INDEX:
1. to write with a pen, pencil, etc
2. to write something quickly or carelessly
3. to write something on a computer, typewriter etc
4. to write a letter or message
5. to write a story, book, newspaper article etc
6. someone who writes books, articles, stories etc
7. to write the letters of a word
8. to write your name
9. to write information on an official document
10. to write something that you intend to improve or finish later
11. to write something again
12. to write a song/music
13. something that has been written or printed
14. written not spoken
RELATED WORDS
when a piece of writing is short : ↑ SHORT (2)
see also
↑ READ
↑ MESSAGE
↑ LETTER
↑ WORD/PHRASE/SENTENCE
↑ DRAW
↑ SUMMARIZE
◆◆◆
1. to write with a pen, pencil, etc
▷ write /raɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write words or numbers :
▪ By third grade they can all read and write pretty well.
▪ At the bottom he wrote: ‘with sincere love from your oldest friend’.
▪ Over 15 percent of adults have never learned to write.
▪ Helga wrote her comments neatly in pencil .
write on/in/at etc
▪ She quickly wrote the license plate number on her hand.
▪ Hang on, let me just get something to write on.
▪ Write your name at the top of the page.
write down something
▪ I wrote down all the things we have to do today.
write something down
▪ Do you want me to write that down for you?
▷ put /pʊt/ [transitive verb] especially spoken
to write something :
▪ I wrote to Marian, but I didn’t put anything about Bill being arrested.
put something in/on/at etc
▪ Put your name at the top of each answer sheet.
▪ Just put ‘with love from Jason’ on the card.
▷ take notes /teɪk ˈnəʊts/ [verb phrase]
to write down short pieces of information about something, especially in order to remind yourself about what someone said or what was happening :
▪ Did you take any notes at the lecture?
▪ I read the first three chapters and took some notes.
▷ make a note of something/note down something /ˌmeɪk ə ˈnəʊt əv something, ˌnəʊt ˈdaʊn something/ [verb phrase]
to write down information as soon as you get it, so that you will be able to use it later :
▪ OK, let me make a note of that before I forget it.
▪ Did you make a note of the train times?
note down something
▪ Taking out a pen, she noted down the phone number.
note something down
▪ Colin noted everything down in a little black book.
▷ take down/get down /ˌteɪk ˈdaʊn, ˌget ˈdaʊn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write down what someone says, at the same time as they are saying it :
take down something/get down something
▪ A group of reporters was following the Senator, trying to get down every word he said.
▪ Could I just take down your name and address?
take something down/get something down
▪ Do you want me to take all this down?
▪ Before he left, Mark got most of what she’d said down on paper.
▷ put something in writing /ˌpʊt something ɪn ˈraɪtɪŋ/ [verb phrase]
to give someone a written agreement, promise, offer etc in order to show them that you are serious about it :
▪ Following an informal discussion, Chris decided to put her proposals in writing.
▪ A deal was made, but apparently nothing was ever put in writing.
▷ print /prɪnt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write something using separate letters, in order to make your writing clearer :
▪ Please print your name in block capitals.
▷ writing/handwriting /ˈraɪtɪŋ, ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/ [uncountable noun]
the way someone writes with a pen, pencil etc :
▪ I can barely read your writing.
▪ The children spent hours practising their handwriting.
▷ scrawl /skrɔːl/ [uncountable noun]
careless and untidy writing that is difficult to read :
▪ What does it say? I can’t read your scrawl!
2. to write something quickly or carelessly
▷ jot down /ˌdʒɒt ˈdaʊnǁˌdʒɑːt-/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to quickly write down ideas, notes, or facts :
jot down something
▪ Let me jot down the name of that restaurant.
jot something down
▪ If anyone has any suggestions, jot them down on a piece of paper and give them to me.
▷ scribble /ˈskrɪb ə l/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write something quickly and untidily :
▪ Andrew scribbled a quick note and handed it to the chairman.
scribble something down
▪ Sorry, I scribbled her phone number down, and now I can’t read my own writing!
scribble down something
▪ We’ll all scribble down some suggestions, and then compare them.
scribbled [adjective]
▪ scribbled notes
▷ scrawl /skrɔːl/ [transitive verb]
to write something carelessly and untidily :
▪ Someone had scrawled a strange symbol on the wall above the bed.
