making a note

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making a note" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that you are recording information for future reference. Example: "I am making a note of the meeting time so I don't forget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"That's gonna be Chirlane Forest instead of Sherwood, right?" "Yes, thanks," Sutton said, making a note.

The New Yorker

"Round the back of the school, you say?" the policeman repeated, making a note.

The New Yorker

So against my expectations, I found myself making a note to watch next week's episode.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Did you buy the yellow shoes?" I lied and said I had, making a note to do so immediately.

The New York Times - Magazine

I myself am already making a note to myself to start exercising more caution when going to the movies.

The Guardian - Film

It is worth making a note of your mobile phone's unique IMEI number (which can be found by pressing * # 06 #).

The Guardian - Money

"We will be making a note — very short — of it in our next issue, in February," he said.

The New York Times

He hovers on the stairs sometimes, listening for a laugh or the sound of her pencil making a note on the manuscript.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

She made a note.

The New York Times - Magazine

He made a note.

The New York Times

I made a note.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "making a note" when you want to emphasize the act of recording information for later use or reference. For quicker, less formal instances, consider "jotting down."

Common error

Avoid using "making a note" when describing a detailed record-keeping process. Opt for terms like "documenting" or "keeping a record" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making a note" functions primarily as a verb phrase acting as a gerund, often serving as part of a larger clause to indicate an action of recording information. Ludwig examples show it used across different contexts, reinforcing its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "making a note" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the act of recording information. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various domains, including news, science, and general writing. It serves the primary function of indicating that something is being recorded for future use, with a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. When aiming for brevity, consider alternatives like "jotting down", but remember "making a note" is versatile and well-understood in a broad range of situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking notes

Implies a more extensive recording of information, often in an educational or professional setting.

jotting down

Suggests a quick and informal recording of information.

writing down

A more general term for recording information in writing.

noting down

Similar to "writing down" but slightly more formal.

making a mental note

Indicates remembering something without physically writing it down.

recording information

A more technical and comprehensive way of saying "making a note".

taking cognizance

A formal way of saying acknowledging or taking note of something.

documenting

Refers to recording something in detail, often for official purposes.

keeping a record

Implies maintaining an ongoing account of something.

logging

Suggests recording information in a systematic or chronological order.

FAQs

What does "making a note" mean?

Making a note means to record something, usually briefly, so that you don't forget it. It's a way of capturing information for future reference.

What can I say instead of "making a note"?

You can use alternatives like "taking notes", "jotting down", or "writing down" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "making a note" and "taking notes"?

"Making a note" usually refers to a brief record, while "taking notes" often implies a more detailed and extensive process of recording information, such as in a lecture or meeting.

How to use "making a note" in a sentence?

You can use "making a note" to indicate that you are recording something important. For example, "I am making a note of the deadline so I don't forget."