Write down means putting information into writing so you can keep or use it. You might record a room number you hear or questions you want to ask. The focus is making a record, rather than the direction your pen moves.

The idea

Use write down the number / write the number down, but write it down. The forms are write–wrote–written: wrote down yesterday, has written down. Drop the final e for writing; written has double t.

Examples

  • Please write down the room number.
  • Please write the room number down.
  • Mina wrote it down on the back of the ticket.
  • We wrote down three questions before the meeting.
  • Omar has written down the new address.
  • Lea is writing down the instructions in her notebook.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not use written alone as the simple past or wrote after has. Down is not required for every use of write: write an essay usually describes composing an essay, while write down focuses on recording information.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Mina ___ down the number yesterday. (wrote / written)

    Show answer or example answer

    wrote

    Yesterday needs the simple past wrote, without an auxiliary.

  2. Choose the correct option. Omar has ___ down the address. (written / wrote)

    Show answer or example answer

    written

    After has, use the past participle written, not wrote.

  3. Choose the correct option. Please write ___. (it down / down it)

    Show answer or example answer

    it down

    The object pronoun it goes between write and down.

Use it today

Invent a room number and a short instruction for a visitor. Ask a partner to record both, then say what you wrote down and what your partner has written down.