Notetaking Symbols
Summary
TLDRThis video covers essential symbols to use when taking notes in English, which can help you keep up with faster speakers. While most people write at a slower pace than they speak, symbols offer a shorthand solution to capture information quickly. Common symbols include the ampersand for 'and,' the dollar sign for 'money,' and arrows to indicate increase or decrease. By learning and using these symbols, you can save time and make your notes more concise and manageable, especially in settings like college lectures.
Takeaways
- đ Note-taking symbols help condense information and keep up with fast-paced speech.
- âď¸ The ampersand (&) or plus sign (+) can replace 'and,' 'plus,' or 'with' in sentences.
- đľ The dollar sign ($) symbolizes money, value, or cost, and double dollar signs indicate high expense.
- đ The equal sign (=) means 'is' or 'equals,' while the unequal sign (â ) represents 'is not' or 'does not equal.'
- đ The greater than (>) and less than (<) symbols are used for comparisons like 'more than' or 'less than.'
- đ The wavy equal sign (â) stands for 'approximately' or 'about.'
- đ The at symbol (@) represents 'at,' commonly used for times and locations.
- đˇď¸ The number sign (#) signifies 'number' or 'pound,' and can also highlight the ranking of something.
- âĄď¸ Arrows (â) denote leads to, causes, or results in, helping illustrate relationships.
- â The question mark (?) indicates uncertainty or doubt about information.
Q & A
Why is it important to use symbols when taking notes?
-Using symbols allows you to write faster, helping you keep up with a speaker's pace. The average person speaks at 150 words per minute, but most people can only write 5-20 words per minute. Symbols provide shortcuts to record key information more efficiently.
What is the purpose of the ampersand (&) and plus (+) symbols in note-taking?
-Both the ampersand (&) and plus (+) symbols are used to mean 'and' or 'with.' For example, if someone says 'cheeseburger and fries,' you can shorten it using 'cheeseburger + fries' or 'cheeseburger & fries' in your notes.
How can the dollar sign ($) be used in note-taking?
-The dollar sign ($) can represent money, value, or cost. For instance, if the note mentions something expensive, you could write '$$' to indicate a high cost. It simplifies recording financial or cost-related information.
What does the equal sign (=) represent in note-taking?
-The equal sign (=) represents 'is' or 'equals.' It can replace forms of the verb 'to be' like 'am,' 'is,' 'are,' or 'was.' For example, 'Knowledge is power' can be shortened to 'Knowledge = power.'
What is the use of the unequal sign (â ) in notes?
-The unequal sign (â ) is used to mean 'is not' or 'does not equal.' For example, 'Being rich does not equal being happy' can be shortened to 'Rich â happy.'
How do the greater than (>) and less than (<) symbols help in note-taking?
-The greater than (>) symbol means 'more than' or 'greater than,' while the less than (<) symbol means 'fewer than' or 'less than.' For instance, 'Texas population is greater than Florida' can be written as 'TX pop > FL pop.'
What does the approximately symbol (â) mean in notes?
-The approximately symbol (â) means something is close but not exact. For example, 'Jeff Bezos's net worth is about 180 billion dollars' can be written as 'Bezos â $180B.'
How is the at symbol (@) used in note-taking?
-In notes, the at symbol (@) means a specific time or place. For instance, 'I work at 7 a.m.' can be written as 'Work @ 7 a.m.' It's different from its social media use, where it refers to tagging users.
What does the arrow (â) symbolize in note-taking?
-The right-pointing arrow (â) means 'leads to' or 'causes.' For example, 'Smoking can cause lung cancer' can be shortened to 'Smoking â lung cancer.'
What is the function of the asterisk (*) in note-taking?
-The asterisk (*) is used to highlight important or special information. It emphasizes something that needs attention, like in a to-do list: '* Get milk.'
Outlines
đ Why Note-Taking Symbols Matter
This section discusses the importance of using symbols for note-taking, especially in situations where you need to capture information quickly, like in a classroom setting. It explains that most people cannot write as fast as they can speak, so symbols are necessary to keep up with spoken information without missing key details. The section introduces the videoâs focus on common symbols that can help in shortening phrases, allowing for more efficient note-taking.
