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Meaning trap

write up

to write a report or article using notes you made earlier

To create a full report, article, or document from notes or rough ideas you took before.

phrasal verbB1common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

to write a report or article using notes you made earlier

To create a full report, article, or document from notes or rough ideas you took before.

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Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • After the meeting, I need to write up the minutes so everyone knows what was discussed.study
  • In my last job, I often had to write up reports based on the data we collected during the week.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: write sth up

WrongI need to write up it tonight.

RightI need to write it up tonight.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'write it up'.

Patternwrite sth up

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I shall compose a full report based upon my preliminary notes.

Natural I'll write up my notes into a report.

'Write up' is the everyday verb for turning notes into a finished document; the formal version is stiff.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • write up + document
    the resultsyour notesa reportthe findings

Don't confuse it

'Write down' means to make a quick note; 'write up' means to make a full, organized version.

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