See if you have the write stuff

'The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it'

Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) - British politician and novelist

Writing is something most of us do every day in some form or another. But do we do these following actions as well?

Write all about it

What do these verb phrases mean?

1 to write (a vehicle) off

a. to damage a vehicle so badly in an accident that it can't be repaired

b. to overtake a very slow vehicle on a highway

2 to write (something) up

a. to write a formal letter to someone important

b. to write something in a complete form from notes

3 to write in

a. to write quickly and badly

b. to write to an organisation giving an opinion

4 to write back

a. to reply to someone's letter

b. to write a letter of thanks

5 to write (something) down

a. to write a summary of something

b. to make a note of some facts

The right write

Fill in the blanks with one of these words - off/away/in/back/down - so the sentences make sense.

1 I'm going to write .... what he said so I don't forget.

2 I'm going to write .... my notes from today's lectures while it's still fresh in my mind.

3 When are you going to write .... to Auntie Jane?

4 I'm going to write ..... and complain about the bad language in that TV show.

5 Did you hear that the boss had written his car .... after the accident?

6 I'll write .... to Uncle Bob and tell him what time we are due to arrive.

7 You should write .... your report by tomorrow.

8 Did you write .... Roy's phone number?

Write nouns

What is ........?

1 a co-writer

a. someone who writes a book or a song together with someone else

b. a writer whose books become popular after his or her death

2 a ghostwriter

a. an author who writes spooky stories

b. someone who writes books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person

3 writer's block

a. the amount of money a writer is paid for his work

b. a period when a professional writer can't think of anything to write

4 writer's cramp

a. stiffness in the fingers that you get when you have been writing too long

b. the first advance payment a writer gets for a book

5 an aspiring writer

a. someone who dreams of becoming a professional writer

b. a writer who has had only one best-selling book

6 a write-up

a. an account of an event in a newspaper

b. a TV programme about writing

7 a write-off

a. an asset, for example a vehicle or a building, that has become worthless

b. a bad film review

Which word?

Use one of the above nouns to complete these sentences.

1 Poppy is an ............, but she hasn't had anything published yet.

2 John Lennon was Paul McCartney's ............ for many of the Beatles' songs.

3 Have you read the ....... about our sports day in the Young Post?

4 I had ............. at the end of the English exam.

5 J.K. Rowling has said she got ........... when she was working on one of the later Harry Potter books.

6 Do you think Madonna used a ........... for her latest book?

7 My bike was a complete ........ after the accident last week.

8 Chris was my ......... for that article in the student newspaper.

Answers:

Write all about it: 1. a, 2. b, 3. b, 4. a, 5. b

The right write: 1. down, 2. away, 3. back, 4. in, 5. off, 6. back, 7. away, 8. down

Write nouns: 1. a, 2. b, 3. b, 4. a, 5. a, 6. a, 7. a

Which word: 1. aspiring writer, 2. co-writer, 3. write-up, 4. writer's cramp, 5. writer's block, 6. ghostwriter, 7. write-off, 8. co-writer