▪ Three students were excluded for scrawling graffiti on a school wall.
▷ dash off /ˌdæʃ ˈɒf/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write a letter, note, story etc quickly and without thinking carefully about it :
dash off something
▪ He was furious when he saw the article, and dashed off a letter to the editor immediately.
dash something off
▪ The publishers wanted a summary that afternoon, so I dashed it off in an hour or so.
3. to write something on a computer, typewriter etc
▷ write /raɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write something using a computer :
▪ Most of our students write their essays on screen.
▪ While I was writing, the computer went down and I lost all my work.
▷ type /taɪp/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write with a computer or a typewriter :
▪ I’m afraid I don’t type very fast.
▪ Could you type those letters for me?
type something out/up
to type something that has been written on paper
▪ We’ll have someone type it out and put it in alphabetical order.
▪ I asked Michelle to type up my assignment so I could mail it in today.
type in something
type something in a blank space, for example on a form
▪ Bring up the customer database, and type in the amount on the invoice.
typing [uncountable noun]
writing with a typewriter or computer :
▪ Marion says she’ll do some typing for us.
▪ We need a secretary with good typing speeds. who can type fast
▷ key in /ˌkiː ˈɪn/ [transitive phrasal verb] especially British
to write something on a computer, especially something that you are copying :
key in something
▪ I keyed in my password, but the file still won’t open.
key something in
▪ Find out the name of the file, key it in, and it will appear on the screen
▷ enter /ˈentəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to make words or numbers appear on a computer screen by pressing the keys :
▪ Enter the filename and click ‘OK’.
▪ She entered Jim’s postcode, and watched as a street map appeared on the screen.
enter something in/into
▪ The patients’ medical records are entered into a database.
▷ print /prɪnt/ [transitive verb usually in passive]
to produce copies of a book, letter, newspaper etc using a printing machine :
▪ Most of our books are printed abroad.
▪ This book was printed on recycled paper.
▪ Where did you get your wedding invitations printed?
▷ print/print out /prɪnt, ˌprɪnt ˈaʊt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to produce a copy of something you have written on a computer using a special machine connected to it :
▪ My printer prints out at 8 pages per minute.
▪ She printed three copies of the letter.
4. to write a letter or message
▷ write /raɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write someone a letter :
▪ Sorry, I haven’t had time to write.
▪ Keith hasn’t written for a while.
write a letter/postcard etc to somebody
▪ I try to write a cheerful letter to her at least once a week.
▪ We wrote about 20 postcards while we were in Greece.
▪ I wasn’t happy, so I wrote a nasty letter asking for my money back.
write to
▪ He wrote to his father, asking for more money.
write somebody
American write a letter to someone
▪ I just wrote him saying how much I missed him being around.
write back
write a letter to someone after they have written one to you
▪ Why didn’t you write back?
write in
to write and send a letter to an organization
▪ A lot of listeners wrote in and complained about the programme.
writer [countable noun]
the person who writes a letter or message :
▪ The writer forgot to put her address.
▪ Sarah’s a good letter writer, she’s very funny.
▷ write off /ˌraɪt ˈɒf/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to write a letter and send it in order to buy something, take part in a competition, have something sent to you etc :
write off for something
▪ Write off today for your free Batman poster!
write off to somebody
▪ I wrote off to Friends of the Earth and they sent me some leaflets.
▷ e-mail also email /ˈiː meɪl/ [transitive verb]
to send someone a message using the Internet :
▪ Please e-mail your CV to the address below.
e-mail somebody
▪ So, if you e-mail someone in California, you only pay local phone rates.
e-mail somebody with something
▪ She e-mailed me with her new address, but I deleted it by mistake.
e-mail [countable/uncountable noun]
▪ Nikki and I keep in touch by e-mail.
▪ Did you get my last e-mail?
send somebody an email
▪ I sent him an e-mail asking for a copy of his article.
check your e-mail
connect to the Internet to find out whether you have any e-mails
▪ I didn’t even check my e-mail this morning, so I’ll check it now.
▷ drop somebody a line /ˌdrɒp somebody ə ˈlaɪnǁˌdrɑːp-/ [verb phrase] spoken informal
to send someone a letter :
▪ Why don’t you give me a call or drop me a line sometime?
▪ What do you think? Drop me a line at the Washington Post Weekend section and share your thoughts.
