1) Recognition or honor given to people who have influenced the book being published or who have made a difference in the life of the author. 2) Section of a book containing such recognition.
An acknowledgement, also spelled acknowledgment, is a statement from the author of a work, thanking people who have helped the author during the work’s creation. These people may have inspired, supported, or assisted the author in some way. The acknowledgement may also be from the publisher to the people who have helped make the publication of the work possible.
The acknowledgement may be a formal statement or just a simple list of names. A formal acknowledgement might read:
“I would like to acknowledge the help of my friends and colleagues in the preparation of this book. Their input and assistance are greatly appreciated.”
A simple list of names might look like this:
“I would like to thank John Smith, Jane Doe, and Joe Blow for their help with this project.”
The acknowledgement might also be more personal, such as:
“I would like to thank my parents for their support and encouragement throughout my life.”
The acknowledgement might also be from the publisher to the people who have helped make the publication of the work possible, such as:
“We would like to thank our editors, designers, and production staff for their hard work on this project.”
“We would also like to thank our printers and binders for their efforts in producing this book.”
The acknowledgement might also be from the author to the people who have helped with the promotion and marketing of the work, such as:
“I would like to thank my agent and publicist for their help in getting this book into the hands of readers.”
“I would also like to thank the booksellers who have supported this book.”
The acknowledgement might also be from the author to the people who have helped with the research for the work, such as:
“I would like to thank the librarians who assisted me in finding the sources for this book.”
“I would also like to thank the people who generously shared their time and expertise with me during my interviews.”
The acknowledgement might also be from the author to the people who have inspired the work, such as:
“I would like to thank the authors who inspired me with their writing.”
“I would also like to thank the people who have shared their stories with me, which have inspired this book.”