writing
Marks conveying meaning
Writing is the act of forming letters, words, or symbols on a surface—or the result of that act.
It covers everything from handwriting to composing text: Her writing is illegible, He's working on his writing.
Writing also means written works collectively: the writing of James Baldwin.
The phrase the writing on the wall refers to an ominous sign of what's to come.
As a modifier, writing describes tools or activities: writing desk, writing sample.
Skill of forming letters
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- longhandUnabbreviated handwriting
- cursiveJoined handwriting style
- letteringStyled written characters
script · flourish · stroke · nib · ink · quill · brushwork · chirography
Carving into hard surfaces
- epitaphText honoring the deceased
- hieroglyphsAncient Egyptian picture-writing
- cuneiformStylus-impressed ancient script
- runesOld Germanic script
glyphs · carving · etching · stele · tablet · monument · tombstone · graffiti
Faculty for forming ideas
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- poetryMetrical literary composition
- proseUnversified language
fiction · fantasy · originality · expression · voice · style · imagery · symbolism
Exchanged written communication
- letterWritten symbol or message
- emailDigital written communication
- memoBrief internal message
- messageTransmitted communication
postcard · telegram · fax · newsletter · bulletin · announcement · report · dispatch
Language's letter system
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- spellingCorrect letter sequence
- punctuationWritten clarity symbols
- syntaxRules for arranging words
vocabulary · orthography · phonics · reading · comprehension · fluency · decoding · sentence
Short argumentative prose work
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- outlineSummary of key elements
draft · paragraph · introduction · conclusion · argumentation · exposition · analysis · synthesis
Account of events
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- storyAccount of events
- taleSpoken or written narrative
fiction · novel · fable · myth · legend · saga · epic · chronicle
Original text before publication
- scrollWound document of parchment
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
codex · palimpsest · tablet · scriptorium · scribe · illumination · quill · inkwell
penmanship
Skill of forming letters
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- longhandUnabbreviated handwriting
- cursiveJoined handwriting style
lettering · script · flourish · stroke · nib · ink · quill · brushwork · chirography · legibility
engraving
Carving into hard surfaces
- epitaphText honoring the deceased
- hieroglyphsAncient Egyptian picture-writing
- cuneiformStylus-impressed ancient script
runes · glyphs · carving · etching · stele · tablet · monument · tombstone · graffiti · petroglyph
imagination
Faculty for forming ideas
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
- poetryMetrical literary composition
prose · fiction · fantasy · originality · expression · voice · style · imagery · symbolism · wordplay
correspondence
Exchanged written communication
message · postcard · telegram · fax · newsletter · bulletin · announcement · report · dispatch · missive
alphabet
Language's letter system
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- spellingCorrect letter sequence
- punctuationWritten clarity symbols
syntax · vocabulary · orthography · phonics · reading · comprehension · fluency · decoding · sentence · word
essay
Short argumentative prose work
- thesisAcademic argument requiring defense
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
outline · draft · paragraph · introduction · conclusion · argumentation · exposition · analysis · synthesis · abstract
narrative
Account of events
tale · fiction · novel · fable · myth · legend · saga · epic · chronicle · anecdote
manuscript
Original text before publication
- scrollWound document of parchment
- papyrusAncient plant-derived writing material
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
vellum · codex · palimpsest · tablet · scriptorium · scribe · illumination · quill · inkwell · foolscap
manuscript
Original text before publication
- submissionYielding to another's will
- editorOne who revises text
- publisherCompany releasing books
agent · imprint · typesetting · galley · royalties · contract · advance · hardcover · paperback · ebook
news
Reports of recent events
- pressApply force downward
- reportingConveying documented information
- articleWritten piece or grammatical word
column · editorial · headline · byline · scoop · deadline · beat · investigative · feature · op-ed
- activitiesbowling, climbing, exercise, eating, baking
- educationeducation, school, schools, teachers, students
- hobbiesknitting circles, skateboarding, model trains, collecting, birdwatching
- Language & Wordstranslation, etymology, grammar, vocabulary, phonetics
- literaturebooks, book, fiction, poetry, stories
- schoolteachers, classrooms, classes, student, grades
writingspeech
Oral communication ability
speaking · oral communication · talking · orality · sign language
- in writingRecorded in text
- creative writingOriginal literary expression
- travel writingProse documenting journeys
- writing downInscribing information for later
- writing on the wallObvious omen of trouble
- writing offDeclaring something a loss
handwriting, writings, rewriting, songwriting, underwriting, screenwriting, playwriting, typewriting, scriptwriting