'write-up'

Posted by ESC on February 10, 2006

In Reply to: 'write-up' posted by Smokey Stover on February 10, 2006

: : Where does the expression 'write-up' come from as in write-up your notes rather than write your notes

: When you are at a meeting, say, or a lecture, you may want to take notes and write them down on paper. You have to write them (with pen or pencil), because your laptop clicks too loudly to use, and would annoy the speaker(s). Later, you might want to write them up (assemble them in intelligible form) for the benefit of friends, or as proof that you were there so you can collect your per diem. You might even be called on to do a write-up of the subject, since you understood it so well. SS

I was in the newspaper business in my youth. (U.S.) Non-journalism would refer to news articles as "write ups."