rewrite

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "rewrite" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to reference redoing something, such as an essay or a piece of code. For example, "I need to rewrite this essay so that it is more concise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is Alice in Wonderland territory, Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to seek to come along and try to rewrite the lexicon.

The New York Times

European watchdogs order Google to rewrite privacy policy or face legal action.

The Guardian - Tech

She quotes Oscar Wilde – "The one duty we owe to history is to rewrite it" – and, she adds, "He really was the person in a position to say that – he knew that history had to be remade, because only certain narratives deliver themselves as acceptable, dominant narratives".

The Guardian - Books

Related: The Guardian view on Turkey: growing autocracy threatens a crucial country | Editorial To change the system, the AKP needs a two-thirds, or 367-seat, majority enabling it to rewrite the constitution.

The Guardian

It is Alice in Wonderland territory, Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to seek to come along and try to rewrite the political lexicon".

The Guardian

We hope that people will think before they post – and encourage everyone to use the preview button to give you that extra window of time to rewrite something that could potentially be misunderstood before posting.

The Guardian

He describes a production process in which writers were assigned "stories" taken from other publications "and essentially told to rewrite them" with clickbait headlines.

The Guardian

That consolidation, which occurred in January 2012, eventually resulted in the company was told in July 2013 to rewrite its privacy policy or face sanctions.

The Guardian - Tech

Gillian Flynn's failure to pick up an adapted screenplay nod for her rewrite of novel Gone Girl meant both screenplay categories were solely men-only.

The Guardian - Film

The fact is that this review was open to anybody to contribute, yet the overwhelming evidence received strongly supported the UK remaining in the EU and that an attempt to radically rewrite the treaties is neither achievable nor desirable".

The Guardian

If we are serious about rebuilding the middle class and creating the millions of good paying jobs we desperately need, we must fundamentally rewrite our trade policies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rewrite", consider the extent of changes you're making. Use more precise verbs like "revise" or "rework" if the changes are minor.

Common error

Avoid using "rewrite" when you only intend to make small corrections. Opt for terms like "edit" or "proofread" if the changes are superficial.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "rewrite" is as a transitive verb. It describes the action of writing something again. Ludwig AI confirms it's a valid term. Examples show its use in various contexts where modification or recreation of written material is involved.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rewrite" is a transitive verb widely used to describe the action of writing something again, either for improvement or significant alteration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness across diverse contexts. This analysis reveals that "rewrite" is most frequently found in news and media, formal business documents, and scientific publications, demonstrating its versatility and common usage. While alternatives like "revise" or "rework" may be more appropriate for minor edits, "rewrite" accurately conveys a more substantial change to a written piece.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

revise

Focuses on improving the existing text through editing and changes.

rework

Implies a more substantial alteration and improvement of the original work.

recast

Suggests a complete transformation of the text into a new form.

redraft

Refers to creating a new version of a document, often with significant changes.

rephrase

Involves expressing something in a different way, typically to clarify or simplify the original meaning.

rescript

Implies creating an official or formal revised document.

reauthor

Indicates writing a new version of something with significant changes in content or style.

remold

Suggests a complete change in the structure or form of the text.

reconstruct

Emphasizes building something new from existing components, often with a different design.

reimagine

Suggests a creative and innovative approach to rewriting, with a focus on new possibilities.

FAQs

How can I use "rewrite" in a sentence?

You can use "rewrite" to describe the act of writing something again, either to improve it or to change it significantly. For example, "The author had to rewrite the ending of the novel".

What are some alternatives to "rewrite"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "revise", "rework", or "redraft".

Is there a difference between "rewrite" and "revise"?

"Rewrite" implies a more substantial change, potentially re-creating the text. "Revise", on the other hand, suggests making improvements and corrections to an existing piece.

When should I use "rewrite" instead of "edit"?

Use "rewrite" when you are making significant changes to the content or structure of a text. Use "edit" when you are primarily correcting errors or making minor adjustments.