This document provides suggestions for abbreviating words when taking notes in class, including using the first syllable, first few letters, omitting vowels or final letters, using apostrophes or "g" to represent "ing", and standard symbols. Some examples of abbreviations are pol for politics, subj for subject, info for information, gov't for government, ckg for checking, & for and, and f for frequency. The goal is to invent brief yet understandable abbreviations to listen and write effectively during lectures.

1. ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS FOR NOTE-TAKING
In order to listen effectively in your classes, you may want to abbreviate certain words that are frequently used. Most people invent their own abbreviations; however, here are some suggestions.
1. Use only the syllable of a word
pol = politics
dem = democracy
lib = liberal
cap = capitalism
2. Use the entire first syllable and the first letter of the second syllable
subj = subject
cons = conservative
ind = individual
3. Eliminate final letters. Use just enough of the beginning of a word to form an easily recognizable abbreviation.
info = information
intro = introduction
chem. = chemistry
conc = concentration
rep = repetition
conc = conclusion
4. Omit vowels from the middle of words and retain only enough consonants to provide a recognizable skeleton of the word.
bkgd = background
ppd = prepared
prblm = problem
5. Leave out “a” and “the”
6. Use an apostrophe.
gov’t = government
am’t = amount
cont’d = continued
educat’l = educational
7. Use “g” to represent “ing” endings.
ckg = checking
estg = establishing
expting = experimenting
8. Use symbols for commonly recurring connective or transitional words.
& = and
w/ = with
w/o = without
vs = against
.’. = therefore
9. Leave out periods in standard abbreviations.
eg = for example
dept = department
NYC = New York City
10. Use common technical and mathematical symbols.
+ = plus, positive
- = minus, negative
-> = approaches
< = angle
f = frequency