Here's a breakdown:
* Pseudo: Means "false" or "fake"
* nym: Means "name"
So, literally, a pseudonym is a "false name."
Here are some examples of famous authors who used pseudonyms:
* J.K. Rowling: Used the pseudonym "Robert Galbraith" for her crime fiction series.
* Samuel Clemens: Wrote under the pseudonym "Mark Twain."
* Stephen King: Used the pseudonym "Richard Bachman" to publish some of his early works.
People use pseudonyms for various reasons, including:
* Protecting their privacy
* Marketing purposes (e.g., a writer might use a pseudonym for a different genre)
* Social or political reasons (e.g., to avoid persecution)