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writing

/ˈɹaɪtɪŋ/
noun

Writing meaning: a written work or the act of representing language with symbols; WRITING scores 11 points in Scrabble.

NWL Collins ENABLE

Noun 4 meanings

  1. Graphism of symbols such as letters that express some meaning.

  2. Something written, such as a document, article or book.

  3. The process of representing a language with symbols or letters.

  4. A work of an author.

    “Congrats, you did an interesting piece of writing.”

Definitions: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA) via Kaikki/Wiktextract

Where it comes from

Etymology

From Middle English writing, writyng, wryting, wrytyng, from Old English wrīting (“writing”), equivalent to write + -ing.

Similar and opposite words

Similar
textdocumentmanuscriptworkhandhandwritingalphabetcharacter

WRITING names both the process of putting language into symbols and the result: a document, article, book, or other authored work. The seven-letter word is familiar, but its tile value has a twist: W supplies four of its 11 Scrabble points. Its close one-letter neighbours are WAITING and WHITING, while TWIRING is its only anagram.

WRITING at a glance

  • WRITING has seven letters and scores 11 points before any board bonuses.
  • The only anagram is TWIRING, which rearranges all seven letters.
  • WAITING and WHITING are the two one-letter neighbours.
  • Twelve listed rhymes share the -ing ending, including BEING, GOING, and THING.

Writing meaning: what the word covers

Writing can mean the visible system of marks used to express meaning, such as letters representing a language. It also names the act of making those marks. That double sense links the tool to the finished message: writing is both a way to record language and the record itself.

For a work rather than an activity, WRITING can refer to an article, document, book, or an author's work. The word's broad meaning makes it fit contexts from handwriting to published prose. Its common everyday use contrasts with the much rarer word-game detail that TWIRING is its sole anagram.

How many points is WRITING worth?

WRITING scores 11 points in Scrabble: W is worth four, G is worth two, and R, I, T, I, and N each add one. The two I tiles count separately. W alone contributes more than a third of the total, so placing it on a premium letter square has more impact than boosting one of the single-point tiles.

WAITING and WHITING each change just one letter from WRITING. Compare the shared -ITING sequence: WAITING changes the opening pair, while WHITING replaces the R with H. These close spellings are easy to confuse when you are checking a rack or scanning a word grid.

The -ing rhyme family includes BEING, GOING, THING, and DOING among twelve listed matches. For a quick writing meaning check, keep the two senses distinct: the act of forming language and the text produced. For a game ruling, check the word list your game uses.

Rhymes with writing

All rhymes

One letter away

Change one letter, keep the rest

Questions people ask

Is writing a word?
Yes, WRITING is an English word for the act of representing language with symbols or for something written. It can describe the process, such as composing a letter, or the finished work, such as an article or book.
How many points is writing in Scrabble?
WRITING is worth 11 points before board bonuses. Its W is worth four points and its G is worth two; the other five tiles each contribute one point.
What is an anagram of writing?
TWIRING is the only anagram of WRITING in the listed word set. It uses the same seven letters, rearranged, so no tile is added or left over.

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