Write vs. Print — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 27, 2024
Write involves creating characters or symbols manually, often implying a personal, original process, while print refers to reproducing text or images, typically via mechanical or digital means, emphasizing mass production or dissemination.
Difference Between Write and Print
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Write primarily denotes the act of forming letters or characters on a surface using a tool such as a pen or pencil, signifying a manual, often creative process. This can include writing a letter, jotting down notes, or drafting a manuscript, where the emphasis is on the original creation of content. Whereas print usually refers to the process of reproducing text or images on various materials, such as paper or fabric, using mechanical or digital methods. This includes printing books, newspapers, or posters, focusing on the distribution of previously created content.
Writing is considered a fundamental way of expressing thoughts, ideas, and information personally and intimately. It is often associated with individuality and uniqueness, as each person's handwriting is distinct. On the other hand, printing allows for the mass production of text and images, ensuring uniformity and consistency across multiple copies, thereby serving as a key method for disseminating information widely.
The act of writing can be spontaneous, requiring no more than a writing instrument and a medium. It allows for immediate correction and is inherently flexible, adjusting to the writer's pace and style. Print, however, involves preplanned content that is replicated through machines, making it less adaptable to spontaneous changes but more efficient for producing large quantities.
Writing is often seen as a skill that develops over time, reflecting a person's educational background, cognitive abilities, and even emotional state. It has therapeutic uses, such as in journals or diaries, where the act itself can be as significant as the content. Printing, in contrast, is technology-driven, focusing more on the technical aspects of reproduction, such as resolution and speed, with the primary goal being to share content rather than the act of creation itself.
While writing can be a solitary activity, reflecting personal thoughts or artistic expression, printing is generally aimed at communication on a larger scale. It involves various stages of production, including design, layout, and distribution, emphasizing collaboration and commercial purposes.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Creating characters or symbols manually on a surface.
Reproducing text or images on materials through mechanical means.
Focus
Personal expression and original creation.
Mass production and dissemination of content.
Tools Used
Pen, pencil, marker, etc.
Printing press, inkjet printers, laser printers, etc.
Output
Unique and individualized content.
Uniform and consistent copies.
Main Purpose
To express, record, or communicate ideas personally.
To distribute information or images widely and efficiently.
Compare with Definitions
Write
To form letters or words on a surface with an instrument.
She likes to write her name in all her books.
To produce text and images by applying ink to paper or another medium.
The company prints thousands of brochures each month.
Write
To create, content by writing.
She writes articles for the local newspaper.
To make a hard copy of a document.
I need to print this report for the meeting.
Write
To compose a document or text.
He plans to write a novel one day.
To write in letters that are not joined together.
Children first learn to print before writing in cursive.
Write
To inscribe or record.
Write your name on the top of the sheet.
To reproduce text or pictures for widespread distribution.
The novel was printed in several languages.
Write
To express in written form.
She wrote her feelings in her diary.
To produce materials on a large scale using a printing press.
The publisher decides what to print based on demand.
Write
Mark (letters, words, or other symbols) on a surface, typically paper, with a pen, pencil, or similar implement
Alice wrote down the address
He wrote his name on the paper
He wrote very neatly in blue ink
Produce (books, newspapers, etc.), especially in large quantities, by a mechanical process involving the transfer of text or designs to paper
A thousand copies of the book were printed
Write
Compose, write, and send (a letter) to someone
I wrote him a short letter
Eleanor wrote to her sister Laura in Paris
I wrote a letter to Alison
He wrote almost every day
Write (text) clearly without joining the letters together
Print your name and address on the back of the cheque
Write
Compose (a text or work) for written or printed reproduction or publication; put into literary form and set down in writing
She wrote a bestselling novel
He wrote under a pseudonym
I didn't know you wrote poetry
He had written about the beauty of Andalusia
Mark (a surface, typically a fabric or garment) with a coloured design or pattern
A delicate fabric printed with roses
Write
Enter (data) into a specified storage medium or location in store
Files can be read and written directly into the file system
The text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication, especially with reference to its size, form, or style
Bold print
She forced herself to concentrate on the tiny print
Write
Underwrite (an insurance policy).
