Notes

A note is a longer body attached to a thing, underneath its line.

Why you'd care#

Sometimes a thing needs a paragraph, but promoting it to a whole list would be too much. A note keeps the line short and scannable while the detail sits underneath it.

The 60-second version#

Press ⌘⌥N on a thing and write. The thing's own text stays as its title.

Step by step#

Showing it#

A note can appear two ways: as a small icon on the thing, or expanded inline underneath it. That is a global preference, set in Settings → Lists & <i>Things</i> → Show notes inline.

Icon mode keeps lists short. Inline mode is better when the notes are the point.

Formatting#

Notes take the same formatting as thing text: bold, italic, underline, links, and the Plus formats. See bold, italic and underline.

Going further#

Note or sublist? A note is prose about one thing. A sublist is a set of things that belong to it. If you are writing sentences, use a note. If you are writing a list, promote it. See sublists.

Notes are searchable. The body is indexed alongside the line, so a phrase buried in a note is findable. See search.

Settings that change this#

• Settings → Lists & <i>Things</i> → Show notes inline shows notes expanded rather than as an icon.

Tips#

• Keep the thing's line as the summary. If the line only makes sense after reading the note, rewrite the line.
• Meeting notes work well as a thing per topic with a note on each, rather than one enormous thing.

Related#

• Anatomy of a thing
• Sublists, for when a note wants to be a list