43 Folders

Back to Work

Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.

Join us via RSS, iTunes, or at 5by5.tv.

”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

'Shorthand' tips for handwritten notes?

Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone has any 'shorthand' tips they'd care to pass on for taking handwritten notes?

I'm not looking to learn actual shorthand (I prefer to write with pens, and as I understand it to learn / use shorthand, you need to use pencils to indicate variable widths in line strokes), just curious about any abbreviations / symbols etc others might use to make the process of writing by hand a little easier.

I ask because I have a permanent injury to my index finger, and while I like writing by hand, long writing sessions can become quite painful; so, any techniques that allow me to save the number of letters I'm writing would be helpful.

Currently I use the following (some of which have been inspired by text messaging abbreviations), though I'd be happy to hear anyone else's suggestions for the same words / phrases):

w/ = with
w/- = without
tda = today
tmo = tomorrow
yta = yesterday
2 = to, too
4 = for
b = be
+ = and

Again, I'm also interested in any meaningful symbols you might use as well.

Many thanks to anyone who replies!

Much warmth,

planetthoughtful

elisha_b's picture

Some of my abbreviations have...

Some of my abbreviations have already been mentioned (w, b/c, triangle for change)

Anything ending in "tion" or "ian" becomes a superscripted "n" with a small underline
vs - versus, i.e., compared with
v. - very (maybe have a look at Bridget Jones for more like that?)
lots of math notation, e.g. backwards E for "there exists" or "there is"
similarly, small arrows for up/increase/rise, down/decrease/fall, implies/leads to/becomes
dept - department
reqt - requirement
# - number of

Of course, lots of profession specific ones like a capital E without the vertical line followed by a superscript m for "equilibrium", "s-r" for "short-run"

And on a GTD theme, I didn't like writing "S/M" to indicate something I should put on my "Someday/Maybe" list, so I use the German translation "I/V" for "Irgendwann/Vielleicht". Then again, I also use "F'Up" for "follow up", which is open to misinterpretation.

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

Popular
Today

Popular
Classics

An Oblique Strategy:
Honor thy error as a hidden intention


STAY IN THE LOOP:

Subscribe with Google Reader

Subscribe on Netvibes

Add to Technorati Favorites

Subscribe on Pageflakes

Add RSS feed

The Podcast Feed

Cranking

Merlin used to crank. He’s not cranking any more.

This is an essay about family, priorities, and Shakey’s Pizza, and it’s probably the best thing he’s written. »

Scared Shitless

Merlin’s scared. You’re scared. Everybody is scared.

This is the video of Merlin’s keynote at Webstock 2011. The one where he cried. You should watch it. »