Annotator Guide: Differences Between Annotations, Highlights, and Page Notes
When using Annotator, you have several powerful ways to interact with digital content. Understanding the different types of entries—Annotations, Highlights, Page Notes, and Replies—will help you organize your research and collaborate more effectively.
1. Annotations: The Digital Marginal Note
An Annotation is the most versatile tool in your kit. It is the digital equivalent of writing a note in the margin of a book. To create one, simply select text on a page and click the “Annotate” button (or press the “a” key).
- Function: It anchors directly to a specific passage, quotes it, and allows you to add detailed comments or tags.
- Privacy: These can be set to Public, shared with a Group, or kept Private.
- Best Use: Ideal for attaching critical analysis or specific feedback to a particular sentence or paragraph.
2. Highlights: Quick Reference Markers
A Highlight is like swiping a virtual yellow marker over text. You can create one by selecting text and clicking “Highlight” (or pressing the “h” key).
- Function: It marks a selection for future reference without requiring a comment.
- Privacy: Highlights are always private. They are only visible to you when logged into Annotator.
- Best Use: Use these to bookmark important facts or quotes you want to find later via your profile search, without cluttering the document for others.
3. Page Notes: General Document Bookmarks
Think of a Page Note as a high-level summary or a social bookmark. Unlike the options above, a Page Note is not tied to a specific sentence; it applies to the document as a whole.
- Function: Created via the “New Page Note” button in the toolbar, these allow for general comments and tagging.
- Privacy: Can be Public, Group-visible, or Private.
- Best Use: Perfect for summarizing an entire article or providing a general overview of a document.
Struggling to decide? Use a Highlight for personal reading, an Annotation for specific feedback, and a Page Note for overall document impressions.
4. Replies: Driving the Conversation
A Reply is unique because it doesn’t anchor to the document itself. Instead, it anchors to another user’s entry. By clicking the “Reply” link, you can start a threaded conversation.
- Function: Allows for direct responses to Annotations, Page Notes, or even previous Replies.
- Privacy: Visibility follows the settings of the parent thread (Public, Group, or Private).
- Best Use: Essential for peer review, classroom discussions, and collaborative team research.