▷ get in touch with somebody /ˌget ɪn ˈtʌtʃ wɪð somebody/ [verb phrase]
to write to someone, or phone them, especially someone you have not seen or written to for a long time :
▪ I’d love to get in touch with Monique again. Do you have her new address?
▪ We help adopted children who want to get in touch with their natural parents.
▷ contact /ˈkɒntæktǁˈkɑːn-/ [transitive verb]
to write to someone that you do not know, or phone them, especially in order to ask for help or information :
▪ Elsa contacted several companies to ask if they could offer her part-time work.
▪ If the problem continues, try contacting a software expert.
▷ keep/stay in touch /ˌkiːp, ˌsteɪ ɪn ˈtʌtʃ/ [verb phrase]
to continue to write to someone or phone them, when you no longer work with them or live near them :
▪ I met Pia in Sweden and we’ve stayed in touch ever since.
keep/stay in touch with
▪ Do you keep in touch with any of your friends from school?
▷ correspond /ˌkɒrɪˈspɒnd, ˌkɒrəˈspɒndǁˌkɔːrə̇ˈspɑːnd, ˌkɑː-/ [intransitive verb] formal
to write letters to someone and receive letters from them, especially regularly :
▪ They started to correspond two years ago.
correspond with
▪ I’m a 21-year old Kenyan student who wishes to correspond with students from Britain or the US.
5. to write a story, book, newspaper article etc
▷ write /raɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write a book, story, newspaper article etc :
▪ I can’t come out tonight. I have an essay to write.
▪ Who wrote ‘Madame Bovary’?
▪ Anna enjoys writing, and she’s quite good at it.
write about/on
▪ She writes very amusingly about her childhood in Moscow.
▪ He wrote several scholarly articles on ancient Chinese texts.
well/badly written
▪ It’s a fascinating article, and very well written.
▷ compile /kəmˈpaɪl/ [transitive verb]
to make a list, or a document, book etc that contains lists of information, for example a dictionary :
▪ They are compiling a dictionary of new words.
▪ The book was compiled by a panel of experts, working in conjunction with the publisher.
▷ compose /kəmˈpəʊz/ [transitive verb] formal
to write a poem, letter, or song, thinking very carefully about what to say and how to say it :
▪ These love poems are believed to have been composed by a poet at the court of King Henry II.
▪ Tom tried to compose a letter, but he couldn’t concentrate.
6. someone who writes books, articles, stories etc
▷ writer /ˈraɪtəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone whose job is to write books, stories etc :
▪ When I was young, I wanted to be a writer.
▪ I enjoy reading American writers.
▪ a political writer for the New York Times
▪ He’s a good speech writer someone who writes speeches for other people , and much in demand among politicians.
writer of
▪ a writer of romantic novels
▷ author /ˈɔːθəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who writes books, or who wrote a particular book :
▪ Dickens is one of my favourite authors.
▪ The author recalls scenes from her childhood.
author of
▪ The author of ‘Surfing on the Internet’, JC Hertz, will be on tonight’s show.
co-author
someone who writes a book with someone else
▪ Phil Duncan, co-author of ‘Politics in America’
▷ journalist also reporter American /ˈdʒɜːʳn ə l-ɪst, ˈdʒɜːʳn ə l-əst, rɪˈpɔːʳtəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone whose job is to write articles for newspapers or magazines :
▪ She works as a journalist on the Sunday Times.
financial/sports etc journalist
▪ After he retired from football, he became a sports reporter for the Gazette.
▪ Lee is one of the highest-paid financial journalists in the country.
7. to write the letters of a word
▷ spell /spel/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write a word using the correct letters in the correct order :
▪ In American English, ‘organize’ is always spelled with a ‘z’.
▪ How do you spell your surname?
▪ I’ve never been able to spell very well in English.
spell something out
to say each letter of a word in the right order
▪ And your last name is Aitchson? Could you spell that out for me please?
▷ spelling /ˈspelɪŋ/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the way a word is spelled, or someone’s ability to spell words correctly :
▪ British and American spellings
▪ Your spelling is atrocious!
▪ This essay is full of spelling mistakes.
8. to write your name
▷ sign /saɪn/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to write your name at the end of a letter, document etc, in order to prove who you are or show that you wrote it :
▪ Sign here please.
