write

Write is a verb meaning to form visible characters or symbols on a surface to convey language, or to compose text in any medium. It includes inscribing with a pen, pencil, stylus, or keyboard, and it covers recording information, ideas, or instructions. Writing is used to communicate, document, persuade, entertain, or instruct, and it encompasses a wide range of genres from personal notes to formal reports and code.

Grammatically, write is an irregular verb with the present tense write, the past tense wrote, and the past participle written. It is typically transitive, as in "to write a letter," and can be intransitive, as in "I like to write." Related forms include writer, a person who writes, and writing, the activity or text. The verb rewrite refers to producing a new version of previously written material.

History and writing systems discuss how humans record language. Writing arose in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt for administration and communication, evolving from pictographs to abstract scripts. The spread of alphabetic systems and advancements in printing and publishing expanded writing’s reach. In the digital era, keyboards, handwriting tools, and software enable rapid, mass, and global writing across formats such as emails, reports, and programming code.

Modern writing relies on orthography, punctuation, and style conventions that vary by language and context. Literacy, editing, and revision are important aspects of effective writing. Writing underpins education, journalism, literature, administration, software development, and cultural communication, making it a foundational skill in many domains.