â Using Ampersand, Dollar, and Equals Signs
This part introduces specific symbols for note-taking, such as the ampersand (&) or plus sign (+) to represent 'and' or 'with,' and the dollar sign ($) to indicate money or value. The equals sign (=) is explained as shorthand for 'is,' while the not-equal sign (â ) denotes inequality. Examples are provided to show how these symbols can replace words and phrases in notes, making it easier to quickly capture ideas.
đ˘ Using Math Symbols for Comparison
In this section, the greater than (>) and less than (<) symbols are discussed. These symbols are useful for expressing comparisons, such as 'more than' or 'less than,' and their applications are demonstrated through examples involving population and net worth. Tips are given on how to remember which symbol represents greater versus lesser, and examples highlight how to condense sentences into symbols efficiently.
đ Approximation and Location Symbols
This segment covers the approximate (â) symbol, which can indicate something that is close but not exact. The '@' symbol is also introduced as a way to denote time or location, such as a specific time of day. Differences between how this symbol is used on social media versus in note-taking are clarified, with practical examples for each use case.
đ˘ Number, Pound, and Arrow Symbols
Here, the number (#) or pound sign is discussed as a way to signify numbers or ranking, as well as its use for weight in some contexts. The arrow symbol (â) is introduced as shorthand for âleads toâ or âcauses.â Example scenarios include how these symbols can make note-taking more concise, particularly in discussing causes and effects.
â Question Marks and Arrows for Trend Indication
The question mark (?) is explained as a symbol to represent uncertainty or possibility in note-taking, like when the information is not definite. Additionally, up (â) and down (â) arrows are shown as indicators for increasing or decreasing trends, such as changes in market value. Examples illustrate how multiple arrows can represent rapid changes.
ă° Ditto and Repetition Marks
The ditto (â) mark is discussed as a useful tool for indicating repetition or similarity, saving time by avoiding redundant writing. An example with population figures demonstrates how ditto marks can be used for quickly noting when the same information applies to multiple subjects.
đ Highlighting with Asterisks and Stars
The section introduces asterisks (*) or stars as symbols to emphasize importance, making them useful for marking tasks or items that require extra attention. An example is given of marking items on a to-do list to ensure that the most crucial tasks are easily noticeable.
âď¸ Using 'Therefore' Symbols for Conclusions
This section covers symbols for expressing conclusions or results, such as the therefore (â´) symbol or a double arrow (â). It explains how these symbols can condense logical connections or cause-and-effect relationships, making note-taking more efficient and meaningful.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄNote-taking symbols
đĄAmpersand (&)
đĄDollar sign ($)
đĄEqual sign (=)
đĄGreater than (>) and Less than (<)
đĄApproximately (~)
đĄAt symbol (@)
đĄArrow (â)
đĄAsterisk (*)
đĄTherefore (â´)
Highlights
The average American speaks at a rate of 150 words per minute but writes only 5-20 words per minute.
Taking notes with common symbols helps bridge the gap between the speed of speaking and writing.
The ampersand (&) and plus (+) symbols can replace the word 'and' or 'with' to shorten sentences.
The dollar sign ($) represents money, value, or cost, and multiple dollar signs ($$) indicate high expense.
The equal sign (=) can represent 'is,' 'are,' or 'equals,' while the unequal sign (â ) represents 'is not' or 'does not equal.'
The greater than (>) and less than (<) symbols represent 'more than' and 'less than' in shorthand.
The approximate sign (â) indicates 'about' or 'close to' but not exact values.
The at symbol (@) can be used to indicate a specific time or location in note-taking.
The pound sign (#) represents numbers or weight in note-taking, not hashtags as in social media.
An arrow (â) represents 'leads to' or 'causes,' useful for showing cause and effect.
The question mark (?) can be used to represent uncertainty or possibility in notes.
Up arrows (â) and down arrows (â) represent increasing or decreasing trends, respectively.