An indentation or mark made on a surface or soft substance
There were paw prints everywhere
Write
To form (letters, words, or symbols) on a surface such as paper with an instrument such as a pen.
A picture or design printed from a block or plate or copied from a painting by photography
The walls were hung with sporting prints
Write
To form (letters or words) in cursive style, especially in contrast to printing by hand.
A piece of fabric or clothing with a coloured pattern or design printed on it
Light summer prints
A floral print dress
Write
To spell
How do you write your name?.
A mark or impression made in or on a surface by pressure
The print of footsteps in the sand.
Write
To fill (an amount of space) with words or information
Wrote five pages in an hour.
A fingerprint.
Write
To put written information in the blank spaces of (a check, form, or similar document).
A device or implement, such as a stamp, die, or seal, used to press markings onto or into a surface
Fancy letters made by hand-carved prints.
Write
To produce or compose (text) in a recorded form that can be read
Write a poem.
Write a letter.
Something formed or marked by such a device.
Write
To express in writing; set down
Write one's thoughts.
Text, lettering, or other marks produced in ink from type as by a printing press or from digital fonts by an electronic printer
Needed glasses to read the print.
Write
To communicate by writing, especially by written letter
She wrote that she was planning to visit.
Printed state or form
A short story that never got into print.
Write
To communicate with (someone) by writing, especially by letter
Wrote me to tell me she had moved again.
A printed publication or edition of a text; a printing
The first print of that book has sold out.
Write
To compose (a musical work).
A design or picture transferred from an engraved plate, wood block, lithographic stone, or other medium
Had prints of flowers hanging on the walls.
Write
To underwrite, as an insurance policy.
A photographic image transferred to paper or a similar surface.
Write
To compose in legal form; draft
Write a will.
A copy of a movie made on film or in a high resolution digital format, as for public exhibition.
Write
To indicate; mark
"Utter dejection was written on every face" (Winston S. Churchill).
A fabric or garment with a dyed pattern that has been pressed onto it, usually by engraved rollers.
Write
To ordain or prophesy
It was written that the empire would fall.
The pattern itself
A blouse with a paisley print.
Write
(Computers) To transfer or copy (information) from memory to a storage device or output device.
To press (a mark or design, for example) onto or into a surface
Tracks that were printed in the snow.
Write
To trace or form letters, words, or symbols on paper or another surface
People who cannot read or write.
To make an impression on or in (a surface) with a device such as a stamp, seal, or die.
Write
To compose a letter, email, or other written communication
Please write while you are away.
To press (something, such as a stamp) onto or into a surface to leave a marking.
Write
(ambitransitive) To form letters, words or symbols on a surface in order to communicate.
The pupil wrote his name on the paper.
Your son has been writing on the wall.
To produce by means of pressed type, an electronic printer, or similar means, on a paper surface
Printed more copies of the ad.
Write
(transitive) To be the author of (a book, article, poem, etc.).
My uncle writes newspaper articles for The Herald.
To offer in printed form; publish
The publisher collected the essays and printed them as a book.
Write
(transitive) To send written information to.
(UK) Please write to me when you get there.
(US) Please write me when you get there.
To reproduce (a digital document or image) on a paper surface
Printed the email.
Write
(transitive) To show (information, etc) in written form.
The due day of the homework is written in the syllabus.
To convert (a digital document) into a file format designed for publication.
Write
To convey a fact to someone via writing.
Jimmy wrote me that he needs more money.
To write (something) in characters similar to those commonly used in print.
Write
(intransitive) To be an author.
I write for a living.
To impress firmly in the mind or memory
An experience that will be printed in our hearts forever.
Write
To record data mechanically or electronically.
The computer writes to the disk faster than it reads from it.
To produce a photographic image from (a negative, for example) by passing light through film onto a photosensitive surface, especially sensitized paper.
Write
To fill in, to complete using words.
I was very anxious to know my score after I wrote the test.
To produce (an electronic component) by mechanically transferring a circuit or circuit pattern onto a nonconductive surface.
Write
To impress durably; to imprint; to engrave.
Truth written on the heart
To fabricate (an object) by means of a 3D printer.
