When you use Annotator, your highlights are “anchored” to specific words on a page. Think of it like a boat tied to a dock; as long as the dock is there, the boat stays in place.
However, websites and PDF files sometimes change. If a writer edits the page or removes the paragraph you highlighted, our tool can no longer find the “anchor” for your note.
When this happens, the note becomes an “Orphan.”
Where Can I Find Them?
Don’t worry—we never delete or hide your work just because the website changed. If a note loses its place on the page:
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On the Page: The note will still appear in your sidebar list, but it won’t be connected to a highlight in the text.
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The Annotation Card: Inside the note, you will see the original text you highlighted, but it will be crossed out to show that it’s no longer found on the live page.
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Your Activity Page: You can always see a full list of all your notes, including orphans, on your personal profile page.