Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Common errors in English: Usage of write by/in.

Write


When an instrument is used for writing, we use ‘with’ before that instrument but when we mean the marks made by an instrument we use ‘in’.


Incorrect . He wrote the letter by a pen. 


Correct : He wrote the letter with a pen.


Incorrect : She wrote the letter with ink. 


Correct : She wrote the letter in ink.


Similarly, we can say:


He is writing in chalk on the board. 

Or 

He is writing with a piece of chalk. 


We can also say: 


The boy is writing in pencil. 

Or 

The boy is writing with a pencil.