How to Take Faster Notes - College Info Geek, by Thomas Frank on YouTube. 5 min 39 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 39 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes to learn the basics
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Time your current speed. Write normal notes for one minute from a textbook page, then count the words. That number is your baseline to beat.
Pick one shorthand system and stay with it. Teeline is the usual starting point for students because it is quick to learn. Gregg and Pitman are faster at the top end but take longer to master.
Learn the shorthand alphabet and the twenty most common English words first. Words like the, and, of, to and that appear in almost every sentence.
Start dropping vowels and doubled consonants from longer words. Write government as govt and management as mgmt, and only keep vowels where the word becomes unclear.
Build your own abbreviation list for each subject. Add short forms like eco for economy or photo for photosynthesis, and keep the list at the front of the notebook.
Use symbols and arrows instead of words for repeated ideas. An arrow means leads to or causes, an up arrow means increase, and w/ means with.
Leave a wide margin and write on every other line. The spare space lets you add missed words and corrections when you review.
Practice for ten minutes a day by rewriting a paragraph of a textbook into shorthand. Speed comes from daily repetition, not one long session.
Review your notes within 24 hours and write any unclear shorthand back into full words. Fix the symbols that slowed you down before the next lecture.
Tips and common mistakes
Never invent an abbreviation during a lecture unless you write it in your key list straight after.
If you fall behind, leave a gap and keep listening instead of stopping to finish one word.
Shorthand is for your own notes only, so write exam answers in full words.
Sit near the front so you catch the words clearly and spend less time guessing.
Questions
Do I have to learn a whole shorthand system?
No. Many students just borrow the alphabet and a few dozen abbreviations. A partial system still saves time if you practice it.
Which shorthand system is easiest for a beginner?
Teeline is usually recommended because it is based on normal letters and can be learned in a few weeks. Gregg and Pitman take longer but reach higher speeds.
How long until my notes get faster?
Most people see a small gain after two or three weeks of daily practice. Expect to be slower than normal writing for the first few lectures.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
