Why Is It Called “Copy”? The Surprising History Behind Copywriting
If you’ve spent any time in marketing, entrepreneurship, or content creation, chances are you’ve heard the word copy tossed around constantly.
Businesses need better copy. Websites need stronger copy. Ads need high-converting copy.
But what exactly is copywriting — and why is it even called “copy” in the first place?
Copy is one of those industry terms people use every day without really knowing where it came from.
Even experienced marketers and writers often don’t discover the answer until years into their careers. Like me, once upon a time!
As a content strategist for a digital marketing agency, I had been writing copy for years before I really understood what it was.
When I became a full-time freelance copywriter, I finally researched and wrote about this profession I had left my agency job to pursue.
But I didn’t know why it’s called “copy” until recently.
Let’s break down what copywriting is, what it’s not, and why it matters so much for your business.
What Is Copywriting?
At its core, copywriting is any kind of writing designed to persuade someone to take action.
That action could be:
- Purchasing a product
- Booking a service
- Joining an email list
- Clicking a link
- Scheduling a consultation
- Following a brand on social media
If you’re writing words to promote a business, product, service, or idea, you’re probably writing copy.
Examples of Copy
- Website headlines
- Email campaigns
- Instagram captions
- Sales pages
- Advertisements
- Product descriptions
- Most other marketing content
Unlike general writing, copywriting has a purpose beyond simply informing or entertaining. Copy is strategically written to inspire action.
So Why Is It Called “Copy”?
The origin of the word actually dates back centuries.
The term copy comes from a medieval Latin word meaning “copious.” By the 14th century, the word evolved to refer to written material intended to be reproduced.
Early journalists and publishers used the term “copy” to describe text that would be duplicated and distributed for mass readership.
Newspapers and magazines would send their written content “to copy,” meaning it would be reproduced by hand or through printing presses for circulation.
Eventually, the publishing and advertising worlds adopted the term more broadly.
By the early 20th century, “copy” became closely associated with advertising and promotional writing specifically.
As marketing industries expanded, so did the role of the copywriter: the person responsible for crafting words that sell. (Like me!)
What Copywriting Looks Like Today
Today, copywriters aren’t physically reproducing text the way publishers once did. But the concept still fits pretty well.
Digital copy is constantly being copied and pasted across:
- Websites
- Social media platforms
- Landing pages
- Ads
- Emails
- Sales funnels
The words may live online now, but the purpose remains the same: create messaging that reaches and persuades a larger audience.
Copywriting vs. Copyrighting
Another important distinction to make: copywriting is not copyrighting.
They sound identical, but they’re completely different professions.
- Copywriting is the act of writing words to compel a specific audience to act.
- Copyrighting the act of securing an exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute something.
In other words, no, I am not a lawyer. As much as I pretend to be one when my husband is wrong.
Every Business Needs Copy
What started centuries ago as a term for reproduced text has evolved into one of the most important parts of modern marketing.
Whether you’re writing an Instagram caption, a homepage headline, or an email campaign, you’re writing copy: AKA words that sell.
Copy that.
Need Help with Your Copy?
You happen to be reading the blog of a copywriter who’s been writing words that sell since 2013.
Check out our conversion copywriting services for creatives, or start with one of our free copywriting resources to get a taste of what’s possible when your copy sells on your behalf.
