annotate

USAGE SUMMARY

"annotate" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to refer to adding explanatory notes to a text, document or other form of media. For example: "I annotated the essay by adding notes to help me to remember the key points."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They would examine and annotate shared databases, and perform experiments.

The Economist

All except the Librius have touch-sensitive displays that let readers search for and annotate text, and (in some models) look up words in a dictionary by touching them.

The Economist

The software will group the data appropriately and annotate the result with weather forecasts, driving directions, restaurant recommendations and even the travel plans of friends and family.

The Economist

With Ms Epstein wielding the quill pen, it was not an old, learned, respectable bald head that would edit and annotate the lines.

The Economist

Instead, he would go on foot and use a pen to annotate a map printed on paper, a technique abandoned by his Western counterparts a decade ago.

The Economist

Others annotate and leave the original up.

The Economist

Database projects curate and annotate the data and then distribute it via the World Wide Web.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For example, one might take a musical score of a symphony and annotate different sections with different cards linked together.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She became interested in Babbage's machines as early as 1833 and, most notably, in 1843 came to translate and annotate an article written by the Italian mathematician and engineer Luigi Federico Menabrea, "Notions sur la machine analytique de Charles Babbage" (1842; "Elements of Charles Babbage's Analytical Machine").

Encyclopedia Britannica

John was the first Christian author to annotate and defend the orthodoxy of the writings of the influential 5th-century Greek Neoplatonist Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, in a commentary composed c. 532 and preserved in both Greek and Syriac versions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There Bush envisioned the memex, a machine that would allow readers to annotate and create links between articles and books recorded on microfilm.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When working collaboratively on a document, "annotate" directly within the text using track changes or comment features for clear communication.

Common error

Avoid confusing "annotate", which means to add explanatory notes, with "connote", which means to imply or suggest an additional meaning. Use "annotate" when you're adding direct comments or explanations to a text.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "annotate" is as a transitive verb. It signifies the action of adding notes or explanations to a text or diagram. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "annotate" is a versatile verb used to describe the action of adding notes or explanations to a text or other form of media. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using "annotate", ensure you are providing clarity and enhancing understanding. Be aware of the potential confusion with similar terms like "connote". This guide, along with real-world examples, offers a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively use "annotate" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

add annotations

Highlights the act of adding notes for clarification or explanation.

add clarifying remarks

Focuses on adding remarks to remove ambiguity or confusion.

add commentary

Focuses on adding explanatory remarks or observations.

gloss the text

Emphasizes providing a brief explanation or interpretation of the text.

provide footnotes

Specifically refers to adding notes at the bottom of a page to provide additional information.

elucidate the passage

Emphasizes making a passage clear and easily understandable.

write notes on

General term for adding written remarks.

comment upon

Implies giving an opinion or analysis.

explain in detail

Focuses on providing a thorough explanation.

interpret the meaning

Highlights the act of clarifying the significance or understanding of something.

FAQs

How do you use "annotate" in a sentence?

You can use "annotate" to describe the action of adding notes or comments to a text, such as "The professor asked students to "annotate" the assigned readings".

What is another word for "annotate"?

Alternatives to "annotate" include "comment", "gloss", or "footnote", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "annotate" and "highlight"?

"Annotate" involves adding explanatory notes or comments, whereas "highlight" simply means to mark something for emphasis without necessarily adding explanation.

Is it correct to say "annotate on" instead of "annotate"?

The correct usage is simply "annotate" followed by the object being annotated, for example, "annotate the document". Using "annotate on" is grammatically incorrect.