Use verb and pattern tags (#deciding, #recurring-blocker)…
Favor verb-based and pattern-based tags (#deciding, #recurring-blocker) over abstract category tags (#productivity, #management) to capture actionable relationships.
When This Fires
- Choosing tags for a new note
- Reviewing and refactoring your existing tag system
- Noticing that your tags group notes by topic but don't help you find what you need in the moment
- Any time your tag search returns too many irrelevant results
Common Failure Mode
Mixing verb/pattern tags with category tags inconsistently. If half your notes use #deciding and half use #decision-making, and some use #management as a catch-all, searches miss notes tagged with the "wrong" variant. Pick one style (verbs and patterns) and apply it consistently. Migrate existing category tags when you encounter them.
The Protocol
When tagging: (1) Ask "What action or pattern does this note address?" rather than "What category does this belong to?" (2) Use verbs: #deciding, #estimating, #explaining, #designing. (3) Use patterns: #bottleneck, #premature-optimization, #sunk-cost, #feedback-loop. (4) Avoid abstract categories: not #productivity but #protecting-deep-work, not #management but #giving-feedback. The specificity of verb/pattern tags makes retrieval precise without requiring you to remember which academic bucket you filed the note under.