I know that there's some logic in the system which spaces out definitions and writings (and probably readings) so that, if you add a new writing, you don't see the definition right away. However, I'm not really clear on how this spacing works, how long the delay is, etc. The FAQ says, quote:

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Each item's scheduling can be affected when you review other parts for its word. If you study the writing for 先生, then if the reading and definition are also due, they will be pushed back into the future somewhat, so that the reviews don't interfere with each other. After all, if you just saw the details for 先生 two minutes ago, it would be too easy to remember them if you got its definition prompt now. So you might see the definition prompt a little later, or the next day, depending on how the length of the current interval. A consequence of this can be that you don't even see the reading or definition parts of a word for days after adding it to My Words, until you've started to remember the writing part. We think this is a good thing.
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My concern has to do with how this interacts with parts study. Generally what I do when I get my items to study down to zero is click on the "add" button a bunch of times to add around 100 new items, then change to studying let's say writings, get the number down to zero, then study readings and definitions, and finally when they're all at zero add a bunch more.

However, I feel like the order in which I study the parts seems to have a big effect on scheduling. Do some of the parts have a bigger delaying effect than others? For example, once I added 100 or so items, switched to definitions only, studied down to zero, and switched to writings; almost nothing was due. Same went for readings. That suggests that studying the definitions of the new items delayed the introduction of the writings and readings, which is consistent with the FAQ. But is this also true if I first study writings or readings?

In a nutshell, is there a recommended order that I should use for studying the different parts?

James

They all space out the other parts the same way, so it's up to you. (The only complication is that for Chinese, certain prompt types can be combined, like writing and tone, or reading (with tone) and definition.)

I like to study writings first, since I need the most time on them, and then by the time I'm done learning those and the other parts come in, I've already gotten some of them. But some prefer studying the easiest parts first. You could also go with readings, tones, and definitions first together--you still get just one prompt for a new word, but only the writing is spaced out at first. I haven't actually played with this too much, so if you do some experiments, I'd love to hear a report of your subjective experiences.

The spacing delay is based on the length of the current interval for the item being spaced out. It's half a day for new items, or +20% of the current interval for items you've seen before.

I tried it a different way over the last two days and I think I like it with the writings first. Then by the times the definitions come up I know quite a few of them already. I mark them wrong anyway just so they don't skate off far into the future.

Readings are another story. I don't seem to pick them up by osmosis, so I just need to bang my head against them for a while.

James