Dots for Tones

If you're writing a lot of pinyin on the computer, and you're not good with the numbers, you may want to try using something I call "diǎndiào"点调 (dot tone). It uses periods in lieu of tone numbers, like this:

• dian...diao.... = diǎn diào

As opposed to:

• dian3 diao4

Sometimes, in a chat, or an email it's just quicker to type diandiao pinyin especially for a single word. Or, if you're keeping a master list of your own personal vocabulary on the paper, diandiao is usually faster to type than the numbers.Of course, on paper, there is no point in writing diandiao because it's easy to just add those tone marks.See also:The Pinyin WallHow to type pinyin (pīnyīn) with tone markings