Write
To make known by writing; to record; to prove by one's own written testimony; often used reflexively.
To work as a printer.
Write
(finance) To sell (an option or other derivative).
To produce something in printed form by means of a printing press or other reproduction process.
Write
To paint a religious icon.
To write characters similar to those commonly used in print.
Write
The act or style of writing.
To produce or receive an impression, marking, or image
The negative printed poorly.
Write
(computing) The operation of storing data, as in memory or onto disk.
How many writes per second can this hard disk handle?
Published or reproduced by printing, especially in contrast to electronic publication
A print newsletter.
Write
To set down, as legible characters; to form the conveyance of meaning; to inscribe on any material by a suitable instrument; as, to write the characters called letters; to write figures.
Relating to or involved in media based on printing, especially newspapers and magazines
A print journalist.
Write
To set down for reading; to express in legible or intelligible characters; to inscribe; as, to write a deed; to write a bill of divorcement; hence, specifically, to set down in an epistle; to communicate by letter.
Last night she enjoined me to write some lines to one she loves.
I chose to write the thing I durst not speakTo her I loved.
Of, relating to, or writing for printed publications.
A print edition of a book
Write
Hence, to compose or produce, as an author.
I purpose to write the history of England from the accession of King James the Second down to a time within the memory of men still living.
(transitive) To produce one or more copies of a text or image on a surface, especially by machine; often used with out or off: print out, print off.
Print the draft double-spaced so we can mark changes between the lines.
Write
To impress durably; to imprint; to engrave; as, truth written on the heart.
To produce a microchip (an integrated circuit) in a process resembling the printing of an image.
The circuitry is printed onto the semiconductor surface.
Write
To make known by writing; to record; to prove by one's own written testimony; - often used reflexively.
He who writes himself by his own inscription is like an ill painter, who, by writing on a shapeless picture which he hath drawn, is fain to tell passengers what shape it is, which else no man could imagine.
(ambitransitive) To write very clearly, especially, to write without connecting the letters as in cursive.
Print your name here and sign below.
I'm only in grade 2, so I only know how to print.
Write
To form characters, letters, or figures, as representative of sounds or ideas; to express words and sentences by written signs.
So it stead you, I will write,Please you command.
(ambitransitive) To publish in a book, newspaper, etc.
How could they print an unfounded rumour like that?
Write
To be regularly employed or occupied in writing, copying, or accounting; to act as clerk or amanuensis; as, he writes in one of the public offices.
(transitive) To stamp or impress (something) with coloured figures or patterns.
To print calico
Write
To frame or combine ideas, and express them in written words; to play the author; to recite or relate in books; to compose.
They can write up to the dignity and character of the authors.
(transitive) To fix or impress, as a stamp, mark, character, idea, etc., into or upon something.
Write
To compose or send letters.
He wrote for all the Jews that went out of his realm up into Jewry concerning their freedom.
(transitive) To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.
Write
Produce a literary work;
She composed a poem
He wrote four novels
To display a string on the terminal.
Write
Communicate or express by writing;
Please write to me every week
To produce an observable value.
On March 16, 2020, the S&P printed at 2,386.13, one of the worst drops in history.
Write
Have (one's written work) issued for publication;
How many books did Georges Simenon write?
She published 25 books during her long career
(transitive) To fingerprint (a person).
Write
Communicate (with) in writing;
Write her soon, please!
(uncountable) Books and other material created by printing presses, considered collectively or as a medium.
Three citations are required for each meaning, including one in print.
TV and the Internet haven't killed print.
Write
Communicate by letter;
He wrote that he would be coming soon
(uncountable) Clear handwriting, especially, writing without connected letters as in cursive.
Write in print using block letters.
Write
Write music;
Beethoven composed nine symphonies
(uncountable) The letters forming the text of a document.
The print is too small for me to read.
Write
Mark or trace on a surface;
The artist wrote Chinese characters on a big piece of white paper
(countable) A newspaper.
Write
Record data on a computer;
Boot-up instructions are written on the hard disk
A visible impression on a surface.
Using a crayon, the girl made a print of the leaf under the page.
