draft

Everyday

1. A draft is an early version of a piece of writing, drawing or plan that is not finished and will be improved: a first draft. tree →
2. To draft something is to write or draw the first version of it. tree →
3. (US) A draft is a cold current of air in a room (UK spelling: draught). tree →
4. (US) The draft was a system that made young men join the army; to be drafted is to be chosen for it, and in sports to be picked for a team. tree →
5. (money) A bank draft is a written order to pay money. tree →
6. (US) Draft beer is beer from a barrel (UK: draught). tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons pupils plan, draft, edit and redraft their writing: the first draft is messy and that is normal; then you improve spelling, punctuation and word choice. In email and apps, an unsent message is saved in «Drafts». In American sports news, players are picked in «the draft». Phrases: first draft, rough draft, final draft, redraft, draft email, drafted into the army.

Examples

• Write a first draft, then check it for mistakes. tree →
• My rough draft was full of crossings-out. tree →
• She drafted a letter to the council about the park. tree →
• The email is saved in my Drafts folder. tree →
• We redrafted our story to make the ending stronger. tree →
• (US) Close the window, there's a draft. tree →
• His grandfather was drafted into the army. tree →
• The basketball player was picked first in the draft. tree →

Note

Verb: draft, drafts, drafted, drafting. Spelling trap: in UK English a cold wind in a room, a beer from a barrel and the game draughts (checkers) are spelt «draught»; but a piece of writing is «draft» in both UK and US English. US English uses «draft» for all of them.