diff --git a/src/leeches.md b/src/leeches.md index 4aae5f03..261f03f2 100644 --- a/src/leeches.md +++ b/src/leeches.md @@ -2,46 +2,54 @@ -Leeches are cards that you keep on forgetting. Because they require so -many reviews, they take up a lot more of your time than other cards. +Leeches are cards that you keep forgetting. Because they require so +many reviews, they take up a lot more of your time, compared to other cards. -Anki can help you identify leeches. Each time a review card 'lapses' (is -failed while it is review mode), a counter is increased. When that -counter reaches 8, the note is tagged as a leech, and the card is -suspended. The threshold, and whether to suspend or not, can be adjusted -in the [deck options](deck-options.md). +Anki can help you identify leeches. Each time a review card 'lapses' (is +failed while it is in review mode), a counter increases. When this counter +reaches 8, Anki tags the note as a leech and suspends the card. The +threshold, and whether to suspend or not, can be adjusted in the +[deck options](deck-options.md). -Anki will continue to issue leech warnings periodically for a difficult -card. The warning interval is half the initial leech threshold. That is, -if you have Anki configured to warn at 8 lapses, future warnings will -happen every 4 lapses. (12, 16, etc) +If you keep failing that card, Anki will continue to alert you about the +leech periodically. These warnings occur at half the initial leech +threshold. For example, if you set the warning at 8 lapses, future +warnings will happen every 4 lapses (at 12, 16, and so on). -Once a leech is found, there are a number of ways you can handle it. +Once a leech is found, there are several ways to handle it. -## Waiting +## Editing -Some leeches are caused by 'interference'. For example, an English -learner may have recently learnt the words "disappoint" and "disappear". -As they look similar, the learner may find themselves confusing the two -when trying to answer. In these situations, it’s often productive to -concentrate on just one idea. When that idea is firmly ingrained in your -mind, you can then return to learning the other idea. So in these -situations, you may want to leave one of the words suspended until you -have learnt the other one well, and then unsuspend it in the browser. +The most efficient method to deal with leeches is to change how the +information is presented. Maybe your cards have too much information, or +you’re trying to memorize something without fully understanding it. Often, +it helps to follow the [20 rules of formulating +knowledge](https://supermemo.guru/wiki/20_rules_of_knowledge_formulation), +proposed by Dr Piotr Wozniak, the creator of SuperMemo. Some cards can +benefit from a mnemonic. Even some well-written cards may need a boost in +coherence, e.g. by adding cards for related concepts. However, it takes a +lot of experience to know how to formulate the material properly, break it +down into smallest possible components, and use mnemonic techniques. ## Deleting -Another way to manage leeches is to delete them. Consider if the -material you’re struggling with is important enough to make it worth -your while. By selectively deleting difficult and obscure items, you can -dedicate more time to learning other material, and studying becomes a -lot more fun. +If the material you’re struggling with isn't important enough to justify +the time spent, you can simply delete the card. By selectively deleting +difficult and obscure items, you can spend more time learning other +material, making studying more enjoyable. If you think the card might be +useful for future reference, you can leave it suspended. -## Editing +## Waiting -Another approach is to change the way the information is presented. -Perhaps the cards you have created have too much information on them, or -perhaps you’re trying to memorize something without fully understanding -it. Sometimes spending some time changing the way the card is phrased -can help. It’s also a good time to think about making a mnemonic to help -you remember. +Some leeches are caused by 'interference'. For example, an English +learner may have recently learnt the words "disappoint" and "disappear". +As they look similar, the learner may find themselves confusing the two +when trying to answer. In such situations, it’s often helpful to +concentrate on one idea at a time. Once that idea is firmly ingrained in +your mind, you can then start learning the other idea. So, in these +situations, you might want to leave one of the words suspended until you +have learnt the other one well, and then unsuspend it. + +For a more detailed discussion, you can refer to the article "[Dealing +with Leeches](https://controlaltbackspace.org/leech/)", written by Soren +Bjornstad.