What evidence supports the view that William Shakespeare wrote the plays attributed to him?

Mainstream scholarship overwhelmingly supports the view that William Shakespeare wrote the plays attributed to him, rejecting alternative theories as lacking sound evidence. The case for his authorship rests on several key pillars:123

• Contemporary Recognition: During his lifetime, Shakespeare was widely known by fellow writers and actors as a dramatist. Contemporaries such as Ben Jonson and John Webster praised him as a writer, and he was a prominent member of a leading London acting company.3
• The First Folio: Published in 1623, the First Folio serves as the strongest evidence. Edited by his fellow actors John Heminge and Henry Condell, it explicitly identifies the works as those of Shakespeare and includes tributes from his peers.13
• Documentary Record: Shakespeare’s name appears on approximately 50 extant documents, and he was a well-documented figure in the London theater world.13
• Literary Context: Arguments against his authorship often rely on the "snobbish" assumption that only a university-educated aristocrat could write about courtly life. However, Shakespeare’s social background was consistent with many of his contemporary playwrights, and evidence shows he had access to a wide range of books and literary contacts, including printers and publishers.34