Notebooks

How a notebook differs from a notepad or a journal

A notebook keeps its pages bound together, so what you write stays in order and can be found again weeks later. A notepad works the other way: its sheets are usually glued along the top edge so they tear away cleanly, ready for a shopping list or a note on the kitchen table.

A journal is a notebook with a purpose of its own. Some people keep one as a diary, some as a record of trips and days out, and some as a place to note a few good things before bed. The difference usually lies in how you use it rather than how it is made, which is why the two words are so often swapped.

Picking a size for the pocket, the bag or the desk

Paper sizes in the UK follow the A series, and moving down one size halves the sheet. An A4 notebook, at 210 by 297mm, gives room for diagrams and long notes and is happiest on a desk. An A5 notebook, at 148 by 210mm, is big enough to write in comfortably and small enough for a school bag or a tote. A6, at 105 by 148mm, slips into a coat pocket or a handbag.

Think about where the notebook will live. One kept in the kitchen can be any size, but one that travels has to fit its bag, so we suggest checking the measurements before you buy. A bright cover is easy to spot in a crowded bag, while a quieter one sits well on a desk at work.

Lined, squared, dotted and plain pages explained

Lined pages keep handwriting straight and suit lists, letters and meeting notes. Plain pages leave room for sketches, maps and doodles. Squared paper helps with sums, charts and tidy diagrams. Dotted pages sit between lined and plain: the dots give a light guide that fades into the background once you start your own layout, which is why planners and journal keepers so often like them. If you are torn, think about what will fill the pages first and how the cover looks second.

A gift that gets written in

A notebook rarely sits unused, which makes it one of the easier presents to give. Some of ours suit back to school, when a fresh notebook for spellings or reading helps the term start in good order. Some suit Christmas, and you will also find some for teenagers and a few dog designs among them.

Before you wrap one, write something on the first page, perhaps the date and a line about why you picked it. For a child, a little encouragement goes a long way, and paired with a pen they like, it makes a gift that feels considered.

Pens, pencils and ink that shows through

Pencil and ballpoint work well on lighter paper. Gel pens, felt tips and fountain pens put down more ink, and on thinner pages that ink can show through or bleed onto the sheet beneath. Paper weight is measured in gsm, grams per square metre: ordinary copier paper is around 80gsm, and paper from about 100gsm copes better with wetter inks. If in doubt, try your pen on the last page first, and let the ink dry before you close the cover.

Looking after paper: damp, sunlight and storage

Paper soaks up moisture, so keep notebooks away from steamy bathrooms, damp windowsills and the spot beside the kettle. If one gets wet, blot it gently, stand it on its end with the pages fanned open, then press it under heavy books once it is only slightly damp. The pages may stay a little rippled, but pressing helps them lie flatter.

Strong sunlight fades covers and can yellow pages over time, so store finished notebooks out of direct sun, either upright and snug on a shelf or flat in a lidded box. That keeps the spines straight and stops the corners curling.