# writing

Pronunciation: say "RY-ting" /ˈɹaɪtɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle and gerund of write. — present participle and gerund of write
   - Simple: Present participle of write. Use this form when the action is happening now.
   - _He was writing in his journal when the storm hit._
   - _The students are writing their final essays this week._

## Noun

2. The pursuit or occupation of producing written works such as books, articles, and stories.
   - Simple: The work of creating books, stories, articles, and other texts, whether it is your job or not.
   - _After years in advertising, he turned to writing full-time and published his first novel at forty._
   - _Freelance writing pays the rent, though not always on time._
3. A piece of written work, such as a document, article, or book, or the works of a particular author (often plural).
   - Simple: Something that someone has written, like a letter, article, or book.
   - _The contract says any change must be set out in a writing signed by both parties._
   - _Her published writings span four decades of journalism._
4. Visible symbols, such as letters, that have been marked down to express meaning.
   - Simple: Marks or letters on a surface that stand for words and carry meaning.
   - _Archaeologists deciphered the writing carved into the temple wall._
   - _Tiny writing ran along the bottom edge of the manuscript._
5. The process of recording a language by means of letters or other symbols.
   - Simple: The act of recording language using letters or other symbols.
   - _The invention of writing allowed early civilizations to keep detailed records._
   - _Scholars trace the origins of writing to ancient Mesopotamia._
6. The distinctive style in which a particular person writes.
   - Simple: The personal way a particular person forms letters or puts words together.
   - _The detective compared the ransom note with the suspect's writing._
   - _Hemingway's spare writing influenced generations of novelists._
7. Intended for or used in the act of putting words on a page.
   - Simple: Meant for or used in the act of putting words on paper.
   - _He sat at an old writing desk near the window._
   - _The shop sells writing materials and fine stationery._

## Origin

**Meanings 2–7** — It is write + -ing, and it goes back through Middle English writing to Old English wrīting.
**Meaning 1** — Old English wrītende, the present participle of wrītan (“to scratch, carve, write”), became Middle English writinge; in modern terms it is write + -ing.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/writing (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).