Definition

Noun: 1. A deliberate, internal act of committing something to memory: A "mental note" is a conscious decision to remember a specific piece of information, thought, or intention without writing it down. It involves paying special attention for the purpose of future recall.

Usage

The phrase "mental note" is almost always used with the verbs "make" or "take." It functions as the object of these verbs to describe the action of deciding to remember something internally. * The standard construction is: to make/take a mental note (of something/to do something).

Examples

• Make/Take a mental note of [something]:
  • I made a mental note of the street name so I could find my way back.
  • She took a mental note of his unusual reaction.
• Make/Take a mental note to [do something]:
  • He made a mental note to call his mother later.
  • I'll take a mental note to bring that document to the next meeting.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used humorously or ironically to acknowledge noticing something, often negative, that one intends to remember.
  • "He forgot my birthday again. Mental note: he's terrible with dates."
• It can be used in the past tense to indicate that the act of remembering was successful or to introduce the recalled information.
  • "I made a mental note yesterday that the store closes at 6 PM, so we need to hurry."

Variants and Related Words

• Note (noun): A brief record of facts, topics, or thoughts written down for future reference. (e.g., )
• Memo (noun): A short written message or note, typically in a business context. (e.g., )
• Reminder (noun): Something that causes someone to remember something. (e.g., )

Synonyms

• Mental reminder: An internal prompt to remember.
• Commit to memory: To make an effort to remember something.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• To jot down (a note): To write something down quickly. This is the physical counterpart to making a "mental note."
  • I didn't have paper, so I had to make a mental note instead of jotting it down.
• To bear in mind: To remember and consider a fact when making a decision. This is similar in meaning but implies ongoing consideration rather than a single act of noting.
  • Bear in mind that the deadline is tomorrow. (Compare to: I made a mental note that the deadline is tomorrow.)

Noun

1. special attention with intent to remember
   • he made a mental note to send her flowers