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to write about

to write about

620 2.1
Give details in words about a topic, for example in a book or article
  • phrasal verb
  • /raɪt əˈbaʊt/
translation icon : escribir sobre
  • In her essay, she decided to write about the impact of climate change on wildlife.
  • write about people
  • write about books
  • write about life

You know, because you're writing about people you know.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • They say write about what you know.

  • When I sat down to write about that meeting, however, a different story emerged.

    Academic text (2011)
  • And I, I did choose to write about it a lot.

  • So I think I wrote about this in the book.

  • And So what else is there to write about if not love?

  • So as you know, I wrote about that in this book.

  • You should consider writing about your experiences on the front.

  • From now on, feel free to write about anything.

  • So, what would you write about, if you were going to tell the truth?

  • 'Well, I always said I never wanted to write about love, 'and then I went and did that anyway.

Synonyms

to write up
vsto write about
38 3.5

Put information into a complete report

focuses on composing or informing without stressing completion or formality
to write on
vsto write about
34 3.6

To produce texts like articles or books about a subject

is the general act of composing text or giving information on a subject
to discourse
vsto write about
  • Formal
1 7.8

To speak or write for a long time about a topic

is about composing text or providing information without length or formality

How Detailed

to analyze
  • US
675 3.2
to discuss
1.6
to write about
620 2.1
note
1.0
to mention
1.0

Surface Forms

write about infinitive
writing about present participle
writes about third person singular
written about past participle

Morphology

write + about

The meaning 'to compose text concerning a particular topic' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'write' (produce text) with 'about' (concerning a topic). This verb + preposition composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Write about comes from the simple picture of a writer using write to put words about a person, place, or idea. So, if you write about something, you put information or stories 'on that topic'.