Graph - Word Root - Membean

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graph

write

Quick Summary

You’ve seen the graph root, which means ‘to write,’ written everywhere. From geography classes to math graph paper to English paragraphs, this root presents itself in many, many forms. Take a look at the graphic of the graph tree, and read on with the writing below!

Graphic Writing

There is much to say about the Greek root graph which means ‘to write,’ so let this ‘written’ discourse begin!

One of the most common uses of this root is in the suffix -graphy. Geography is simply ‘writing’ about the physical characteristics of the Earth. A biography is ‘writing’ about someone’s life, whereas an autobiography is ‘writing’ about your own life. And a bibliography is a ‘written’ lists of books you’ve used when writing a paper.

Many people ‘write’ in different ways. For instance, a calligrapher is one who ‘writes’ with beautiful hand-‘writing.’ A choreographer, on the other hand, ‘writes’ dance steps. A cinematographer ‘writes’ scenes in a film by using a camera. ‘Writing’ with film is not unusual at all—consider the photographer, who expresses herself by ‘writing’ with light on film!

Life was made much easier by transmitting messages via the telegraph, which ‘wrote’ at a distance. What do you do with graph paper, on which lines have already been ‘written’? You, of course, draw a graph, or ‘written’ diagram! Paragraphs are, of course, ‘written;’ paragraphs are so called, however, because they are ‘written’ alongside each other.

When you ask someone for her autograph, you want her signature ‘written’ by herself. Graphic artists might be particularly good at that, since they deal with ‘written,’ vivid images on a daily basis. Unfortunately, some people have a habit of ‘writing’ graffiti where they shouldn’t!

Enough ‘writing’ for the day, lest I run out of graphite in my e-pencil!

1. geography: Earth ‘writing’
2. biography: ‘writing’ of someone’s life
3. bibliography: ‘writing’ about books used
4. calligraphy: beautiful ‘writing’
5. choreography: the ‘writing’ of dance steps
6. cinematography: the ‘writing’ of film scenes
7. photography: the ‘writing’ of pictures using light
8. telegraph: ‘writing’ from afar
9. autograph: self ‘written’
10. graffiti: ‘writing’ on walls

Related Rootcasts

• The Fascinating Parts of Words

  Morphology is the study of how words are put together by using morphemes, which include prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Parsing the different morphemes in a word reveals meaning and part of speech. For instance, the word “invention” includes the prefix in- + the root vent + the suffix -ion, from which is formed the noun “invention.”

• Etymology: Word Origins

  Etymology is that part of linguistics that studies word origins. English vocabulary words are formed from many different sources, especially Latin and Greek. By determining the origins of the morphemes in English words, one is better able to remember and determine the dictionary definitions of words.

Usage

• calligraphy

  Calligraphy is the art of beautiful handwriting using special pens or brushes.

• demographic

  A demographic study describes the characteristics of part of a population that is usually used for purposes of marketing.

• orthography

  Orthography is the art of correct spelling.

• topography

  The topography of an area is how the land lies, that is, if it is flat, rolling, mountainous, etc.

• choreography

  The choreography of a work of dance is either the art of arranging the steps or the actual dance composition itself.

• epigraph

  An epigraph is a quotation or inspiring line heading a chapter or entire book that sets forth an overarching theme or is related to the book or chapter in some way.

• hagiography

  Hagiography is the study of and/or the writing of the lives of saints; that is, it is both writing the biography of a saint and the subsequent study of its contents.

• geography

  Geography studies the lands of Earth, including mountains, rivers, cities, and the people that live there.

• autobiography

  a biography of yourself

• autograph

  mark with one's signature

• bibliography

  a list of writings with time and place of publication (such as the writings of a single author or the works referred to in preparing a document etc.)

• biography

  an account of the series of events making up a person's life

• cartography

  the making of maps and charts

• cinematography

  the act of making a film

• demographics

  statistical characteristics of a population often used for marketing

• graph

  represent by means of a graph

• graphic

  written or drawn or engraved

• graphite

  used as a lubricant and as a moderator in nuclear reactors

• photograph

  record on photographic film

• photography

  the act of taking and printing photographs

• telegraph

  send cables, wires, or telegrams

Related Word Roots

• scrib

  write

• writ

  write

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