How to take notes in English

To ‘take notes’ is to write things down in real time while something is happening, such as a lecture or an event; to ‘make notes’ is to write information in short form to organise your thoughts about material you are preparing, such as an essay. People use the two phrases interchangeably, but the difference is timing — you take notes during, and you make notes to prepare.

Good note-taking in English isn’t about writing everything down. It’s about capturing the most important points fast enough to keep up with the speaker, then using them later. Here are seven techniques that work, whether you are in an English class, a lecture given in English, or a meeting.

Key definition: Taking notes means writing down the most important points while a speaker talks, so you can use them afterwards. Effective note-taking in English means capturing keywords, dates, names and symbols quickly enough to keep your attention on the speaker.

Key takeaways: To take better notes in English, (1) prepare your layout, (2) sit where you can hear, (3) write only key words, (4) organise with titles and symbols, (5) use abbreviations, (6) keep up with the speaker, and (7) review your notes soon after.

Make notes or take notes? What’s the difference?

| Expression | When to use it | Example | |---|---|---| | Take notes | Writing in real time while something is happening — a lecture or an event | “I took notes while he was speaking so I could look at them later.” | | Make notes | Writing short-form information to organise your thoughts, e.g. when preparing for an essay | “I made notes about the information in my course book so I could write an essay.” |

How to take notes in English: 7 techniques that work

Taking notes is a very personal thing and varies from person to person, but there are some techniques we all have in common. Here they are, step by step.

1. Prepare your layout

Before the event starts, set up your page so you have room to add to your notes later. You can either leave space between the lines you write on, or divide the page into two columns and only write on one side. Leave the other side empty for the details you will fill in after the event.

2. Sit where you can hear well

Get to the event early enough to choose a seat where you can hear clearly. You are not going to be able to take notes if you can’t hear what’s going on — and this matters twice as much in a lecture given in English.

3. Write only the most important words

Write down just the key information: dates, times, names, and words that describe feelings and actions. Don’t bother with I/you/he/she and ignore most of the prepositions. If it’s quicker to draw a picture, arrow or diagram, do that instead of writing the word. It’s not possible to write down everything a person is saying as they say it — very few people could type fast enough, and even if they could, they wouldn’t be listening properly if they were concentrating on typing.

4. Organise with titles, subtitles and symbols

Use titles and subtitles to organise your information so you can find things later. Use underlining, boxes and symbols to link pieces of information in your mind and on the page. A clear structure written at the time means you won’t have to decode your own notes later.

5. Make the most of abbreviations

Abbreviations save you time while you keep up with the speaker. Some words and common phrases have standard abbreviations, for example ‘eg.’, ‘tbc’ and ‘ie.’, and it is fine to invent your own too. Think of the most common words related to the subject you are taking notes on and make an abbreviation for each one — just make sure you will remember them later!

6. Keep up with the speaker

Keep your attention on the speaker rather than on your writing. If you aren’t able to write something down, just get one key word and move on to what the speaker is saying now. If you fall behind, everything after that point gets harder to capture.

7. Review your notes soon after

There is no point in taking notes if you don’t do anything with them. Look at your notes soon after the event, then go through and fill in any details you were unable to write down at the time. Reviewing soon means the information is still fresh enough to complete your notes accurately.

FAQ: How to Take Notes in English

What is the difference between ‘make notes’ and ‘take notes’?

We generally use ‘take notes’ for writing things down at the time something is happening, such as a lecture or an event. We use ‘make notes’ when we write information in short form to organise our thoughts about reference material or something we are preparing for, such as an essay.

How do I take notes in English when the speaker talks fast?

Don’t try to write everything down. Focus on key words — dates, times, names, and words for feelings and actions — and use abbreviations, pictures and symbols. If you miss something, write one key word and move on; you can fill in the details when you review your notes afterwards.

What should I write when taking notes in English?

Write only the most important words: dates, times, names, and key words that describe feelings and actions. Skip pronouns such as I/you/he/she and most prepositions, and draw a quick picture or diagram whenever that is faster than writing.

How can I make my English notes easier to read later?

Prepare your layout before the event, leave plenty of space, and use titles, subtitles, underlining, boxes and symbols to organise the information. Review your notes soon after the event and fill in anything you missed while it is still fresh.

Wrap Up

Experiment with these ideas and find a style of taking notes that suits you — having a system that works is really important and a personal thing for all of us.
When you come across a new word while you are taking notes, choosing the right English dictionary helps you check the meaning fast and keep up with the speaker.

image: geekcalendar

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