written

written — verb

1. the form of the verb 'write' that is used together with 'has', 'have', or 'had'

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA1
Definition

the form of the verb 'write' that is used together with 'has', 'have', or 'had' to talk about a completed action of putting words on paper, or together with a form of 'be' to describe something produced by writing.

Example

By the time the teacher arrived, Élise had written three full paragraphs.

past perfect: had + written + object

The letter was written in careful handwriting by a young student.

passive: be written [by + agent]

Common collocations
  • written in (ink/pencil)
  • written by (author/artist)
  • written about (topic/subject)
  • written on (paper/surface)
  • well written
  • carefully written

Grammar Patterns

have/has/had + written

be + written

Usage Note

Distinguish 'written' (past participle) from 'wrote' (simple past). Use 'written' after auxiliary verbs: 'has written', 'had written', 'was written'. Use 'wrote' alone for a finished action in the past without an auxiliary: 'She wrote the letter yesterday.'

Common Mistakes

I have wrote a long email to my boss.
I have written a long email to my boss.
After 'have', 'has', or 'had', use the past participle 'written', not the simple past 'wrote'.

written — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe information that has been captured in a fixed form, but they differ in medium and formality. 'Written' (adjective) is the broadest term and simply means 'in the form of writing' — a written apology or a written exam. 'Documented' implies that information has been formally recorded, often for legal or official purposes, and usually includes supporting evidence or details. 'Recorded' is the most general: information can be recorded on audio, video, or in writing. 'Printed' is narrower — it refers to writing that has been produced by a machine (a printer), as opposed to handwriting. Use 'written' to distinguish anything done through writing from spoken communication; use 'documented' when emphasising formal evidence; use 'printed' only when the contrast with handwriting matters.

written ↗documentedrecordedprinted

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The verb 'write' comes from the Old English 'wrītan', which originally meant 'to scratch' or 'to carve' — because the earliest Anglo-Saxon writing was carved into wood or stone. The past participle 'written' (earlier 'written', 'writen') has been used since the Middle English period (around the 13th century). The adjective sense — describing something that exists in written form rather than spoken — developed naturally from the participle by the 14th century.