How to Effectively Utilize Medium Highlights for Insight Capture
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Medium Highlights
In today's digital age, gathering and preserving valuable insights from online content can be quite a task. One of my preferred tools for curating the material I consume is the often-discussed "Highlights" feature on Medium. This function enables readers to save and retain essential phrases from articles, but not everyone seems to use it in the same manner. I've noticed some users highlight entire articles or random words, indicating a lack of uniformity in its use.
With that observation in mind, I decided to explore my approach to using Highlights, which adds a touch of medieval charm to my experience.
Medium Highlights is designed to assist readers in capturing meaningful excerpts from articles on the platform. To highlight text, simply drag over the desired section (similar to copying), and a series of icons will appear. You can then select the first icon, resembling a highlighter, and voilà—you’ve highlighted some text.
The illustration I’m referring to is from a piece by Eve Arnold. Once highlighted, these snippets are stored in your library under the “Highlights” section, creating a personalized repository of insights.
Section 1.1: Varied Uses of Highlights
People employ this function in various ways:
Some individuals highlight text to share it publicly on platforms like Twitter or privately with friends. Others use highlights to respond to specific sections of an article (by clicking the speech bubble icon instead), facilitating focused discussions. Some utilize highlights as visual cues to the author and other readers, indicating engagement with the post—a thoughtful gesture that’s more impactful than a simple clap but less demanding than a comment. Additionally, a few users gather highlighted words for language learning purposes (which may explain why seemingly random words are often selected).
Subsection 1.1.1: My Personal Approach
My approach to Medium Highlights is a bit more self-centered—apologies in advance! I view them as a digital version of a commonplace book.
What exactly is a Commonplace Book? Historically, these books were popular during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras, although their roots trace back much further; even Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is said to have maintained one. Commonplace Books served as personal compilations of knowledge, insights, quotes, and snippets from everyday life. People noted anything that piqued their interest, creating cherished repositories of wisdom that fostered intellectual growth and sparked creativity. Some were meticulously organized, while others were a delightful mix of ideas, each unique to its owner.
Chapter 2: The Modern Application of Highlights
Just like traditional commonplace books, I use Medium Highlights to curate valuable excerpts from the articles I read. By leveraging this feature as a contemporary commonplace book, I can harness the benefits of organizing and preserving insights while enjoying the added convenience of digital search capabilities.
While it may lack the romance of handwritten quotes in a beautiful leather-bound journal, it certainly offers a more practical solution.
Since I often read on Medium, it’s only logical to keep my commonplace book here as well. While I may not be able to include the scathing remarks from Auntie Susie last Tuesday, it serves its purpose effectively. I frequently revisit it for ideas, comfort, and inspiration.
I highly recommend utilizing Medium Highlights as a digital commonplace book, as it beautifully combines the accessibility of the digital era with the timeless practice of collecting wisdom—truly a win-win situation.
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The first video titled "How to save highlights on Medium? - Medium Tips" provides tips on effectively using the highlight feature to enhance your reading experience.
The second video, "4 Different Foil Placement Techniques | How to Foil Hair Tutorial | Kenra Color," offers insights that can inspire creativity in your own projects.