cowrite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, professional, academic
Quick answer
What does “cowrite” mean?
To write something together with one or more other people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To write something together with one or more other people.
To collaborate on the creation of a written work, such as a book, article, song, or script, where all contributors share authorship credit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both regions accept 'cowrite' and 'co-write'. British English may show a very slight preference for the hyphenated form.
Connotations
Neutral; denotes professional or artistic collaboration.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both varieties, primarily in publishing, music, and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cowrite” in a Sentence
cowrite something (with somebody)cowrite (something)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cowrite” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They agreed to cowrite a paper on climate policy.
- She was invited to cowrite the textbook's new edition.
American English
- They decided to co-write a song for the album.
- The professors will cowrite the grant proposal.
adverb
British English
- The report was written cowrite, which sped up the process.
adjective
British English
- The cowritten novel won several awards.
- It was a cowrite project from the start.
American English
- The co-written screenplay was nominated for an Oscar.
- Their cowrite agreement was very detailed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for collaborative reports, proposals, or white papers.
Academic
Common for research papers and scholarly articles with multiple authors.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; more typical for discussing books or songs.
Technical
Used in publishing, music industry, and film/television credits.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cowrite”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cowrite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cowrite”
- Using 'cowriter' as a verb (e.g., 'He cowritered the book').
- Confusing with 'ghostwrite' (to write for someone else who takes credit).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'cowrite' (closed) and 'co-write' (hyphenated) are correct. The hyphenated form is very common, especially in formal writing.
They are largely synonymous. 'Co-author' is more specific to formal, published works (books, papers), while 'cowrite' can apply more broadly (e.g., songs, scripts).
Yes, it can. You can cowrite a paper with several colleagues. The prefix 'co-' implies 'together with', not specifically 'with one other'.
The main noun forms are 'cowriter'/'co-writer' (the person) and 'cowriting'/'co-writing' (the activity). 'Co-authorship' is also a related noun.
To write something together with one or more other people.
Cowrite is usually formal, professional, academic in register.
Cowrite: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊˈraɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊˈraɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put their heads together (to write)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CO-' as in 'COllaborate' + 'WRITE'. You CO-operate to WRITE.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING IS BUILDING (constructing a text together).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of 'cowrite'?