Note down / jot down / scribble down All three phrasal verbs are described as quick writing down an information. "Scribble down" presumes that it is made in an untidy way, right? The Longman Phrasal

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Note down / jot down / scribble down All three phrasal verbs are described as quick writing down an information. "Scribble down" presumes that it is made in an untidy way, right? The Longman Phrasal Verbs Dictionary explains "jot down' as 'to write quickly ON A PIECE OF PAPER" while 'note down' just as quick write down an information. My questions: 1) Can 'jot down' be ONLY used when we write down information on a piece of PAPER in a quick way? 2) Can 'jot down' be used, for example, when we save information on a cell phone in a quick way? 3) Is there any difference between 'note down' and 'jot down' or they are completely interchangeable? Thank you for your time and help :)

Aug 17, 2017 5:15 AM

Answers · 10

Yes, you are correct that scribble has an implication of messy, or at least hurried. I guess that the meaning of 'jot' is evolving, but I would not use 'jot' to refer to any use of a keyboard, but I would perhaps use it with (say) using a stylus. Jot does sound a little old-fashioned - I don't use it much any more. 'Note' I would use more, and I would use it for a typed digital note.

August 17, 2017

My questions: 1) Can 'jot down' be ONLY used when we write down information on a piece of PAPER in a quick way? 2) Can 'jot down' be used, for example, when we save information on a cell phone in a quick way?... I would say yes, mainly for paper. I wouldn't jot down on my phone or tablet. Although, with new stylus technology I guess you could. 3) Is there any difference between 'note down' and 'jot down' or they are completely interchangeable? I would say they mean the same thing, but jot down is a bit more informal.

August 17, 2017

Just to add to the above answers... We get "jot" from the Greek "iota", and it also has a general meaning of "the least part of anything" (iota is the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet). So "to jot (down)" in the sense of writing suggests small pieces of information. A small notebook may be called a "jotter", where you would write "jottings". "To note (down)" feels as if the information is a bit more organised and in-depth, and the writing may even be a little neater. I think there's a bit more carefulness when you note something down. Do an image search for "jottings" and "notetaking" and you might see a subtle difference.

August 17, 2017

I agree with Gary! My only addition is that it's used mostly in the third person. So, you might read in a book "Jack jotted down Jane's number." but it's pretty odd to hear "Let me jot this down real quick."

August 17, 2017

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