▪ Did the doctor ask you to sign a consent form Mrs Harris?
▪ You forgot to sign the credit card slip.
sign your name
▪ Where do you want me to sign my name?
sign for something
to show that you have received it
▪ Could you sign for this package, please?
▷ initial /ɪˈnɪʃ ə l/ [transitive verb]
to write the first letter of each of your names on something such as a document to show that you agree to it, have read it etc :
▪ The memo had been initialled by the President.
▪ If you alter something you have written on a cheque, you must initial the change.
▷ countersign /ˈkaʊntəʳsaɪn/ [transitive verb]
to write your signature on an official document, especially one that has already been signed by someone else, in order to approve it :
▪ You have to get your visa countersigned by someone at the embassy.
▷ signature /ˈsɪgnətʃəʳ/ [countable noun]
your name written by you, for example on a document or at the end of a letter, in order to prove who you are or show that you wrote it :
▪ Who’s it from? I can’t read the signature.
▪ Put your signature here, then print your name underneath.
▪ You have to get the signature of the child’s parent or guardian.
signature on
▪ I just need your signature again on this last sheet here.
▷ autograph /ˈɔːtəgrɑːfǁ-græf/ [countable noun]
the name of a famous person, written by them on a photograph, in a book etc for someone to keep :
▪ She has the autograph of every player in the team.
sign autographs
to sign your name for people when they ask
▪ He refused to sign autographs at a charity event last year.
autographed [adjective]
▪ I have an autographed picture of John Lennon that’s worth quite a lot.
9. to write information on an official document
▷ fill in something/fill out something /ˌfɪl ˈɪn something, ˌfɪl ˈaʊt something/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write information or answer questions on an official document, for example giving your name, address, and age :
▪ Passengers must fill in a boarding card before boarding the plane.
▪ I must have filled out the order form incorrectly.
fill something in/fill something out
▪ You just fill it out, then send it in to the passport office.
▷ write out/write /ˌraɪt ˈaʊt, raɪt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write information, such as your name, the date etc on something such as a cheque or a form :
write (out) something
▪ I’ll write out a cheque for $500 to cover expenses.
write somebody (out) something
▪ Why don’t you get the doctor to write you a prescription for some painkillers?
write something out
▪ Write the information out here on this form, and I’ll order the books for you.
▷ make out /ˌmeɪk ˈaʊt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write the necessary details on an official document such as a cheque or ticket, including the name of the person or organization it should go to :
make out something
▪ He made out a cheque for $100.
make something out (for somebody)
▪ Would you like me to make out a receipt for you?
▪ He’s just making the booking form out.
make out a cheque to somebody
write on a cheque the name of the person you are paying it to
▪ Who should I make the cheque out to?
▪ If you want to pay by check, make it out to GK Fisher.
10. to write something that you intend to improve or finish later
▷ draft /drɑːftǁdræft/ [transitive verb]
to write a letter, speech, official document etc with the intention of changing and improving it before you use it :
▪ She’s busy drafting her speech for next week’s conference.
▪ The prisoners sat down together to draft a letter to the governor.
draft [countable noun]
a first copy of a letter, book, agreement etc which will be improved before it is finally used :
▪ By the end of the year, Jim had produced a first draft of his new novel.
▷ rough /rʌf/ [adjective usually before noun]
a rough copy of a document is the first one you write which has all the main ideas but does not have all the details and is not finished :
rough copy/draft
▪ This is only a rough copy. I’m going to write it out again.
▪ It’s just a rough draft, but I’d like you to read it and tell me what you think.
in rough [adverb]
written in this way :
▪ Write your experiment in rough then read it through carefully before finalizing it.
11. to write something again
▷ write out /ˌraɪt ˈaʊt/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write something again in a better or more complete way :
write something out
▪ First I think up the basic plot, then I write the story out in more detail.
▪ Find out what is wrong with the example sentences, then write them out correctly.
write out something
▪ I’ve written out what everyone owes for the phone bill - it’s over there.
▷ rewrite /ˌriːˈraɪt/ [transitive verb]
to write something again using different words, or a different style, in order to make it better or more acceptable :
▪ Perhaps you ought to rewrite the first paragraph to make it a little clearer.
▪ The script was rewritten to give it a happier ending.
▷ write up /ˌraɪt ˈʌp/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to write out notes in complete form, making them into full sentences so that they can be read easily later :
write up something
▪ I must write up my history notes tonight.
