writing down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "writing down" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of recording information on paper or digitally. Example: "I find that writing down my thoughts helps me organize my ideas more clearly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'm just writing down numbers".

The New Yorker

John Rowden followed, writing down the data.

The New Yorker

Roden started writing down their recipes.

The New Yorker

"What are you writing down?" he asked.

The New Yorker

Writing down a few words a day.

The Guardian - Music

And you are writing down £90m.

The Guardian

The measure excludes interest expenses and writing down asset values.

The New York Times

Small goals aren't worth writing down.

Forbes

Start by writing down why you need help.

BBC

Can you imagine writing down a home you hadn't sold?

Forbes

Shell, in contrast, is writing down $4.5 billion in assets.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "writing down" when you want to emphasize the act of physically or digitally recording information, especially when taking notes or documenting observations.

Common error

Avoid using "writing down" when you actually mean "writing up", which refers to preparing a final, polished version of a document or report.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "writing down" functions primarily as a verb phrase, specifically the present participle form of the phrasal verb "write down". As shown in Ludwig, it describes the action of recording information in a written form. Ludwig AI confirms that is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

66%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb phrase "writing down" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe the act of recording information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media and wiki sources, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples. While relatively neutral in tone, it's essential to distinguish it from the similar-sounding "writing up", which has a different meaning. By following these guidelines, you can confidently and accurately use "writing down" in your own writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Noting down

Implies a quick or brief recording of information.

Jotting down

Suggests writing something quickly and informally.

Recording

A more general term that encompasses both written and non-written forms of documentation.

Documenting

Implies a more formal and thorough recording of information.

Taking notes

Specifically refers to recording information during a lecture, meeting, or other event.

Scribbling

Suggests a hasty and somewhat illegible form of writing.

Inscribing

Implies a more formal or permanent form of writing, often on a surface.

Putting in writing

Emphasizes the act of formally committing something to a written form.

Committing to paper

Suggests recording something important or memorable.

Registering

Refers to a formal recording in an official list or record.

FAQs

How to use "writing down" in a sentence?

You can use "writing down" to describe the act of recording information, such as "I'm "writing down" my thoughts in a journal" or "The scientist was "writing down" the results of the experiment".

What can I say instead of "writing down"?

You can use alternatives like "noting down", "jotting down", or "recording" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "writing down" or "writing up"?

Both "writing down" and "writing up" are correct, but they have different meanings. "Writing down" means recording information, while "writing up" means preparing a final version of a document.

What's the difference between "writing down" and "taking notes"?

While similar, "writing down" is a more general term for recording information. "Taking notes" specifically refers to recording information during a lecture, meeting, or other event.