How to Use Hypothesis

Getting started with Hypothesis

With Hypothesis, you can annotate web pages and PDFs collaboratively, allowing for in-depth discussions and analysis. This guide will help you set up your account and start your first annotation in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Hypothesis website.
2. Click on the “Sign Up” button located in the top-right corner.
3. Fill in your details (name, email, password) and click “Create Account”.
4. You will receive a verification email. Click on the link in that email to verify your account.
5. Once verified, log in to your Hypothesis account.

Step 2: Your first annotation

1. Navigate to any web page or PDF you wish to annotate.
2. Click on the Hypothesis extension icon in your browser toolbar (you may need to install it first from the Chrome Web Store).
3. The Hypothesis sidebar will open on the right. Click “Annotate” to start.
4. Highlight the text you want to annotate. A pop-up will appear; click “Add a comment”.
5. Type your note in the box and click “Post”. Your annotation is now saved and visible to others using Hypothesis.

Step 3: Get better results

• To find annotations made by others, use the “Groups” feature in the sidebar. You can join public groups or create your own for specific discussions.
• Use tags to organise your annotations. Type a hashtag (#) followed by a keyword in your comment to categorise it.
• Explore the “Activity” tab in the sidebar to see recent annotations from your groups.

Pro tip

To save time, use keyboard shortcuts: press “C” to create a new comment and “A” to highlight text for annotation. This speeds up your workflow significantly.

Common mistake to avoid

Many users forget to verify their email address. If you can’t log in, check your inbox for the verification email and follow the link to activate your account.