Writing down homework

Question

[nq:1]"Note their homework" is not idiomatic English unless you mean "take notice of their homework".[/nq]
Of course I want them to write their homework down. What is the idiomatic expression?
Note your homework down.
Note down your homework.
Write your homework down.
In one of the "school words" postings someone wrote about "homework assignments". I always thought that those are synonyms and wouldn't be used together.

Jochen

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:2]"Note their homework" is not idiomatic English unless you mean "take notice of their homework".[/nq]
[nq:1]Of course I want them to write their homework down. What is the idiomatic expression? Note your homework down. Note ... "school words" postings someone wrote about "homework assignments". I always thought that those are synonyms and wouldn't be used together.[/nq]
Make a note of your homework assignment.
The two words could be used separately, but 'homework assignment'is a common phrase. To justify it:
There could be an in-class assignment, which wouldn't be homework, so that justifies adding 'homework' to 'assignment'.
Just using 'homework' would refer to the work itself more than the description of the work to be done.

john

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]"Note their homework" is not idiomatic English unless you mean "take notice of their homework".[/nq]
[nq:1]Of course I want them to write their homework down. What is the idiomatic expression? Note your homework down. Note down your homework. Write your homework down.[/nq]
"Write down" or "put down".
[nq:1]In one of the "school words" postings someone wrote about "homework assignments". I always thought that those are synonyms and wouldn't be used together.[/nq]
They are synonyms, yes, but that doesn't mean that they always mean the same thing. "Homework assignment" makes perfect sense.
Adrian (UK)

Usenet · Answer

I would not say that "homework" and "assignment" are synonyms - shirley assignments can be carried out during work or school hours?

Regards,
Arfur (UK)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]"Note their homework" is not idiomatic English unless you mean "take notice of their homework".[/nq]
[nq:1]Of course I want them to write their homework down. What is the idiomatic expression?[/nq]
A bit of confusion here is that there are two possible concepts meant.

One is to write down what your homework assignment *is*, such as "P. 63 1-10."
The other is writing out the homework assignment itself. You could *do* the homework assignment in a notebook (writing the answers to 1-10 on P.
63). As opposed to just doing them mentally, for example.

Either of these could conceivably be the meaning of "writing down one's homework." But I think now you meant the first, writing down what it is that the teacher tells you to do. Making a note of what has been assigned.
[nq:1]Note your homework down. Note down your homework. Write your homework down. In one of the "school words" postings someone wrote about "homework assignments". I always thought that those are synonyms and wouldn't be used together.[/nq]
Nope, they can be used together. "Hey, what's the homework assignment?"

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]"Note their homework" is not idiomatic English unless you mean"take notice of their homework".[/nq]
[nq:1]Of course I want them to write their homework down. What is theidiomatic expression? Note your homework down. Note down your homework. Write your homework down.[/nq]
I'd probably say, "Write your assignment down" or "Write down your assignment." Or maybe something like "Make sure you write your assignment down."
[nq:1]In one of the "school words" postings someone wrote about "homework assignments". I always thought that those are synonyms and wouldn'tbe used together.[/nq]
"Homework" is a mass noun (in formal English) and "assignment" is a count noun. Thus "Jerry gives a lot of homework" but "He gives a lot of assignments" or "He gives long assignments."
One student could easily ask another, "What's the homework?" or "What's the assignment?" Likewise "Did you finish the homework?" or "Did you finish the assignment?" So yes, they can be synonyms.

The use of homework as a count noun "I'm two homeworks behind" exists but is non-standard.

Jerry Friedman

Usenet · Answer

I wouldn't call them synonyms. You could say, "Your assignment is bathing the cat". Then you could ask, "Did you finish the assignment?" or "Did you finish bathing the cat?", but "assignment" and "bathing the cat" would not be synonyms.
[nq:1]The use of homework as a count noun "I'm two homeworks behind" exists but is non-standard.[/nq]
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I'd probably say, "Write your assignment down" or "Write down ... you finish the assignment?" So yes, they can be synonyms.[/nq]
[nq:1]I wouldn't call them synonyms. You could say, "Your assignment is bathing the cat". Then you could ask, "Did you finish the assignment?" or "Did you finish bathing the cat?", but "assignment" and "bathing the cat" would not be synonyms.[/nq]
At first I thought that question would be unnecessary, but then I remembered you could have bandages and still not have finished bathing the cat.

john

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I wouldn't call them synonyms. You could say, "Your assignment ... but "assignment" and "bathing the cat" would not be synonyms.[/nq]
[nq:1]At first I thought that question would be unnecessary, but then I remembered you could have bandages and still not have finished bathing the cat.[/nq]
That's a "well done" to you, sir.

Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/

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