"his writing of" vs "his having written"

Question

"his writing of" vs "his having written"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'His having written' is used to emphasize the completion of the writing action, while 'his writing of' is used to emphasize the act of writing itself. They can be used interchangeably in some cases, but the choice depends on the emphasis the speaker wants to convey.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

This phrase is used to emphasize the act of writing something. It focuses on the process of writing rather than the completion of the action.

Examples:

I enjoyed his writing of the novel.
His writing of the poem was truly inspiring.

Alternatives:

his creation of
his composing of
his crafting of

This phrase is used to emphasize that someone has completed the act of writing something. It is often used to refer to a past action that has been finished.

Examples:

I appreciate his having written such a detailed report.
His having written the letter saved us a lot of time.

Alternatives:

his completion of writing
his having finished writing
his having penned

Answer 1

his writing of

This phrase is correct and can be used to emphasize the act of writing itself.

Answer 2

his having written

This phrase is correct and can be used to emphasize the completion of the writing action.

"his writing of" vs "his having written"

his writing of

his having written

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