typewrite
C1Formal, Technical, Historical
Definition
Meaning
To produce text using a typewriter.
To input text using a keyboard, typically in a mechanical or dated context, or to compose text formally on such a device.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is now largely obsolete and historical. It has been completely superseded by 'type' (as in 'type a letter') or broader terms like 'keyboard', 'input', or 'word-process'. Using 'typewrite' in modern contexts sounds archaic or deliberately technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties consider it equally archaic.
Connotations
In both regions, it evokes a pre-digital, mechanical era (mid-20th century and earlier).
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use in both BrE and AmE. Possibly slightly more likely to be encountered in historical documents or period literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + typewrite + [Direct Object] (e.g., She typewrote the contract).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this verb]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. 'Please type this memo' would be modern usage.
Academic
Only in historical or literary studies discussing pre-digital composition methods.
Everyday
Not used. Sounds odd and outdated.
Technical
Possibly in manuals for vintage equipment restoration.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The secretary was required to typewrite all official correspondence in triplicate.
- Before computers, authors would typewrite their novels on heavy manual machines.
American English
- The journalist typewrote his dispatches from the front lines on a portable Underwood.
- In the 1950s, students learned to typewrite as a key office skill.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival form]
American English
- [No standard adjectival form]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother learned to typewrite when she was young.
- The detective found a typewritten note, suggesting it was prepared on an old machine.
- Early drafts of the novel were typewritten, complete with visible corrections using white fluid.
- The profession of the typewriter operator, who would typewrite legal documents all day, has vanished.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TYPE + WRITE = To WRITE using a TYPEwriter. The word itself is a compound of its two core actions.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING IS MECHANICAL PRODUCTION (contrasts with the fluidity of handwriting or modern word processing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'печатать' in its modern sense of 'to print' (a document). 'Typewrite' specifically refers to the act of typing. The modern equivalent is 'набирать текст' or, archaically, 'печатать на машинке'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in contemporary contexts (incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'typewriter' (the noun).
- Using the incorrect past tense 'typewrote' in modern English where 'typed' is expected.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'typewrite' correctly in a modern context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered obsolete and historical. The verb 'type' has completely replaced it.
The standard past tense is 'typewrote', with the past participle being 'typewritten'. However, in modern English, we use 'typed' for both.
No, that would be incorrect and sound very odd. 'Typewrite' specifically implies using a mechanical typewriter. For computers, use 'type', 'keyboard', or 'input'.
'Typewrite' is a verb meaning the action. 'Typewriter' is a noun referring to the physical machine itself.