# writing

/ˈɹaɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɹˈaɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/writing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the activity

noun · CEFR A1

the act or process of putting words on paper or a screen.

For teachers: the process of representing language through a system of symbols or letters.

- She spends most of her morning writing in her journal.
- The student found that the physical act of writing helped him retain complex information better than simply reading the textbook.

Usage: Uncountable in this sense.

### 2. handwriting style

noun · CEFR A2

the way a person's letters look when they write by hand.

For teachers: the particular style or character of a person's penmanship.

- His writing is very messy and difficult to read.
- The teacher struggled to grade the essay because the student's writing was nearly illegible.

Usage: Uncountable in this sense.

### 3. a piece of work

noun · CEFR B1

a book, article, or other document that someone has produced.

For teachers: a specific piece of written work, such as a literary composition or a formal document.

- The professor praised her academic writing for its clarity.
- The collection includes the early writings of the philosopher, many of which were previously unpublished.

Usage: Often used in the plural ('writings') when referring to a collection of works.

## Examples

- Your writing is very clear and easy to read.
- She spends her Saturday mornings doing some creative writing at the local library.
- The discovery of ancient writing on the cave walls provided historians with invaluable insights into the social hierarchy of the early settlement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.