People confuse the phrases writ large and at large. Here is the skinny on the difference:

Writ large usually means clear or obvious.
At large usually means in general.

Dictionary definitions

I’m targeting journalists with this information, and they tend to use the Associated Press Stylebook as a reference. The AP Stylebook cites Webster’s New World College Dictionary as the “first reference for spelling, style, usage and foreign geographic names,” so it’s my first reference here.

The dictionary of reference for journalists

You need a digital subscription via the AP Stylebook if you want to see these definitions firsthand, but I’ve copied the relevant parts here:

writ large

expressed, shown, or done on a larger scale or in a clearer or more emphatic way

Webster’s New World College Dictionary (excerpt of entry on writ, second use)

at large

  1. free; not confined; not in jail
  2. fully; in complete detail
  3. in general; taken altogether
  4. ☆ representing an entire state or other district rather than only one of its subdivisions: often in hyphenated compounds [a congressman at large]
  5. covering any area or many areas; not covering any specific area: often in hyphenated compounds [a critic at large]

Webster’s New World College Dictionary (excerpt of entry on large)

Note that the definition of writ large comes from the entry on writ, which is an archaic preterite and past participle of write. The definition of at large comes from the entry on large.

Ok, but what about some examples? I happen to know a dictionary with examples.

A dictionary with examples

The Oxford University Press publishes this dictionary, which also comes on Macs. The versions of these definitions are from Lexico.com, which hosts a free version of the dictionary.

Click the links with each definition to see extensive lists of example sentences for each phrase.

writ large

  1. Clear and obvious.
    ‘the unspoken question writ large upon Rose’s face’
    1. In a stark or exaggerated form.
      ‘bribing people by way of tax allowances is the paternalistic state writ large’

Oxford University Press via Lexico.com (entry on writ large)

at large

  1. (especially of a criminal or dangerous animal) at liberty; escaped or not yet captured.
    ‘the fugitive was still at large’
  2. As a whole; in general.
    ‘there has been a loss of community values in society at large’
  3. (also at-large)
    US In a general way; without particularizing.
    ‘the magazine’s editor at large’
  4. dated At length; in great detail.
    ‘writing at large on the policies he wished to pursue’

Oxford University Press via Lexico.com (entry on at large)

Why I made this

I sometimes hear people say “writ large” when I think they mean “at large.” This is understandable; it has a fun flare to it. I personally take any opportunity I can to say “writ large.”

You might be thinking, “Language is fluid! The meanings of words and phrases change over time.”

You’re right. It might even be silly to fight this particular change (if it is even happening; I don’t have much data on this).

Nonetheless, I think it is useful to have phrases that mean different things and preserve the beauty of special phrases.

Maybe “writ large” will take on new meaning as people use it more often, but I think it’s worth also preserving its old meaning.

Who made this?

I made this! I’m Carter Pape. You can email me at
[email protected] (replace ???? with the standard English greeting word).