Write
Write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word);
He spelled the word wrong in this letter
A fingerprint.
Did the police find any prints at the scene?
A footprint.
(visual art) A picture that was created in multiple copies by printing.
(photography) A photograph that has been printed onto paper from the negative.
(film) A copy of a film that can be projected.
Cloth that has had a pattern of dye printed onto it.
(architecture) A plaster cast in bas relief.
To stamp something in or upon; to make an impression or mark upon by pressure, or as by pressure.
Forth on his fiery steed betimes he rode,That scarcely prints the turf on which he trod.
To strike off an impression or impressions of, from type, or from stereotype, electrotype, or engraved plates, or the like; in a wider sense, to do the typesetting, presswork, etc., of (a book or other publication); as, to print books, newspapers, pictures; to print an edition of a book.
To stamp or impress with colored figures or patterns; as, to print calico.
To take (a copy, a positive picture, etc.), from a negative, a transparent drawing, or the like, by the action of light upon a sensitized surface.
To use or practice the art of typography; to take impressions of letters, figures, or electrotypes, engraved plates, or the like.
To publish a book or an article.
From the moment he prints, he must except to hear no more truth.
A mark made by impression; a line, character, figure, or indentation, made by the pressure of one thing on another; as, the print of teeth or nails in flesh; the print of the foot in sand or snow.
Where print of human feet was never seen.
A stamp or die for molding or impressing an ornamental design upon an object; as, a butter print.
That which receives an impression, as from a stamp or mold; as, a print of butter.
Printed letters; the impression taken from type, as to excellence, form, size, etc.; as, small print; large print; this line is in print.
That which is produced by printing.
A core print. See under Core.
The result of the printing process;
I want to see it in black and white
A picture or design printed from an engraving
A visible indication made on a surface;
Some previous reader had covered the pages with dozens of marks
Paw prints were everywhere
A copy of a movie on film (especially a particular version of it)
A fabric with a dyed pattern pressed onto it (usually by engraved rollers)
A printed picture produced from a photographic negative
Put into print;
The newspaper published the news of the royal couple's divorce
These news should not be printed
Write as if with print; not cursive
Make into a print;
Print the negative
Reproduce by printing
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between writing and printing?
Writing is the manual act of creating characters or symbols, emphasizing personal expression, while printing involves reproducing text or images, typically for mass distribution.
Can printing be considered a form of writing?
While printing reproduces written content, it's not considered writing per se, as it lacks the manual, personal aspect of creating original content.
Is handwriting considered printing?
Handwriting refers specifically to writing by hand, and while printing by hand exists, in modern context, printing is mostly mechanical.
How do writers and printers collaborate?
Writers create content that printers then reproduce, often working together on layout, design, and production aspects to achieve the desired outcome.
Why is writing important?
Writing is crucial for personal expression, communication, and recording information, allowing for unique and individualized content.
What technologies are used in printing?
Technologies include inkjet and laser printers for small-scale printing, and offset presses for large-scale commercial printing.
Can anyone learn to write?
Yes, writing is a fundamental skill taught from a young age, focusing on expressing thoughts and ideas through text.
Can writing be therapeutic?
Yes, writing, especially in forms like journaling, can have therapeutic benefits, helping individuals process thoughts and emotions.
How is print media significant in today’s digital age?
Despite the rise of digital media, print media remains significant for its tangible quality, reliability, and reach in areas with limited digital access.
Is digital printing considered the same as traditional printing?
Digital printing refers to producing images directly from a digital file, offering faster and more customizable options than traditional methods.
What future developments are expected in the printing industry?
Future developments may include advances in eco-friendly printing, digital integration, and personalized printing solutions.
How has printing changed over time?
Printing has evolved from manual processes like woodblock printing to sophisticated digital and 3D printing technologies.
What role does printing play in education?
Printing plays a crucial role in producing educational materials, ensuring access to information for learning and research.
Why might someone prefer writing over typing?
Some prefer writing for its tactile feedback, potential for creativity, and the personal touch it adds to communication.
How does printing impact the environment?
Printing, especially on a large scale, can impact the environment through paper consumption and ink waste, prompting efforts towards more sustainable practices.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
