Write vs Writing vs Written – KD Did It Edits (2024)

Revised as of
14 July 2023

It is a confusion, but primarily one of verb tense. Write and writes are present tense. Wrote (and writ) are the past tense version of write.

Writing is both noun and verb with the verb a present participle, i.e., it’s present tense using an -ing ending.

Written is a past tense, specifically the past participle, albeit with an irregular ending.

Word Confusions . . .

. . . started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noire for you from either end. Consider sharing this Word Confusion with friends by tweeting it.

Write	Writing	Written
Lennon–McCartney by an unknown photographer for United Press International and is in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. — Lennon and McCartney did write most of the Beatles songs.	Kannada Alphabet AEE is Gopala Krishna A’s own work under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — I do love the look of script, and it’s fun to watch the pen writing.	Rosetta Hierogliphs is courtesy of Bugboy52.40 and under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — The Rosetta Stone is inscribed with a written decree in three languages, which provided the key to the modern understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Part of Grammar:
Verb, intransitive & transitive	Morpheme: writeNoun; Verb, intransitive & transitive	Morpheme: writeVerb, intransitive & transitive
Gerund: writing Third person present verb: writes Past tense: wrote, writ [archaic]Past participle: written Present participle: writing
Verb, intransitive: Mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement Have the ability to mark down coherent letters or words Write in a cursive hand, as opposed to printing individual letters Compose, write, and send (a letter) to someone Compose (a text or work) for written or printed reproduction or publication Put into literary form and set down in writing Verb, transitive: Mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement Fill out or complete (a sheet, check, or similar) in this way Write in a cursive hand, as opposed to printing individual letters Compose, write, and send (a letter) to someone [Chiefly North American] Write and send a letter to (someone) [write in] Write to an organization, especially a broadcasting station, with a question, suggestion, or opinion Compose (a text or work) for written or printed reproduction or publication Put into literary form and set down in writing Compose a musical work [write someone into; write someone out of] Add or remove a character to or from a long-running story or series [Archaic] Describe in writing [Computing] Enter data into a specified storage medium or location in store Underwrite an insurance policy	See the leftmost column for the intransitive and transitive verb definitions for writing.Noun: The activity or skill of marking coherent words on paper and composing text The activity or occupation of composing text for publication Written work, especially with regard to its style or quality [Writings] Books, stories, articles, or other written works [The Writings] the Hagiographa A sequence of letters, words, or symbols marked on paper or some other surface Handwriting	See the leftmost column for the intransitive and transitive verb definitions for written.
Examples:
Verb, intransitive: He wrote very neatly in blue ink. And that’s all she wrote, folks. He couldn’t read or write. She writes a beautiful hand. Paul wrote almost every day. Verb, transitive: Baby, with your looks, you can write your own ticket. He wrote under a pseudonym. Mother wrote me and told me about poor Simon’s death. If you want to learn more, write in with your query. I didn’t know you wrote poetry. “If I could write the beauty of your eyes, / And in fresh numbers number all your graces,” – William Shakespeare, Sonnet XVII It’s nothing to write home about. I get annoyed with authors who write down to their readers. Janet’s granny will write her off, you’ll see. Now, will you write her up!?!	Noun: Parents want schools to concentrate on reading, writing, and arithmetic. She made a decent living from writing. The writing is straightforward and accessible. He was introduced to the writings of Gertrude Stein. She carried this leather briefcase with gold writing on it. Doctors must take a special course in incomprehensible writing. Verb, intransitive: What’s she writing now? There are people who cannot read or write. She wrote for most of her adult life. Please write while you are away. Verb, transitive: He is writing a song specifically for her. I think he’s writing a complaint out. She’s writing her name? She’s been writing five pages an hour.	Verb, intransitive: It’s an invisible message written in lemon juice. What has Georgie written about now? He had written about the beauty of Andalucia. Verb, transitive: They’ve written Dr. Lester out of the show. Amesco has underwritten the ship policy. He had written his name on the paper. Had Alice written down the address? The check was written for $800. Helen had written a letter to Elizabeth. Every bit of code we’ve written will have to be redone. Ah, geez, it’s written all over your face! Well, it’s not like it’s written in stone.
Derivatives:
Adjective: self-writing, unwriting, writable Noun: handwriting, writing Verb: miswrite, miswriting, miswritten, miswrote
Phrasal Verb
write something down write someone in write something off write something up
History of the Word:
Old English wr&imacr;tan, meaning score, form (letters) by carving, write, is of Germanic origin and related to the German reissen meaning sketch or drag.

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Resources for Write vs Writing vs Written

Apple Dictionary.com

The Free Dictionary: write

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Pinterest Photo Credits

Stanza 135.2 to be Revised and Go on the Square is under the Public Domain Mark 1.0 license, via Gary Stockbridge and courtesy of the New York Public Library.

As a language enthusiast with a deep understanding of grammar and linguistics, I appreciate the nuances and intricacies of language usage. Over the years, I've honed my expertise through extensive reading, writing, and editing, allowing me to navigate the complexities of language with precision.

In the provided article, the author discusses various concepts related to the verb "write" and its derivatives, including "writing" and "written." Let's break down the key information and concepts covered in the article:

Verb Usage:
- Write (Verb, Intransitive & Transitive):
  - Mark letters, words, or symbols on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement.
  - Have the ability to mark down coherent letters or words.
  - Write in a cursive hand, as opposed to printing individual letters.
  - Compose, write, and send a letter to someone.
  - Compose (a text or work) for written or printed reproduction or publication.
  - Put into literary form and set down in writing.
Verb Forms:
- Past Tense:
  - Wrote (and writ [archaic])
- Past Participle:
  - Written
- Present Participle:
  - Writing
Noun Usage:
- Writing (Noun; Verb, Intransitive & Transitive):
  - The activity or skill of marking coherent words on paper and composing text.
  - The activity or occupation of composing text for publication.
  - Written work, especially with regard to its style or quality.
  - Books, stories, articles, or other written works.
Examples of Usage:
- Verb, Intransitive: "He wrote very neatly in blue ink."
- Verb, Transitive: "He is writing a song specifically for her."
- Noun: "Parents want schools to concentrate on reading, writing, and arithmetic."
Derivatives:
- Adjective:
  - Self-writing, unwriting, writable
- Noun:
  - Handwriting, writing
- Verb:
  - Miswrite, miswriting, miswritten, miswrote
Phrasal Verbs:
- Write something down
- Write someone in
- Write something off
- Write something up
History of the Word:
- "Write" has Old English origins, meaning to score, form (letters) by carving. It is related to the German word "reissen," meaning to sketch or drag.

In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive exploration of the various aspects of the verb "write," its forms, and related concepts. The author also shares personal experiences with word confusions and encourages readers to contribute their own examples. This analysis serves as a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the intricacies of written language.