography or autobiography. They can provide structure, direction, and inspiration for your story. ... Writing a biography can be a great way to honor someone's life and to spark meaningful conversations. By considering the benefits outlined above, authors can create compelling ... 11 Tips On How To Write A Personal Biography + Examples 2. Introduce yourself… like a real person. This is one of the most important pieces of understanding how to write a personal biography. Always start with your name. When many people start learning how to write a bio, they skip this important part. People need to know who you are before they learn what you do. What Is a Biography? Definition & 25+ Examples Defining Biography. A biography is a detailed account of a person's life, written by someone other than the subject. The term "biography" is derived from two Greek words: "bio," which means life, and "graphy," which signifies writing. Thus, a biography is the written history of someone's life, offering an in-depth look at their ... How To Use "Biographies" In A Sentence: Breaking Down Usage In the context of biographies, this phrase implies that one can gain deep insights into a person's life story by studying their biography. Example sentence: "After reading Einstein's biography, I felt like I could read him like a book and understand the genius behind his theories.". 2. "Write One's Own Story". Biography A biography is the non- fiction, written history or account of a person's life. Biographies are intended to give an objective portrayal of a person, written in the third person. Biographers collect information from the subject (if he/she is available), acquaintances of the subject, or in researching other sources such as reference material ... How to write a strong one-line biography (with examples!) Keep it short, but readable. If you're required to keep your biography to just one sentence, you have just 15 to 20 words on average to get your point across. You need to be succinct and make every word count. As such, remove superlatives and flowery language that could make it harder to read. This is not the place to be cute or show off ... How to Write a Biography Wondering how to write a biography? We've constructed a simple step-by-step process for writing biographies. Use our tips & tricks to help you get started! How to Write a Biography in 8 Steps (The Non-Boring Way!) Conduct relevant interviews. Whenever possible, seek firsthand accounts from those who knew or interacted with the subject. Conduct interviews with family members, friends, colleagues, or experts in the field. Their insights and anecdotes can provide a deeper understanding of the person's character and experiences. How to Write a Biography: 6 Tips for Writing Biographical Texts Whether you want to start writing a biography about a famous person, historical figure, or an influential family member, it's important to know all the elements that make a biography worth both writing and reading. Biographies are how we learn information about another human being's life. Whether you want to start writing a biography about ... Examples of 'Biography' in a Sentence The biography is just one of a slew of projects about Taylor's life that the estate has in the works. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com , 11 Aug. 2022 A Definitive Guide To Writing a Biography A biography writing, or simply a bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae (résumé), a biography presents a subject's life story, highlighting ... Examples of 'biography' in a sentence A Channel of Peace. ( 1993) It was an item that had failed to appear in the official biography published four years earlier. The Times Literary Supplement. ( 2010) They are as well worth reading as the biographical works under review and much better history than the previous biographies published. Writing a Biography: What You Need to Know Identify the most crucial point in the story. When setting up your timeline, identify the subject's obstacles, challenges, learnings, and achievements. Then, divide the stories into major and ... Biography: In a Sentence Biography in a Sentence. Definition of Biography. a person's life story as told by another person. Examples of Biography in a sentence. It took me years to shape the president's life story into an engaging biography. Since the actress never asked you to write about her rise to stardom, your book isn't an authorized biography. Examples of "Biography" in a Sentence 1. His wife Elisa Lee (1787-1860), an American authoress of some reputation, published after his death his lectures and sermons, with a biography written by herself (5 vols., Boston, 1846). 2. Learn how to use "biography" in a sentence with 441 example sentences on YourDictionary. How To Write a Professional Short Bio (With Examples) Here are some steps you can follow to help you write a successful short bio: 1. Choose a voice. The first step in writing a short bio is deciding on a voice. For our purposes, choosing a voice involves deciding whether you are writing in the first or third person. Writing in the first person means using the words "I" and "me", and writing in ... Biography A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae ( résumé ), a biography presents a subject's life story, highlighting various aspects of ... biography noun Definition of biography noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. How to use "biography" in a sentence Sentence Examples. This is in essence a short and rather conventional biography which breaks no new ground but is a good summary of current knowledge. But the picture drawn by Volkmar Braunbehrens's 1989 biography is of a serious, steady, occasionally irascible man. The library also has a wide range of titles on gardening, cookery, history ... BIOGRAPHY BIOGRAPHY definition: 1. the life story of a person written by someone else: 2. the life story of a person written by…. Learn more. Biography Definition & Meaning biography: [noun] a usually written history of a person's life. Biography in a sentence (esp. good sentence like quote, proverb...) me 2023-02-15 19:11:15. biography. 150+8 sentence examples: 1. He dramatized the biography of the basketball star. 2. He wrote a biography of Winston Churchill. 3. The biography shows him in a favourable light. 4. Donald Trump's Biographer's Prediction About Jail Sentence Donald Trump's Biographer's Prediction About Jail Sentence. Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs the courtroom after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial at Manhattan ... Chad Daybell: Death sentence for man convicted of triple-murder Comey says Trump is 'begging' for a jail sentence. Hear why. Chad Daybell was sentenced to death Saturday upon the recommendation of the jury that convicted him of first-degree murder and ... case study cover letter presentation problem solving rewiew prompts websites tips