How to Take Faster Notes - College Info Geek

What can you do to increase your note-taking speed? If you're using a computer, there are plenty of tools that can help... but what if you prefer writing on paper?

One potential solution is using shorthand. In this video, we'll look at several shorthand systems - and also at some ideas for creating one of your own.

My book "10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades" is completely free, so check it out if you're interested in improving your grades!

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~ created by Thomas Frank

[TrulyBelieber]

When I was in high school my history teacher gave me some tips to take notes faster: for example, the "tion" at the end of the words would be replaced by a bubble, the word "death" would be replaced by a cross (for example you can write down someone's name, a cross, and the year he died), he also suggested us to use words in other languages that are shorter or simpler to write like "oggi" which is the italian for today. You can find different abbreviations for words on the internet if you're not really inspired :)
Also, creating your own abbreviations and symbols can make you learn information faster!
Thank you for all your videos, they're really motivating

[haltersweb]

I always use the delta symbol (Δ) for "change" and Δing for "changing". Delta is the mathematical symbol for change or difference. After watching your videos I realized I could shorten "changing" some more to Δg. Thanks for your suggestions.

[franzii]

what i do is simply shorten sentences to the bare minimum, so anything like "the" or "that" definitely goes, so some examples would be:
- there is a lot of procrastination taking place
-> lots of procr.
- this development lasts from 3 to 5 years of age
-> 3-5y: dev.
or if something increases or decreases etc. I use arrows, lots of arrows!!

[finndriver]

My bio teacher recommends using arrows for increase, decrease, leads to, causes, which we used constantly. I also found using the maths symbols (like less than or equal to, therefore, because, etc) very helpful.

[PrakashKalapala]

I really appreciate the amount of effort you put into making these videos. Thanks a ton, bro !!!

[lavayuki]

I use short hand a lot in my clinical notes, mainly be omitting or replacing groups of letters with "x", like words such as diagnosis and treatment become Dx and Tx, and other words like "without" as w/o and then abbreviating things into 2 or 3 letters. That thing on google for responding to your emails quickly is so cool! I think I'll try it!

[asapgaming]

Thomas is confirmed a mind reader. When ever I have a problem, Thomas always uploads a video related to that problem, and fixes it.

[Auryraa]

Shorthand is the reason why I struggle so much with typing notes; I feel like it takes so much longer, even if it doesn't.

Words with repetitive letters, I shorten. Any words where I can bump out letters and still understand I shorten. Depending on the class and the vocabulary, certain words have symbols if they come up often enough.
As a result, no one really understands my notes, but it's cut down on my time a lot. Writing in some sort of cursive also helps. (:

[katiealexander]

I love the tip of creating your own shorthand! After watching this video last night & taking chemistry notes today, I realized I could shorten so many words like molecule, isomer, and polarity. Thank you for the great idea!

[JayFreeman]

Journalist here. I learnt to write at 100wpm Teeline shorthand when I studied the NCTJ diploma. It's notoriously difficult and, although the theory was quick to get to grips with, it took me nine months to build speed. The theory is really rather simple, though, and very similar to your own system. What makes Teeline easier to learn than other systems like Pitman is that it uses special symbols that combine more than one word, making it really fast and simple. If you're using shorthand for note taking, think less about speed and more about being able to read back and understand your outlines. As many journalists will tell you, even if you've been using shorthand for years, there will be times where you have absolutely no idea what you've written!

It's worth pointing out that dictaphones are not a total replacement for shorthand. Here in the UK, there are some places where it's illegal to use audio recorders, such as courts. Bear in mind a pen and paper won't run out of batteries, too!

[LOLWAAHH]

Some of my favorites:
w/ - with
w/o - without
w/in - within
bc - because
btwn - between
hx - history
(Triangle shape) - change
tm - tomorrow
tn - tonight
intl - international
intxn - interaction

[michaelrobinett]

Something I've been doing for the past few years, both for note taking and when I just want to write something quickly.

1) Abbreviations. If there's an abbreviation I can utilize, I do it, even if I have to make one up. Example, I use a simplified & for and, and "w/" for with.
2) Certain parts of the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) can do effectively the same thing. Anything that should end in an "ing" suffix, I use ŋ (IPA number 119), for example.
3) Cut the Vowels. If I don't need vowels to know how to say a word, I'll "ct thm".
4) Cut excessive words. If a word isn't absolutely necessary to a particular note, it's cut. This CAN be a danger because you can cut too much, make sure you leave yourself enough contextual clues to remember what the heck the note meant.

[gerry]

1:40 no, no, I have the time. Especially now in quarantine. I don’t have the commitment tho 😂

[ClickPro]

Hey Tom! I'm new to the channel but it is super helpful! I like to use Livescribe pens in lecture, they record the audio for you, which allows me to pay attention more. When the professor says something I think is a key concept or I didn't hear it, I draw an "A" and circle it. If the professor says something I think will be on an exam, I draw an "E" and circle it, etc. Then I go home and write out actual notes based on the lecture and I can pause the audio as I'm making my formal notes, researching the topic, etc.

[notgonnapay]

I usually leave out most vowels depending on the word, spell words wrong with letters that have fewer strokes, leave out letters that are repeated twice and/or change the other letters in the word depending on the word.
Ex: Words are comprised of letters, but the word ‘letter’ can also be a note written to someone.
Wds r maid w/ letrs. Letrs can = riting 2 a prsn.

Not so fast, but it beats writing out whole words if they’re just notes for you to rewrite later or to study from.

[twilightjoker]

I've always replaced 'tion' with a superscript 'n' and a line/underscore below the 'n' like rx^n for reaction, dil^n for dilution, corr^n for correction. Guess it works too!

[chriswyble]

Take notes on printer paper. That's what I do for every class, and quite frankly I have enjoyed doing so, because I can sketch out new concepts and have an intuitive understanding. 10/10 highly recommend and would do again :)

[ItsBrandonHuynh]

Man I can't believe u haven't hit 1 million subs yet!!! We need more youtubers like you! Thank you so much:) all of your videos are really helpful.

[charliehoward]

as a maths student we have some great shorthand already (for all, there exists, unique) but I have my own shorthands for common words and long maths statements (cpt for compact set, s.t for such that, w/ for with, fn or fcn for function (dependent on context), the for theorem, bdd for bounded). and leave out a bunch of words as well.
and of course, abbreviations e.g. in my probability class, "the law of the unconscious statistician" (probably the best theorem name other than "the hairy ball theorem") becomes LoUS.
the shorthands you first mentioned seem a bit counterproductive cus they're so hard! great videos though

[TickingAwayOurTime]

I find it useful, if I end up needing to write the same word again and again, to shorten that specific word. Like in philosophy I have to write 'utilitarianism' a LOT so I ended up shortening it to 'u.' Maybe this is obvious haha but it saved me a lot of hand cramps so I thought I'd mention it. Also using + instead of 'and' and linking things with arrows is super helpful for me. I use a wiggly arrow for evaluation and a straight one for similar concepts and such