writ or at large?
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:
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.
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).