Quotation marks or ditto marks (" ") can be used to repeat previously mentioned information.
The asterisk (*) can highlight important or special information in notes.
The 'therefore' symbol (â´) or double arrow (â) represents a conclusion or consequence in shorthand.
Transcripts
hello friends in this video we're going
to look at some common symbols
used for taking notes in english but why
well consider the fact that the average
american speaks
at a rate of about 150 words per minute
however the average american writes
at a speed of about 5 to 20 words per
minute
so if you can only write down 5 to 20
words per minute
that means you're missing about 130
words per minute that somebody's saying
and there's probably a lot of
information in those words
so if you're sitting in a college class
for example and you need to take notes
on what the teacher is teaching about
you're not going to be able to keep up
if you're just writing every word the
teacher is saying
so it's helpful to find some shortcuts
so that you can keep up
with listening to the teacher while also
writing down the important information
that the teacher is
saying so in this video we're going to
go through some
common symbols used to write down
some common information and this is one
shortcut that you can use
when you're taking notes so the first
symbol here
is the ampersand or the plus sign
either of these symbols mean and plus
or with for example
if somebody says i want a cheeseburger
and french fries
we could use either of these symbols to
help shorten the sentence
to be something like this cheeseburger
and fries
related to this plus sign here some
people will also write
a symbol like this so it's just a
shortened form of the plus
so you can do it without picking up your
hand off of the paper and this means an
the next one is a universally known sign
that's the dollar sign
so we can use the dollar sign to mean
money
value or cost so for example
if someone says california is an
expensive place to live and you need to
write that down
you can use the dollar sign to talk
about
the expense and how expensive it is so
your notes might look something like
this california
is expensive living and here
we can use like two dollar signs to talk
about you know
really expensive or more expensive
the equal sign can mean is or equals
basically it can mean
am is are was or were any of the be
verbs
or equals so when we're showing that
things are the same for example
if i say knowledge is power and i wanted
to write that down in my notes
then i could write it something like
this knowledge equals
power so knowledge is power
next to this is the opposite which is
the unequal sign
so this can mean is not or does not
equal
for example being rich does not equal
being happy
so we can use this symbol to take notes
on this and shorten it down to something
like this
so we can use this dollar sign for being
rich
and we can use the unequal sign for does
not equal
and the little smiley face for being
happy something like this
but it shows that the two things don't
equal each other or are not the same
the next symbol here is the greater than
symbol it's a math symbol
so this can mean more than greater than
or bigger than
for example if somebody says the
population of texas
is more than the population of florida
we can shorten this a lot
by using this symbol so we could write
something like this
in our notes so texas population
greater than florida
the opposite of this is the less than
symbol so less than
fewer than or smaller than it could mean
any of these things in your notes
for example if someone says mark
zuckerberg's net worth is less than jeff
bezos's
we could shorten that in our notes to be
something like this
zuck's money is less than bezos money
and if you're not sure who these people
are mark zuckerberg is the owner
of facebook or was the owner of facebook
i think it's a public company now and
jeff bezos is the founder of amazon
so jeff bezos is actually considered the
richest man in the world
now with the greater than
and less than symbol one way that you
can use to remember which one is which
is that the bigger number goes on the
open side
of the symbol and the smaller number
goes on the
pointy side of the symbol
the next symbol here is the
approximately or the about
symbol so it's like an equal sign but
it's a little bit wavy
so it means it's not exactly the same as
but it's close
for example if we say jeff bezos's net
worth is about 180 billion dollars
we can shorten this
to something like this so bezos
about 180 billion dollars
the next symbol is the at symbol and it
looks like an a with a little
hook around it now this one gets used on
social media but
when we're taking notes it means
something different than it's used for
on social media
so for example if i say i work at seven
in the morning i could
shorten this if i'm writing a note to
myself to something like this
work at 7am so we use this a lot for
times
on social media it's used for i think
talking to somebody
if you're naming them but here it just
means at so we call it the add symbol
and you can draw it just by doing a
little a and then doing
a circle around it like that
the next one is the number sign or the
pound sign
