to collaborate / contribute
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to collaborate
To work together with others on a task, a project, or in a company; to cooperate.
Um das Projekt rechtzeitig abzuschließen, müssen alle Teammitglieder effektiv mitarbeiten.
In order to finish the project on time, all team members have to collaborate effectively.
'Mitarbeiten' (to collaborate / contribute) is a separable verb. The prefix 'mit-' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Er arbeitet bei diesem Projekt engagiert mit.
He is actively collaborating on this project.
The verb is very often used with the preposition 'an' followed by the dative to name the task or project. If it is about an event or a place, 'bei' with the dative is often used.
Sie arbeitet an einer wichtigen Studie mit.
She is contributing to an important study.
The verb 'mitarbeiten' (to collaborate / contribute) is closely related to the nouns 'der Mitarbeiter' (employee; person who collaborates) and 'die Mitarbeit' (collaboration; the act of contributing). If you know one word, you can understand the others more easily.
Die gute Mitarbeit aller Angestellten führte zum Erfolg.
The good cooperation of all employees led to success.
This meaning is specific to the fields of media and academia. It describes the activity of authors or experts who provide content for a work. Typical objects are 'Zeitschrift' (magazine), 'Lexikon' (encyclopedia), or 'Buch' (book).
Der berühmte Historiker hat an diesem Lexikon mitgearbeitet.
The famous historian contributed to this encyclopedia.
to write
'schreiben' and 'mitarbeiten' can both fit when someone provides texts for a newspaper, a website, or a book. 'schreiben' emphasizes the text itself: someone writes an article, an email, or a book. 'mitarbeiten' emphasizes participation in a larger project or publication. So you can write for a newspaper, but contribute to a newspaper if you regularly provide pieces or are part of the team. The words can be confused because the contribution often consists of writing texts.
Luis arbeitet seit einem Jahr bei einem kleinen Online-Magazin mit.
Luis has been contributing to a small online magazine for a year.
Für die Schülerzeitung schreibt Lena einen Artikel über den neuen Sportplatz.
For the school newspaper, Lena is writing an article about the new sports field.