Definition

Noun: A commonplace book is a personal notebook or journal in which a person records and collects quotations, ideas, anecdotes, observations, and other pieces of information that they find meaningful, useful, or worth remembering. It serves as a repository for intellectual and personal memorabilia.

Usage

A commonplace book is used for the systematic or personal collection of knowledge. Unlike a diary, it focuses on external information rather than daily personal experiences. It is a tool for learning, reflection, and creative inspiration.

Examples

• Scholars and writers have historically kept a commonplace book to organize their reading notes.
• Her commonplace book was filled with poetry excerpts, scientific facts, and sketches.
• He consulted his commonplace book when writing his essay to find supporting quotes.

Advanced Usage

• As a method of learning: Keeping a commonplace book is an active learning technique, encouraging engagement with texts and aiding long-term memory.
• Digital commonplace books: Modern versions can be digital files, note-taking apps, or blogs that serve the same purpose of collecting and categorizing information.

Variants and Related Words

• Commonplace (adjective): Ordinary, unoriginal, or frequently encountered. (e.g., a remark).
  • Note: The adjective "commonplace" is related but has a distinct meaning from the compound noun "commonplace book."
• Journal (noun): A daily record of news and events; a diary.
• Scrapbook (noun): A book for collecting pictures, newspaper articles, and other memorabilia.
• Anthology (noun): A published collection of writings by various authors.

Synonyms

• Notebook
• Miscellany
• Repository
• Sourcebook

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To keep a commonplace book: The standard phrase for the practice of maintaining such a notebook.
  • Example: Many Renaissance thinkers were advised to keep a commonplace book.

Noun

1. a notebook in which you enter memorabilia