How To Use Annotation Tabs While Reading (Without Stressing About Doing It 'Right')

Tabbing your books is personal, and honestly, it's more fun than you think.

If you've ever seen a perfectly tabbed book and thought, "I could never," this post is for you!

Annotation tabs are an easy, customizable way to mark moments that made you laugh, cry, or throw the book across the room. Whether you want to remember your favorite quotes or keep track of a plot twist you knew was coming, annotation tabs can be both beautiful and functional. 

Here's how to get started (chaos-friendly and aesthetic-approved):

Step 1: Decide What You Want To Tab

Before you dive in, think about what matters to you as a reader. 

Are you: 

• Highlighting romantic moments?
• Tracking character development?
• Saving quotes that hit a little too hard?
• Following a complicated fantasty plot?

You can keep it simple or go deep, it's totally up to you!

Step 2: Choose Your Colors

You can choose tab colors based on:

• A System: Assign each color a meaning (example: pink = romance, blue = sad scenes, green = worldbuilding).
• A Vibe: Pick colors that match the book cover for a cohesive, pretty look (great for Bookstagram posts).
• A Mood: Go totally random and pick what feels right in the moment. (Shout out to my fellow chaos tabbers!)

Step 3: (Optional) Create a Tab Key or Legend

Some readers like to jot down a quick "tab legend" before they start. This could be a sticky note in the front of the book, words written in the physical book, or a bookmark. 

But here's the thing: you don't have to. If keeping track of a legend stresses you out, skip it! Your book, your rules!

Step 4: Start Tabbing!

As you read, use your tabs to mark the moments that matter to you.

• A quote that made you pause
• A plost twist you did or didn't see coming
• A character reveal or emotional turning point
• That first kiss you've been waiting 200 pages for...

Place the tab slightly sticking out from the page so you can easily flip back to it later.

Step 5: Clean, Removed, or Keep Forever

Annotation tabs are non-damaging and easy to remove so:

• Want to reuse them? carefully peel them off and save them.
• Want to keep them as part of your reading memory? Leave them in!
• Want a super clean look? You can line them up evenly as you go.

Where to get annotaiton tabs?

Right here at The Tabery, of course!

Our tabs are:

• Smooth, non-damaging, and transparent (so you can still see the words, although some of them are very dark)
• Available in many colors so you can match your books!
• Sold in flexible quantities: no waste, no pressure.

There's no wrong way to use annotation tabs. You don't have to be aesthetic, organizzed, or a hardcore annotator to enjoy them. Tabbing is just one more way to engage with the stories you love!

So go ahead. Mark what matters. Honor that quote. Be the chaotic reader your TBR stack fears!