write
To form words on a surface to communicate or express.
Word facts
Definition
To write means to form letters, words, or symbols on a surface to communicate. Writing can be for recording information, expressing ideas, telling stories, or communicating with others.
Usage: Write is the infinitive. Wrote is past tense. Written is the past participle. Common mistake: 'I have wrote' — should be 'I have written'.
Example sentences
- 1
She sat down to write a letter to her grandmother.
- 2
He writes articles for several national newspapers.
- 3
The ability to write clearly is a valuable skill in almost every profession.
Word family
From Old English wrītan ('to score, scratch, draw, paint, write'). Originally, writing meant scratching marks into stone or wax — carving meaning into a surface.
Write and right are homophones. A writer aims to write words right — correctly and clearly.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
What is the past tense of write?
Wrote. Past participle: written. Example: She wrote the report and had it reviewed before sending.
What is the noun form of write?
Writing (the activity or output) and writer (the person). Example: Clear writing requires clear thinking.