Write up means to turn notes or events into a full written account, and it also means to record an official report or criticism. To use write up in a sentence, name what is being recorded and, where relevant, who receives it: “She wrote up the meeting notes before lunch.” The verb is separable and always transitive.
Write up at a glance
- Write up is a transitive phrasal verb; it needs an object such as notes, a report or a person.
- It is separable: write up the notes or write the notes up are both correct.
- A pronoun object must sit in the middle, so write it up is right and write up it is wrong.
- Its four senses are producing an account, recording a reprimand, praising in print and raising book value.
- The past tense is wrote and the past participle is written, so the passive is written up.
- The noun is hyphenated: a write-up, never the single word writeup.
What does write up mean?
Write up is a phrasal verb meaning to turn notes into a full written account, to record something formally, to praise a person or event in print, or to raise the recorded value of an asset. The Cambridge entry for write up records the account-producing and reporting senses, and the uses stay apart because the object changes: notes are written up into a report, an employee is written up for a fault, and a property is written up in the accounts.
| Sense | Plain meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Produce an account | Turn notes or events into a finished piece of writing | She wrote up the interview for the magazine. |
| Record formally | Put an official report or warning on file | The manager wrote him up for repeated lateness. |
| Praise in print | Give a favourable written review | The critics wrote up the young pianist. |
| Accounting | Increase the recorded value of an asset | The firm wrote up the property after revaluation. |
One limitation is worth stating plainly. Write up is not the same as write down, and mixing them changes the meaning completely, because one expands and the other shortens. Where the task is simply to record something briefly, draft a quick note is clearer, and where a formal record is needed as proof, document a decision carries the evidential sense that write up lacks.
How do you use write up in a sentence?
Write up is a separable phrasal verb, so a noun object can follow the particle or sit between the two parts: write up the report or write the report up. The particle can be stranded after a noun, but a pronoun object must go in the middle, so write it up, never write up it. The verb is transitive, so it always needs something to record or a person to report.
| Pattern | Example | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| write up + noun | Please write up the notes tonight. | Object after the particle. |
| write + noun + up | Please write the notes up tonight. | Object between verb and particle. |
| write + pronoun + up | Please write it up tonight. | The pronoun must sit in the middle. |
| write + somebody + up | The manager wrote him up for lateness. | A formal report on a person. |
| be written up | The case was written up in a journal. | Passive; uses the past participle written. |
| write up + notes as + noun | She wrote up the talk as a short article. | The finished form the notes take. |
Where the goal is to create a piece of writing from scratch, compose is the formal verb, and where the goal is to give an account of what happened, describe keeps the focus on the telling rather than the paperwork. Write up is the practical middle term between them.
Write up in a sentence: examples across contexts
| Context | Example sentence | Why this works |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | She wrote up the interview the same afternoon. | The core sense of turning notes into copy. |
| Workplace | The manager wrote him up for missing three shifts. | The disciplinary sense, with the object in the middle. |
| Academic | He is writing up his results for a journal. | The research sense, formal and ongoing. |
| Book review | The critics wrote up the debut novel warmly. | The sense of praising a work in print. |
| Accounting | The firm wrote up the property after the revaluation. | The technical sense of raising book value. |
| Please write up the meeting notes before Friday. | A routine request in plain business English. | |
| Court | The clerk wrote up the order for the judge to sign. | A formal record made from a ruling. |
| Sports report | Reporters wrote up the final as an instant classic. | The journalistic sense applied to a match. |
| Laboratory | She wrote up the experiment as a short procedure. | The technical report sense in science. |
Write up vs write down
Write up and write down look like opposites, and in part they are, but both also have technical senses that have nothing to do with each other.
| Attribute | write up | write down |
|---|---|---|
| Core meaning | Produce a full account, or record a reprimand | Record briefly, or reduce book value |
| Direction | From notes to finished prose | From speech or memory to a quick note |
| Typical object | a report, an interview, an employee | a number, a message, an address |
| Implication | Expansion and formality | Brevity and speed |
| Second sense | Praise in print, or raise book value | Reduce the value of an asset |
| Register | Neutral to formal | Neutral |
Verdict: choose write up when notes grow into a finished account or when a formal report is filed, and choose write down when you mean a quick note or a reduction in recorded value. The two verbs are mirror images only in the accounting sense. Where the finished piece sets out an opinion rather than a plain account, review is the word that names it.
Word forms and grammar of write up
| Form | Part of speech | Example |
|---|---|---|
| write up | phrasal verb, base | I will write up the notes tonight. |
| writes up | third person singular | She writes up every lecture. |
| wrote up | past tense | He wrote up the visit the next morning. |
| written up | past participle | The case was written up in a journal. |
| writing up | present participle | She is writing up her thesis. |
| write-up | noun | The write-up praised the new play. |
| writeup | non-standard | Write the noun as write-up, with a hyphen. |
The irregular past is the form learners get wrong most often, because wrote is the simple past and written is the participle, so the passive is written up and never wrote up. Other phrasal verbs with up, such as add up, take different objects and meanings, which is why the particle alone never tells you the grammar.
Common mistakes with write up
- Incorrect:
She wrote up it after the meeting.Correct: She wrote it up after the meeting. Rule: a pronoun object must sit between the verb and the particle. - Incorrect:
The manager wrote up him for lateness.Correct: The manager wrote him up for lateness. Rule: a pronoun object goes in the middle, never after up. - Incorrect:
He was wrote up for the error.Correct: He was written up for the error. Rule: the passive uses the past participle written, not the past tense wrote. - Incorrect:
The report was write up by the intern.Correct: The report was written up by the intern. Rule: after be, use the participle written up. - Incorrect:
The writeup ran to three pages.Correct: The write-up ran to three pages. Rule: the noun is hyphenated, write-up.
