Preparing a formal plan

The idea

This separable verb is common in formal and professional contexts. A noun can follow the particle or come between the verb and particle: draw up the plan or draw the plan up. A pronoun must go between them: draw it up.

Examples

• The committee drew up a safety plan before the festival.
• Our lawyer will draw the contract up tomorrow.
• The neighbours need a list of repairs, so Maya is drawing it up.
• Two teachers drew up the timetable together.
• We have drawn up new rules for the community garden.
• Could you draw up a budget for the exhibition?

Watch out

Do not say draw up it: a pronoun object goes before up. Here the expression means preparing a document, not drawing a picture.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The team will draw ___ a proposal. (up / off)

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   up

   up completes the expression for preparing the proposal.

2. Choose the correct option. The schedule is ready; Lena drew ___ yesterday. (it up / up it)

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   it up

   it up puts the pronoun before the particle.

3. Choose the correct option. The council ___ up a policy last week. (drew / draws)

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   drew

   drew fits the completed action last week.

4. Choose the correct option. Which order is correct? (draw up the agreement / draw the agreement up / draw up it)

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   draw up the agreement / draw the agreement up

   draw up the agreement and draw the agreement up both place the noun correctly.

Use it today

Describe a document you would draw up for a community project.