fill out a diary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fill out a diary" is not correct in standard English usage.
The correct expression would typically be "write in a diary" or "keep a diary." Example: "Every evening, I take a few minutes to write in my diary about my day."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They did also fill out a diary where they rated symptoms on a daily basis.

Internet Interventions

= Follow-up Questionnaire; F.Q. = Final Questionnaire; KOOS = Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score; NRS = Numeric Rating Scale; ICOAP = Intermittent and Constant OsteoArthritis Pain; PRODISQ = PROductivity and DISease Questionnaire During the DIPA trial, patients fill out a diary to score daily pain (using an 11-point NRS), medication use, and compliance.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Fill out a diary entry each time you get a headache.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The patients filled out a diary card for the assessment of nausea and vomiting.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Patients filled out a diary for up to 4 weeks on their symptoms, illness perception and related behaviour.

Family Practice

It was reported to be frustrating to have filled out a diary form and then not be able to send it because of a validation error.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Volunteers filled out a Diary for Adverse Events during the first 10 d after vaccination, and were asked to report all adverse events for the study duration.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

In addition, all participants filled out a standardized diary on symptoms of influenza during the 56 day follow-up period.

Plosone

In order to assess the subjective experience during the study participants filled out a daily diary and passed weekly sessions of in-depth evaluation, both providing a bulk of quantitative and qualitative data.

Consciousness and Cognition

Study arm one and two involve weekly reminder e-mails to login and fill out a consumption diary.

BMC Psychiatry

Patients were asked to fill out a daily diary, which was reviewed during each patient's weekly assessment.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Although the phrase "fill out a diary" is understandable, prefer using "write in a diary" or "keep a diary" for clearer and more grammatically sound communication.

Common error

Avoid using "fill out" when referring to writing entries in a diary. "Fill out" is typically used for forms or questionnaires, not for recording personal thoughts or events. Instead, use "write in" or "keep" for diaries.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fill out a diary" functions as a verb phrase where "fill out" is a phrasal verb and "diary" is the direct object. Ludwig AI suggests that this construction is not standard English usage, recommending alternatives like "write in a diary" or "keep a diary".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

Wiki

30%

News & Media

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "fill out a diary" is occasionally used, Ludwig AI highlights that it isn't considered standard English. The more appropriate and widely accepted alternatives are "write in a diary" or "keep a diary". The phrase appears mostly in scientific and general contexts. It's best to use the suggested alternatives to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness in both formal and informal communication. Remember, "fill out" is usually reserved for completing forms or questionnaires, not for the personal act of recording thoughts in a diary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

write in a diary

This is the most common and grammatically correct way to express recording information in a diary.

keep a diary

Focuses on the act of maintaining a diary over a period of time, regularly adding entries.

maintain a diary

Similar to 'keep a diary', emphasizing the ongoing effort of recording events and thoughts.

record in a diary

Highlights the act of documenting specific events or information.

jot down in a diary

Implies a quick and informal way of noting things in a diary.

log in a diary

Suggests a more systematic and detailed method of recording events.

enter in a diary

Refers to the action of adding new information to a diary.

note down in a diary

This phrase emphasizes the act of quickly writing important information into a diary.

document in a diary

This alternative is used when a formal or official record is made in the diary.

chronicle in a diary

Implies recording events in a diary in chronological order.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "fill out a diary"?

While understandable, "fill out a diary" isn't standard English. It's better to say "write in a diary" or "keep a diary". Ludwig AI explains the phrase is not correct and specifies "write in a diary", "record in a diary" and "maintain a diary" as alternatives.

What's the difference between "fill out a diary" and "write in a diary"?

"Fill out" is typically used for forms, questionnaires, or applications. "Write in a diary" means to record your thoughts, experiences, or events. Using the latter is more accurate when talking about diaries.

Can I use "fill out" with other types of records besides diaries?

Yes, "fill out" is appropriate for forms, applications, surveys, or any document with blanks that need to be completed. For example, "fill out a form" or "fill out a survey" are correct.

What are some synonyms for "keep a diary"?

Alternatives to "keep a diary" include "maintain a diary", "write in a diary", or "journal", all referring to the practice of regularly recording events and thoughts.