scribblings
Messy handwritten marks
Scribblings are hasty, careless, or illegible writings—words or drawings made without care or skill.
The term often dismisses writing as worthless or amateurish: The margins were covered with scribblings.
A writer might use it with false modesty: Just some scribblings I've been working on.
Brief written records
- jottingsHastily recorded notes
- rough draftUnpolished first attempt
- outlineSummary of key elements
- first draftEarliest written version
revisions · fragments · passages · edits · rewrites · composition · working copy · early version
Hastily recorded notes
- memorandaBrief written records
- remindersAids against forgetting
- annotationsExplanatory additions to documents
- marginaliaNotes in page edges
to-do lists · lists · messages · memos · phone numbers · addresses · appointments · notations
Rough, quick drawings
- squigglesIrregular wavy lines
- drawingsImages rendered by hand
- doodlesCasual, aimless drawings
- figuresNumerical values or forms
shapes · curlicues · zigzags · lines · cartoons · caricatures · illustrations · patterns
Careless, illegible writing
- scratchesShallow marks from abrasion
- chicken scratchIllegible, messy handwriting
- cursiveJoined handwriting style
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
inkblots · smudges · markings · strokes · letterforms
notes
Brief written records
- jottingsHastily recorded notes
- rough draftUnpolished first attempt
- outlineSummary of key elements
first draft · revisions · fragments · passages · edits · rewrites · composition · working copy · early version
jottings
Hastily recorded notes
- memorandaBrief written records
- remindersAids against forgetting
- annotationsExplanatory additions to documents
marginalia · to-do lists · lists · messages · memos · phone numbers · addresses · appointments · notations · shorthand
sketches
Rough, quick drawings
figures · shapes · curlicues · zigzags · lines · cartoons · caricatures · illustrations · patterns · stick figures
scrawl
Careless, illegible writing
- scratchesShallow marks from abrasion
- chicken scratchIllegible, messy handwriting
- cursiveJoined handwriting style
penmanship · inkblots · smudges · markings · strokes · letterforms
scribblingscalligraphy
Ornamental handwriting art
penmanship · copperplate · illuminated manuscript · inscriptions · engravings
scribblingsmasterpiece
Supreme artistic achievement
magnum opus · classic · literature · published works · scholarly writing