Because of Bacon's lofty usage of the English language and keen understanding of the nuances of words, the rumor emerged that he wrote works of fiction under the pen name "William Shakespeare," and that the two were actually the same person. Although this theory is erroneous, it is still a great compliment to his writing abilities. Only a renaissance thinker such as Bacon might lay the philosophical groundwork for the enlightenment and also be mistakenly accreditted with the works of one of the greatest playwrites to ever exist.