jotting
C1neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A brief, hurriedly written note, often recording an idea or reminder.
A small, informal record or annotation, typically part of a collection of such notes. Can also refer to the act of writing such notes (gerund).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies informality, brevity, and often a preliminary or non-definitive nature. Typically used in the plural ('jottings') to refer to a collection of such notes. The singular can sound slightly literary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British English, but well-understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Both varieties share the connotations of informality and brevity.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, with a slight edge in British corpora. More common in written than spoken English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (plural) + of + jotting(s)Make/keep + a/one's + jottingsJottings + on/about + topicVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not a jot (related, but from 'jot' as a verb meaning 'a tiny amount')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Occasional: 'I found some useful jottings from the old meeting in my desk drawer.'
Academic
Common: 'The researcher's private jottings provided crucial insight into her initial hypotheses.'
Everyday
Uncommon but understood: 'Her kitchen noticeboard was covered in shopping list jottings.'
Technical
Rare.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She was jotting down the train times in her planner.
American English
- He quickly jotted the phone number on a napkin.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I found an old jotting with her address on it.
- He made a quick jotting so he wouldn't forget.
- The professor's lecture jottings were surprisingly detailed and coherent.
- Her travel journal wasn't a narrative, just a series of impressions and jottings.
- The biographer sifted through decades of the poet's cryptic jottings in search of clues to her creative process.
- These marginal jottings reveal the scholar's initial, sceptical reaction to the theory.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tiny DOT of ink you JOT down quickly. JOTting = a quick DOT of writing.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRITING IS A PHYSICAL TRACE (a mark left behind). IDEAS ARE PHYSICAL OBJECTS (to be captured/recorded).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'дневник' (diary). A diary is more organised. Closer to 'заметка', 'записка', 'набросок'.
- The plural 'jottings' is far more common than the singular.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jotting' to refer to a formal document. *'He submitted a 10-page jotting to the committee.' (Incorrect)
- Using it as a mass noun. *'There was a lot of useful jotting in the book.' (Incorrect; use '...many useful jottings...')
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a typical 'jotting'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but leans towards descriptive formality. It's more formal than 'scribble' but less formal than 'annotation' or 'memorandum'.
No. 'Jotting' is a noun (or gerund). The verb form is 'to jot' (jot something down).
A 'note' is a broader term; a 'jotting' specifically implies it was written quickly, briefly, and often informally. All jottings are notes, but not all notes are jottings.
The plural 'jottings' is significantly more common, as the word often refers to a collection or series of such notes.