Advanced English Phrasal Verbs: Reading and Writing

Here  are some phrasal verbs that may come in handy while speaking about various ways of writing (as soon as you get the information, quickly, on an official document etc.) and reading (aloud, quickly, only parts of a book, carefully etc.), as well as about improving a piece of writing.

Writing

WRITE DOWN smth or WRITE smth DOWN

 write information on a piece of paper , in a book etc so that you will not forget it or so that it can be used later

Ex. I know I wrote that phone number down somewhere.

PUT DOWN smth or PUT smth DOWN

write something, especially a name or a sum of money, on a form or list

Ex. Could you just put down the titles and the names of the authors please?

NOTE DOWN smth or NOTE smth DOWN

write down information as soon as you get it, so that you will be able to use it later

Ex. I'd better note that down or I'll forget it.

Synonym: make a note of

JOT DOWN smth or JOT smth DOWN

write short, quick notes of facts or ideas so that you can use them later

Ex. Let me jot down your adress on this piece of paper.

SCRIBBLE DOWN smth or SCRIBBLE smth DOWN

write smth in a hurry with the result that it may be difficult to read

Ex. The lecture spoke so fast that I could only scribble down a few notes.

WRITE OUT smth or WRITE smth OUT (1)

write information, such as your name, the date etc on a document 

(e.g. a cheque,  a prescription) so that it can be used

Ex. She took the money, wrapped up the plates and wrote me out a receipt.

MAKE OUT smth or MAKE smth OUT

write all necessary information on an official document (e.g. a cheque, an application, a ticket)

Ex. If you have time to wait, we could make out your airline ticket now.

 FILL IN smth or FILL smth IN 

(especially BrE)

write all necessary information in the empty spaces on an official document or test

Ex. Please fill in the registration form and return it by 18 September.

FILL OUT smth or FILL smth OUT

write all necessary information in the empty spaces on an official document or test

Ex. Let's fill out this questionnaire together.

WRITE OUT smth or WRITE smth OUT (2)

Write something again in a better, neater or more complete way

Ex. Do your essay in rough first and then write it out.

WRITE UP smth or WRITE smth UP

write a report, article etc. in its final form

Ex. You have to write up your essay and submit it a week before the course ends.

Improving a Piece of Writing

CUT OUT smth or CUT smth OUT
remove a piece of writing

Ex. I've put a line through this sentence; you should cut it out.

TONE DOWN smth or TONE smth DOWN

make a piece of writing, a speech or a performance less offensive or less critical

Ex. This paragraph here is a bit strong - why not tone it down a bit?

TOUCH ON (UPON) smth

to mention a subject briefly when writing or speaking about smth

Ex. You only touch on the issue of government control. Surely that deserves a bit more space.

CROP UP 
(about a word, name or subject) appear in smth that you read, hear or see

Ex. Your point about crime crops up in several places - why not deal with it in just one paragraph?

SUM UP (smth/smb) or SUM (smth/smb) UP
describe briefly the most important points or characteristics of something or someone

Ex. It'd be a good idea to add a paragraph summing up your main points at the end.

SET OUT smth or SET smth OUT

explain ideas, facts or opinions in a clearly organised way.

Ex. I think you should try to set the whole thing out better!

Reading

READ UP ON smth

read a lot about a particular subject in order to learn about it

Ex. Can you all please read up on air pollution for next week.

READ OUT smth or READ smth OUT

read a list, results, a letter etc to someone, especially because they need the information that it contains

Ex. Jane, will you please read out the paragraph at the top of the sheet?

SKIM THROUGH (smth)

read the whole of smth quickly so that you get a general idea of what it is about

Ex. If there isn't enough time, you'll just have to skim through the text.

DIP INTO smth

read small parts of a book or magazine because you don't feel like reading the whole thing or 

because you are looking for a particular piece of information.

Ex. An encyclopedia is not the kind of book you read from cover to cover, but something you dip into when you need a particular fact.

LEAF / FLICK / THUMB THROUGH smth

turn the pages of a book, magazine etc. without reading much of it,

 looking for something interesting or useful

Ex. She flicked through the guidebook, looking for somewhere to visit in the afternoon.

READ THROUGH / OVER smth or READ smth THROUGH / OVER

read smth carefully, especially to check every detail or find any mistakes

Ex. Students are always advised to read through what they have written before leaving the exam room.

PORE OVER smth

read smth for a long time, very carefully, and with great interest

Ex. Ian pored over the letter and soon committed it to memory.

BURY ONESELF IN smth

give all your attention to smth that you are reading very carefully, 

often in order to avoid thinking about something or talking to someone

Ex. At breakfast Duncan buried himself in the newspaper and pretended to ignore her.

PLOUGH THROUGH smth (BrE) / PLOW THROUGH smth (AmE)

read all of something even though it takes a lot of time and is boring

Ex. As I ploughed through the book I began to wonder whether it was worth it.

Sources:
1. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use.
2. M. McCarthy, F. O'Dell. English Phrasal Verbs in Use. Advanced.
3. Longman Phrasal Verbs Dictionary.
4. Longman Language Activator.