and this actually we can use to talk
about numbers
or we could use it to talk about weight
for example if we say heart disease is
the leading cause of death in the united
states
if we're taking notes on this
information we could shorten it to
something like this
heart disease number one killer in the
u.s
so we're using this number sign or pound
sign
to talk about the leading cause or the
number one
cause of death now on social media again
this gets used for something different
so if you're used to using it for like a
hashtag
um that's not what it's meaning here
it's meaning number or pound
and this actually comes from the
abbreviation for pound
which is lb which comes from latin and
when people would write this down they
would put a line over it and so
eventually we got this symbol here
so people used to call it the pound sign
but we also use it for numbers the next
symbol here is just the arrow
pointing to the right and so we can use
this for
leads to or causes
for example if we say smoking can cause
lung cancer then we could
shorten this in our notes to something
like this
smoking arrow lung cancer so leads to or
causes
lung cancer
if you're not sure about some
information if you have a question or
you're uncertain or if something's
possible
then we can use the question mark so
if somebody says it is possible that
cell phones cause cancer
then we could do something like this in
our notes cell phones
cause cancer question mark meaning it's
possible or we're not exactly sure about
that
if numbers are increasing or going up we
can just use the
up arrow like this for example
if we say home values are increasing we
could write that down
as house money increasing so
here we're using for values we're using
the dollar sign
home house we could use either one of
these and then
our increasing we're just using the
little arrow there
now if if it's going up a lot like if
something is rapidly increasing or
increasing a lot
we could use two arrows next to each
other
to show that it's rapidly increasing or
increasing dramatically
if something's going down we use the
down arrow
for example the number of homes on the
market has been decreasing
so when we're talking about the number
of homes we already looked at the symbol
for that
on the market decreasing so we could use
a couple of symbols here
so number of houses going down
decreasing
the next one is the quotation mark we
call these uh the ditto mark
or we use it to mean ditto and ditto is
just when you're repeating some
information or saying the same thing
so ditto just means same as above or
same as before for example
if you say go to starbucks or something
and you say i'll have a black coffee and
the person with you wants the same thing
they can just say ditto
instead of saying i'll have a black
coffee oh i'll have a black coffee too
the second person can just say ditto so
you're just repeating what was said
before
this is very very helpful for your notes
if
there's some part of the information
that's just repeated you can just use
these
quotation marks for example if we say
minnesota has a population of over 5.5
million people
so do wisconsin and colorado we can
shorten this
a lot this is two sentences and we can
make it very short in our notes
so minnesota pop is greater than
5.5 mil and then we can say ditto
wisconsin and colorado so we're using a
few of our
symbols here that we've looked at
already
and then we're just using the
abbreviations for the states which are
common abbreviations and we'll look at
these in another
lesson so you can see how much we can
shorten what is said into
our notes
the next symbols here are the asterisk
or just the star
and these can mean if something is
important or special
so really these are used to kind of like
highlight information that is really
important that you need to remember
or that you want to focus on
for example if you're making a to-do
list for yourself
and you really don't want to forget to
buy milk because you need milk you need
it very very badly
so in your notes or in your to-do list
you could do something like this
get milk and again we could use a couple
of these
symbols if it's really really important
then the last one here is the
therefore symbol so we can use these
three dots or
the double lined arrow to mean therefore
and therefore is just a fancy word for
saying so
for example if i want to say i'm tired
so i will drink coffee then i could
shorten this to
tired therefore coffee just like that
and so
learning these symbols practicing with
them uh
and using them when you're taking notes
can save you a lot of time and help you
to keep up with
whoever you're listening to whether it's
your teacher
or a recording or a video lesson
online they can save you a lot of time
the important thing
is to use the symbols that work
the best for you and ones that you will
be able to
understand when you check your notes a
day later or a week later or a month
later
so that's really the important thing is
that you're using something that makes
sense
to you but these are some common ones
that most people use when they're taking
notes
in college so that's it for this lesson
thanks for watching
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