▪ I think I’m probably ready to start writing up the first part of the study.
write something up
▪ We’re trying to get all the results organized, so we can write them up.
12. to write a song/music
▷ write /raɪt/ [transitive verb]
to write music or songs :
▪ Lennon and McCartney wrote over 100 songs.
▪ Who wrote the film soundtrack for ‘The Bodyguard’?
▷ compose /kəmˈpəʊz/ [transitive verb]
to write a piece of music, especially serious music :
▪ Mozart composed his first symphony when he was still a child.
▪ The music was composed and performed by Keith Jarrett.
▷ composer /kəmˈpəʊzəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who writes music, especially serious music :
▪ My favourite composer is Beethoven.
▪ the composer Philip Glass
▷ songwriter /ˈsɒŋˌraɪtəʳǁˈsɔːŋ-/ [countable noun]
someone who writes songs, especially modern, popular songs :
▪ songwriter Bernie Taupin
singer-songwriter
someone who writes and performs their own songs
▪ Kaylie is a very talented singer-songwriter.
13. something that has been written or printed
▷ writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/ [uncountable noun]
▪ There’s some writing on the back of this photo, but I can’t make out what it says.
in writing
▪ All bids must be submitted in writing to the above address.
piece of writing
▪ Below each picture was a short piece of writing in Arabic script.
▷ words /wɜːʳdz/ [plural noun]
writing, especially a small amount of writing :
the words
▪ The words were very faint but I could make out the name ‘Alex’.
▪ She scrawled the words ‘I love you’ on my desk.
▷ text /tekst/ [uncountable noun]
the written part of a book, newspaper etc, not including notes, pictures etc :
▪ The front page had no text, just a photograph of the Princess and a huge headline.
▪ You can cut and paste whole blocks of text very easily on screen.
▷ manuscript /ˈmænjɑskrɪpt/ [countable noun]
a copy of a book which is written by hand or typed, often before it is printed :
▪ The finished manuscript was sent to the publisher on 3 January.
▪ We were shown some of the ancient manuscripts and rare books that are kept in the British Library.
▷ inscription /ɪnˈskrɪpʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a piece of writing written on, or cut into, the surface of a stone, coin etc :
▪ We read the inscriptions on the graves, and wondered what each of those lives had been like.
▪ It was an engraved silver plate bearing the inscription ‘Made for His Majesty George III June 1737’.
▷ graffiti /græˈfiːti, grə-/ [uncountable noun]
rude, humorous, or political writing on the walls of buildings, trains etc :
▪ The corridors are very dirty, and the walls are covered with graffiti.
▷ document /ˈdɒkjɪmənt, ˈdɒkjəməntǁˈdɑːk-/ [countable noun]
a piece of writing. A paper document is usually an official or legal one. A document that you produce on a computer is something you type into a particular file :
▪ Several secret documents went missing from the government’s Information department.
▪ Your birth certificate is an important document, which should be kept safe at all times.
▪ Open a new document on a computer and name it ‘resume’.
▪ You can attach any documents to an email and send them to friends or colleagues.
14. written not spoken
▷ written /ˈrɪtn/ [adjective]
▪ Some expressions are more common in spoken English than in written English.
▪ She was illiterate, and could not understand the written details on the insurance form.
▪ Don’t sign any written agreement until you have read every word of the contract.
▷ in writing /ɪn ˈraɪtɪŋ/ [adverb]
if you get or give information in writing, it is written down, not spoken, so you can prove later what was actually said :
▪ Please confirm in writing the date you intend to leave.
▪ I don’t have anything in writing, but they said they expected me to start work Monday.
put something in writing
▪ You should have asked them to put what they agreed in writing.
▷ on paper /ɒn ˈpeɪpəʳ/ [adverb]
if you put ideas or suggestions on paper, you write them down so that you can remember them or organize them more clearly :
▪ If you have any suggestions for improving the course, put them on paper and we’ll discuss them.
▪ Felton had made the same allegations on paper, and had sent a copy to the FBI.
▷ handwritten /ˌhændˈrɪtn◂/ [adjective]
written by hand :
▪ Please attach a covering letter (typed, not handwritten).
▪ The scene of the accident was surrounded by flowers, many with handwritten cards expressing sympathy.