Notes: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is commonly used in educational or professional settings to refer to written information meant to help remember something. It's often used during lectures, meetings, or when reading to highlight important points.

• She took extensive notes during the biology lecture.
• He reviewed his notes before the big presentation.

Record refers to a detailed, formal, and systematic collection of information or data. It is often used in legal, medical, or historical contexts where accuracy and completeness are essential.

• The doctor checked the patient’s medical records.
• Official records indicate that the building was constructed in 1920.

This term is formal and often used in a business or official context. A memorandum (or memo) is a written message, especially in business or diplomacy, for internal communication to inform or remind about policies, short reports, or anything important.

• The manager sent a memorandum to all staff outlining the new company policy.
• The memorandum detailed the changes to the department's budget.

Jottings refer to quickly written down, informal notes. These are typically used for personal reminders or initial thoughts that may not be fully organized.

• I made some jottings about the plot of my new novel.
• Her desk was covered with jottings about her upcoming trip.

Use 'notes' when referring to specific pitches in music or written instructions in a book or lecture.

• She wrote down all the important notes during the lecture
• The piano piece has some difficult notes to play

Use 'musical notations' when referring to the symbols used to write music. It is more formal and technical.

• The composer carefully added the musical notations to the score
• Understanding musical notations is essential for reading sheet music

Use 'tones' when talking about the quality or character of a sound. It can also refer to the emotional quality of spoken or written communication.

• The tones of the violin were incredibly soothing
• His tone during the discussion was quite aggressive

Refers to written records or comments, can also be used in the context of music to indicate individual sounds.

• She took careful notes during the lecture.
• He played a few notes on the piano.

Refers to paper money issued by a bank, used mainly in formal or financial contexts.

• He paid for the meal with a handful of banknotes.
• The new banknotes have advanced security features.

Refers to invoices for services or products, and in American English, it also means banknotes. It can sometimes have a negative connotation when referring to expenses.

• The electricity bill is due next week.
• Can you break a $20 bill?

Refers to the system of money in general use in a particular country, generally used in formal or economic contexts.

• The local currency is the euro.
• Cryptocurrency is becoming more popular.