# Hunch, notion, idea These are different levels of ‘firmness’ of a concept * A hunch is when something exists only in your head * A notion is when you are able to communicate it with your voice * An idea is a concept that you can actually write down Each of these levels forces increasing rigor. It’s possible to hold two conflicting concepts in your head at once because thinking is fairly linear, but once you have two conflicting ideas on paper they force you to resolve them. ### Related * [[Precise language enables progress]] * [[Make precise predictions]] * [[Legibility enables action]] * [[Notes and statements should be bloody]] <!-- #mental-model --> [Web URL for this note](http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Hunch,+notion,+idea) [Comment on this note](http://via.hypothes.is/http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Hunch,+notion,+idea)