Practice using write up
- Fill the blank: Please ______ the interview ______ before the deadline.
- Choose the better word: The witness (wrote up / wrote down) the licence plate in a hurry.
- Correct the error: The notes were write up as a short report.
- Build a sentence: use write up about a student who is punished for missing a rehearsal.
- Spot the register: which belongs in a research email, I am writing up my results for the journal, or I am doing my homework write-up thing?
- Rewrite with the noun: She wrote up the concert for the paper. Use write-up instead.
Answers
- write the interview up: the object may sit between write and up.
- wrote down: a quick note is written down, not written up.
- The notes were written up as a short report: the passive uses the participle written.
- Model answer: The director wrote the student up for missing three rehearsals.
- I am writing up my results for the journal: a research email keeps the formal phrase.
- The write-up of the concert praised the soloist: the hyphenated noun names the finished account.
The bottom line
Use write up in a sentence to turn notes into a finished account, to record a formal report, or, in accounts, to raise a value, and keep the object close to the verb. The two points that decide most sentences are that a pronoun goes between write and up, and that the passive is written up rather than wrote up. When the task is simply to take a quick note, write down is the opposite verb and the right one.
Frequently asked questions about write up
Is write up one word or two?
As a verb, write up is always two words: write up the report. As a noun or adjective it takes a hyphen: a write-up, a write-up sheet. The single word writeup is a common misspelling that dictionaries do not accept, so keep the space for the verb and the hyphen for the noun.
What does it mean to be written up at work?
To be written up at work means a manager has recorded a formal complaint or warning about your conduct. Unlike a quiet word, a written warning goes on file and may affect later reviews. The phrase grew from the idea of writing a name up on an official list of staff.
Is write up separable?
Yes. A noun object may follow the particle or sit between the two parts, so both write up the notes and write the notes up are correct. A pronoun object must go in the middle: write it up. The verb is transitive and irregular, with wrote for the past and written for the participle.
What is the difference between write up and write down?
Write up means to turn notes into a full account or to record a formal report. Write down means to note something briefly, or in accounting to reduce the value of an asset. A journalist writes up an interview, while a witness writes down a licence plate.
Wondering how to create a solid write up? A write up is a concise piece of writing that summarizes or explains a topic in a clear and organized manner. Whether it’s a report for work, a review of a product, or an analysis of an event, a well-crafted write up can effectively convey information to your audience.
To create an effective write up, it’s important to structure your writing in a logical way, include relevant details, and use clear and concise language. By following a few key steps and guidelines, you can enhance the quality and impact of your write up, making it engaging and informative for your readers.
7 Examples Of Write Up Used In a Sentence For Kids
- Please write up your name on the paper.
- Can you write up your favorite color next to your name?
- Let’s write up a story about our favorite animals.
- Don’t forget to write up the numbers from one to ten.
- I will write up a special message for you.
- It’s important to always write up neatly and legibly.
- After we finish coloring, we can write up a caption for our artwork.
14 Sentences with Write Up Examples
- Write up a summary of the lecture notes for tomorrow’s exam.
- Make sure to write up the key points from the textbook for your assignment.
- Don’t forget to write up a report on the experiment you conducted in the lab.
- You should write up a proposal for the research project you want to work on.
- It’s important to write up a detailed plan for your presentation before the deadline.
- Remember to write up your thoughts and reflections after attending the workshop.
- Please write up your findings from the survey you conducted for your project.
- Can you write up a review of the latest book you read for the college newsletter?
- Make sure to write up the minutes of the meeting for circulation among the members.
- Write up a list of potential research topics you are interested in pursuing.
- Don’t procrastinate, and write up a rough draft of your term paper as soon as possible.
- Submit a write up of your internship experience to the career services department.
- Your professor has asked you to write up a reflection on your learning goals for the semester.
- It’s a good idea to write up a summary of the guest lecture for your classmates who missed it.
How To Use Write Up in Sentences?
Write Up can be used in a sentence to refer to the act of creating a document or report on a specific topic. It is often used in professional settings to summarize information or provide a detailed analysis. For beginners, using Write Up correctly is simple.
Here’s a helpful guide on how to use Write Up in a sentence:
- Determine the topic or subject matter you want to write about.
- Organize your thoughts and gather relevant information before starting the Write Up process.
- Begin by introducing the topic in the opening paragraph of your Write Up.
- Provide detailed information, analysis, or findings in the body of the Write Up.
- Use clear and concise language to communicate your ideas effectively.
- Conclude your Write Up by summarizing the main points and possibly providing recommendations or conclusions.
- Proofread and edit your Write Up to ensure clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.
By following these steps, you can effectively use Write Up in a sentence to convey your ideas and information in a clear and organized manner. Whether it’s for a school assignment, business report, or personal project, mastering the art of Write Up can help you communicate effectively and achieve your writing goals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the examples of sentences with “write up” demonstrate the varied ways in which this phrase can be used. Whether it’s referring to a written evaluation of someone’s performance, a detailed account of an event, or a published review, the term “write up” is versatile in its application. By showcasing sentences such as “I need to write up a report on our findings” or “The journalist will write up the interview for tomorrow’s paper,” the different contexts in which this term is employed become evident.
Overall, understanding how to use “write up” in sentences is crucial for effective communication in both professional and personal settings. From documenting information to sharing experiences, the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas through written accounts is a valuable skill that can enhance clarity and convey information accurately.
