scribbling
Messy quick marks
Scribbling is hasty, careless writing or drawing—the kind that fills margins during boring meetings or covers a toddler's attempts at art.
The word suggests something dashed off without much thought or skill: I found some scribbling in the back of his notebook.
It can also describe the act itself: She was scribbling notes during the lecture.
Done with excessive speed
- jottingWriting briefly
- scrawlCareless, illegible writing
- quickMoving with speed
- hurriedDone too quickly
shorthand · dash off · last-minute · impatient · cursory · illegible · frantic · deadline
Writing briefly
- notepadBound sheets for writing
- ideasMental creations or plans
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
- reminderMemory aid
marginalia · annotation · memo · shorthand · lecture notes · outline · summary · thoughts
Skill of forming letters
- handwritingManual letter formation
- draftPreliminary version of text
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- rough draftUnpolished first attempt
first draft · freewriting · journaling · longhand · cursive · print · scratch paper · revisions
Cannot be read
- smudgedBlurred by contact
- sloppyCareless and untidy
- untidyLacking neatness or order
- scrawledWrote in messy haste
blotted · chaotic · scratchy · unreadable · cramped · crooked · overlapping · blurred
Hasty informal drawing
- marginEdge of a page
- absent-mindedProne to forgetting things
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- meetingGathering for discussion
idle · cartoon · pattern · swirls · shapes · spirals · flowers · stars
Wax pigment sticks
- kindergartenEarly schooling for youngsters
- playfulInclined toward fun
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- stickfigureSimplified drawn human
colorful · whimsical · innocence · fingerpaint · playtime · recess · construction paper · coloring book
rushed
Done with excessive speed
hurried · shorthand · dash off · last-minute · impatient · cursory · illegible · frantic · deadline · rapid
jotting
Writing briefly
- notepadBound sheets for writing
- ideasMental creations or plans
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
reminder · marginalia · annotation · memo · shorthand · lecture notes · outline · summary · thoughts · observations
penmanship
Skill of forming letters
- handwritingManual letter formation
- draftPreliminary version of text
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
rough draft · first draft · freewriting · journaling · longhand · cursive · print · scratch paper · revisions · crossing out
illegible
Cannot be read
scrawled · blotted · chaotic · scratchy · unreadable · cramped · crooked · overlapping · blurred · careless
sketch
Hasty informal drawing
- marginEdge of a page
- absent-mindedProne to forgetting things
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
meeting · idle · cartoon · pattern · swirls · shapes · spirals · flowers · stars · geometric
crayons
Wax pigment sticks
- kindergartenEarly schooling for youngsters
- playfulInclined toward fun
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
stickfigure · colorful · whimsical · innocence · fingerpaint · playtime · recess · construction paper · coloring book · marker
- Writing Activitiesjotting, note-taking, typing, keying, drafting
- pen techniqueshatching, crosshatching, stippling, shading, outlining
- kids' artcrayons, stick figures, finger painting, chalk, markers
- note-takingnotes, jot, notation, write down, note down
- toddler behaviorstantrums, thumb sucking, crying, clinging, saying no
- jottingsnotes, jottings, jotting, memos, sticky notes
scribblingcalligraphy
Ornamental handwriting art
penmanship · fine writing · copperplate · illumination · lettering
scribblingcomposing
Creating musical works
drafting · authoring · formal writing · crafting · professional writing