scrawl down

USAGE SUMMARY

"scrawl down" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
If you are trying to convey the idea of writing a message in a hasty or informal way, you could say "scrawl something down" or "scribble something down". For example: I quickly scrawled down her phone number before she left.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Take a look at all three finalists here or scrawl down for pictures of the winner.

Huffington Post

Two hours later, wind-battered and almost frozen solid, I finally arrive at the gates of the busy cemetery, where, hoping the guard might be able to point me in the right direction, I scrawl down my grandfather's name and the word "Communist" on an old tissue, and flash my driving licence.

Independent

If they say yes you should quickly scrawl down your number and suggest you carpool.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

With few hesitations, she scrawled down six columns of words — 120 of them.

The New York Times - Sports

He only had time for one photograph and what he scrawled down was really spontaneous.

The Guardian - Arts

He even scrawled down the phone number of the governor's office and gave it to his wife.

The New York Times

Toward the end of the debate, Perry had scrawled down on a sheet of paper an attack line he wanted to use against the ever-waffling Mitt Romney.

The New York Times

Skinny jeans, baseball boots, "Anarchy" scrawled down one shirtsleeve, "Boomtown Rats" down the other, the whole pantomimic ensemble finished off with the family dachshund's collar around my neck and a bath chain draped across my back, plug still attached.

Independent

Between a book in her right hand and a cigarette in her left, scrawled down her chest in four lines are the Arabic words "My body belongs to me, and is not the source of anyone's honor".

The New Yorker

During the performance, Cyrus wore black-and-red Jordan 1s, a striped fishnet bikini and crotchless leather chaps with "Miley" scrawled down the side, through which she paid homage to Christina Aguilera's "Dirrty" music video.

Wikipedia

When keeping journals there becomes a place where irony and life's absurdities can gather, where momentary glances at something sad, blurred or treasured out of a car window or a shadow of a thought held from the hard light of day can be scrawled down or deliberately caught in the move of a pen - the color sometimes chosen carefully, sometimes done with what's at hand.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace "scrawl down" with more standard phrases like "scribble down" or "jot down".

Common error

Avoid using "scrawl down" as a direct substitute for "scrawl something down". The latter is grammatically preferable and more widely accepted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scrawl down" functions as a phrasal verb aiming to describe the action of writing something quickly and carelessly. It is related to "scribble down" and "jot down".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "scrawl down" attempts to describe a quick and careless act of writing, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests it's better to prefer alternatives such as "scribble down" or "jot down", which are more widely accepted and clearer. Although "scrawl down" appears in some informal writing contexts like news articles and wikis, opting for grammatically sound alternatives improves clarity and professionalism. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid "scrawl down" in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Scribble down

Implies a more chaotic and less legible form of writing than "scrawl down".

Jot down

Suggests a brief and informal note-taking, focusing on quickness and simplicity.

Write down quickly

Directly emphasizes the speed of writing without implying untidiness.

Dash off

Emphasizes the speed and ease with which something is written, often implying minimal effort.

Note down

Indicates a more deliberate act of recording information, but still with a sense of urgency.

Take down

Implies recording something that is being said or dictated.

Scrawl something

Focuses on the act of scrawling in general, without necessarily specifying a direction or location.

Sketch out

Implies a rough and preliminary form of writing or drawing, emphasizing speed and lack of detail.

Scratch out

This phrase can involve deleting text but also implies quick writing or sketching.

Commit to paper

This alternative is more formal and means to record something by writing it down.

FAQs

What's a more appropriate way to say "scrawl down"?

Consider using "scribble down" or "jot down" as alternatives to "scrawl down", as they are more grammatically sound and commonly used.

Is "scrawl down" grammatically correct?

While you may find instances of "scrawl down", it's not considered standard English. Opt for "scrawl something down" for better grammatical correctness.

How does the meaning of "scrawl down" differ from "scribble down"?

The meanings are very similar, both implying quick and somewhat careless writing. However, "scribble down" is more widely accepted as grammatically correct.

Can I use "scrawl down" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "scrawl down" in formal contexts. Choose alternatives like "note down" or "record" to maintain a professional tone.