"To write up a story is to give life to history, capturing forgotten moments and immortalizing them for future generations in words."

📖 Definition

To write up means to prepare a detailed report, document, or article by compiling information and organizing it in written form.

Examples in context

📖 Definition

To write up means to prepare a detailed report, document, or article by compiling information and organizing it in written form.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable
Yes
You can separate 'write' and 'up' with the object.
Register
Neutral
Suitable for both casual and professional contexts.
Transitive
Yes
Requires a direct object to complete the action.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense Form Example
Present Simple write up I write up notes after every meeting.
Past Simple wrote up She wrote up the incident report last night.
Present Continuous writing up He is writing up the results of the experiment.
Present Perfect have written up They have written up all the findings already.

💡 When to Use

Reporting on events
Use when creating a detailed report or document outlining events, often for official or archival purposes.
Example: "The journalist wrote up the event for next day's newspaper."
Preparing academic work
Used in compiling academic or research findings into a structured report or article for submission or publication.
Example: "The students must write up their thesis by the end of the semester."
Documenting observations
Apply when systematically recording observations, often in scientific or analytical contexts, for future reference.
Example: "After the experiment, he wrote up his observations meticulously."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect separation
❌ Wrong: He wrote the article up quickly.
✅ Correct: He wrote up the article quickly.
💡 Tip: Keep 'write' and 'up' together unless using the separable form.
Wrong tense
❌ Wrong: She writes the report up yesterday.
✅ Correct: She wrote up the report yesterday.
💡 Tip: Match the tense to the time context.
Missing object
❌ Wrong: They wrote up quickly.
✅ Correct: They wrote up the summary quickly.
💡 Tip: ‘Write up’ needs an object to complete the meaning.
Practice

WRITE UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

  1. Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
  2. Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
  3. Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

  • 1
    Listen to example

    The manager wrote up the final project report for the board meeting.

    Words Multiplied
  • 2
    Listen to example

    He spent the night writing up the minutes from yesterday's conference.

    Words Multiplied
  • 3
    Listen to example

    Journalists write up stories daily for the evening news broadcast.

    Words Multiplied

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

document record

Antonyms

erase

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"She decided to ___ the interview notes before the deadline."

write
write up
wrote
writing

Frequently Asked Questions about Write Up

What is the origin of write up?

+
The term 'write up' emerged in the early 19th century and evolved as a part of newspaper jargon, initially used to mean creating a written account of news or events.

Can write up be used in formal and informal contexts?

+
Yes, 'write up' can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly utilized in professional settings for reports and in casual settings for personal accounts.

What is the difference between write up and document?

+
'Write up' implies creating a comprehensive written account or report, while 'document' broadly refers to recording information. 'Write up' often involves narrative or analytical detail.
Browse All Words Multiplied Phrasal Verbs
Human Communication Phrasal Verbs - WeeklyCross
Alessandra Nóbrega
About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey



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